generalspeaking

The Smell of Blood

The confidence that President Bashar al-Assad evinced in meetings with UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has surely evaporated by now.  Damascus, and not only the city itself but the innermost most secure buildings and areas of the ancient city have been infiltrated.  Nowhere within the city is there assurance of security.  Four of the regime's most important security officials have suddenly been placed out of commission.

This calamitous insurrection has cost the country dearly.  The military in terms of those from generals on down who have abandoned their posts to join the rebels; the administration in terms of those trusted to represent the regime abandoning theirs.  Reason itself has long been abandoned.  In its place is sheer, unadulterated hatred.  Normal inhibitions against loss of life have been set aside.

The military units that were dispatched to the border between Turkey and Syria have been recalled.  They are urgently needed to attack Damascus itself.  In their absence the rebels have once again taken control of two border crossings into Turkey.  They now have control of the border checkpoint between Syria and Iraq.  The huge numbers of Syrian refugees will breathe sighs of relief.

Reports from the central old quarter district of Qanawat indicate that the headquarters of the Damascus Province Police has been torched and looted, abandoned.  "Three patrol cars came to the site and were hit by roadside bombs.  I saw three bodies in one car.  Others said dozens of security men and shabbiha lay dead of wounded along Khaled bin al-Walid street before ambulances took them away."

Government forces are bombarding rebellious areas with artillery and helicopter gunships.  Residents in some areas were pre-warned to leave their homes.  Tanks and snipers have taken up position in the suburbs and smoke billows above the areas that have been laid waste.  Electricity, water, and communications have been cut off.

"Assad is likely to approve broad military operations against core opposition hubs that prioritize the elimination of rebel groups over the preservation of civilians" warned the Eurasia Group, a global political risk consultancy.  "Surgical military operations will give way to collective punishment."

Government has warned that rebel gunmen have disguised themselves as members of the military.  In those guises they plan to attack civilians.  People are panicking, locking themselves securely into their homes.  Homes that they've been sharing with refugees from other areas where fighting has been raging.

Refugees have filled the marble courtyards of the Umayyad Mosque in the Old City.  Damascus is closing itself down.  Shops are closed, streets empty.  This is the eve of Ramadan.



Why that most holy of days, from the crescent moon first sighted to the next crescent moon sighted.  That sacred ceremony precious to Muslims whatever their version of Islam.  Sacred to Shia Muslims and to Sunni Muslims, for example.  And Shia Alawites, those of the shabbiya eager and ready to execute the rebel supporters.

The Free Syria Army rebels ready to prosecute the grim task of eliminating the regime supporters, above all the sinister, slaughtering shabbiya.  Ramadan is of great importance to them too, of course, in recognition of their pious worship of Islam, the religion of peace, during this time of forgiveness.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Labels: Political Realities, Revolution, Social-Cultural Deviations, Societal Failures, Syria, Traditions, Values

posted by Pieface @ Saturday, July 21, 2012