US ambassador walks out in protest as voting exposes "conflict of political approaches" to ongoing crisis.
So Russia, China and the four abstaining countries (Brazil, India, South Africa and Lebanon), all supportive of the Palestinian UN acrobatics because unlike the evil US they're beacons of human rights and democracy.
Sheer joy that the UN SC can't even agree on condemnation of a brutal massacre in Syria, eh RK? I know (and often share) your criticism of the US, but it's you're people that are being massacred there yet you seem to revel in the West's diplomatic defeat.
I'm not reveling in anything HR. I want Assad overthrown as much as these protestors do, and I can wish for nothing more than a democratic and prosperous Syria. Of course the veto from the Chinese and Russians was as Matt put it, a way to prevent a precedence being set which could embarrass them considering their less-than-favourable human rights records at home.
I'm just finding it slightly amusing that the US of all people are the ones outraged by the veto, the same nation which has probably exercised the veto more than all the other nations put together for their own agenda-driven reasons, including clear human rights violations.
I'm not sure that's the motive. After all, the Chinese and Russians can not be "embarrassed" because their veto rights mean that condemning them is a non-starter. With the circus that the UN SC is, the latest veto is just another chapter in the spiting game between the West and the rest.
Mind you, blaming the superpowers for hypocrisy is somewhat, erm... hypocritical if you then use UN SC resolutions of your choice as some kind of moral or political compass.
The hypocrisy stems from the fact that the Yanks are outraged at other nations having the audacity to use the veto to prevent passing a resolution that benefits them indirectly, regardless of what you think of the UNSC.
I'm not reveling in anything HR. I want Assad overthrown as much as these protestors do, and I can wish for nothing more than a democratic and prosperous Syria. Of course the veto from the Chinese and Russians was as Matt put it, a way to prevent a precedence being set which could embarrass them considering their less-than-favourable human rights records at home.
I'm just finding it slightly amusing that the US of all people are the ones outraged by the veto, the same nation which has probably exercised the veto more than all the other nations put together for their own agenda-driven reasons, including clear human rights violations.
Mubarak's legacy..Poverty, ignorance , corruption including a corrupt army.
Trying to repeat the 1954 coup d'etat by instigating violence and sectarian clashes.
I was there ,later though after it all kicked off , standing with both Muslims and Christians. feck SCAF. We will go through all this inshallah. This is not the goddamn 50's, it's the information age idiots
It's all the Colonialists', the Zionists', the Yanks', Mubarak's fault. This keeps repeating itself. Your revolution will be through when you face your own trouble honsetly instead of placing the blame on the demon of the hour.
He's right though. I know you sorely miss Mubarak but despite his overthrowal his legacy still very much lives on within major Egyptian institutions.
It's all the Colonialists', the Zionists', the Yanks', Mubarak's fault. This keeps repeating itself. Your revolution will be through when you face your own trouble honsetly instead of placing the blame on the demon of the hour.
WHAT THE feck are you on exactly? Am saying he left us corruption, poverty and ignorance. Wasn't he in power for 30 yrs smartass
Pay attention to your beloved racist apartheid country and mind your own business. By the way, Did Israel really nominate Mubarak for a prize ? Sums things up !!
How is Mubarak's legacy different from those of his predecessors?
Because his predecessors were actually respected by the Egyptian people. Take Nasser for example, I know he was Israel's bogeyman but you have to admire how he modernised Egypt, introduced a whole plethora of social services and kept extremists at bay. Heck when he resigned he was essentially forced back into power by his own people. If you don't believe me then watch the clip of his funeral where some 7 million people turned up to mourn for him.
Compare that to Mubarak who's universally despised by his people, Muslim and Coptic alike, has burdened the country with enormous amounts of debt and has essentially turned Egypt into his own personal playground, descending much of the nation into absolute poverty. From an Israeli point of view though its obvious to see why he would be preferred.
(Yes I know I missed out Sadat, but we all know what happened to him)
Mubarak's regime was pretty crap compared with Western standards, but I'm not sure it fares badly compraed with what one would expect Egypt to be like if it was someone else taking charge following Sa'adat's assassination.
I'm not sure what personal wealth Nasser boasted- perhaps he wasn't as corrupt as Mubarak but I'm sure his regime couldn't compare with Western standards too.Nevertheless, Nasser led Egypt (together with Jordan and Syria, joining that Pan-Arab illusion) to their most humiliating episose since 1948, with esimated Egyptian death toll of some 10,000 during six days in 1967 (Wiki estimates, and I'd add his share of the blame for the inevitable following war even though that started after his death). The hero status Nasser enjoyed is not anything to be proud of, imo.
That's not what Blair, Obama and even you lot seem to have thought, heck you guys are voting him personality of the year
Lets be honest, Mubarak was bad for Egypt, but good for the West and Israel, and that means the latter precedes the former.
Nasser's Egypt was heaps more secular than any of the West's allies in the region, that includes today. In fact, the defeat of secular Pan-Arabism was what left a gaping hole which was eventually filled by religious extremists. And I don't think the defeat of 67 tarnished his reputation as much you'd like to think - his resignation was almost unanimously rejected throughout the Arab world even after the defeat.
You bet your arse the Copts would have loved to be subjected to Israeli-type apartheid.
Enjoy springtime, and cut the verbal abuse and anti-Israeli sentiment. They're Mubarak's legacy.
This extraordinary photograph has emerged from Sirte in Libya where anti-Gaddafi forces are continuing their assault on the city. The photographer's agency assures us the image is real and has not been doctored. What song could the fighters possibly be singing?
In one of the bloodiest nights since Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, was ousted, dozens of people were killed in Cairo when thousands of Coptic Christians protesting against the partial destruction of a church in Aswan were attacked by security forces.
The ruling military council has warned of a foreign conspiracy, but it now faces questions from Muslims and Christians alike about why a peaceful demonstration was so violently crushed.
Is anger growing towards the ruling generals? What does the latest violence mean for the promise of democracy in post-revolution Egypt?
Inside Story, with presenter Hazem Sika, discusses with Amr Abdelmoniem, a political activist and member of the Roxy coalition, a political party and movement in Egypt; Michael Meunier, a Coptic political activist and lobbyist who is the founder of Egypt's Alhayat political party; and Nabila Ramdani, a Middle East analyst.
"Christian Copts are extremely concerned about their status in Egyptian society and indeed the level of discrimination against them by both radical Muslims and indeed the government .... Their freedom of worship is not respected and their protection is not guaranteed .... The recent event also highlighted the lack of will and the means of the army to deal with highly sensitive issues like this one. And I think there is a concern among the Egyptians as a whole as to the ability of the army to protect its citizens."
Nabila Ramdani
Is the promise of democracy fading in Egypt? - Inside Story - Al Jazeera English
Egypt is recovering from decades of tyranny. We haven't practiced democracy ever. Anyone would expect that. No excuse but expected. Israel has been democratic for decades , yet Racism and fanaticism is on the rise. What other proof do you need when your own elected government is formed of far right religious lunatics. Not just that , and how to maintain your security? Segregate Palestinians in impoverished ghettos , aka Apartheid...in the 21st century!!!
It's all the Colonialists', the Zionists', the Yanks', Mubarak's fault. This keeps repeating itself. Your revolution will be through when you face your own trouble honsetly instead of placing the blame on the demon of the hour.
(CNN) -- A fledgling force of Syrian military deserters struck an important government security complex on the outskirts of the capital Wednesday, a bold strike reflecting the resolve and confidence of the regime's opposition.
This occurred as the Arab League meets Wednesday to reaffirm its decision to suspend Syria's membership, a decision it took over the weekend after President Bashar al-Assad's government failed to abide by a proposal to end a brutal crackdown on protesters.
Also Wednesday, France recalled its ambassador to Syria, the French Foreign Ministry said. The move comes after attacks on French missions in Syria.
The defector group, called the Free Syrian Army, said it attacked an air intelligence base in Harasta and planted "powerful explosions inside and around the compound that shook its foundations."
Andrew Tabler, an expert on Syria at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said air intelligence has been deeply involved in the eight-month-long crackdown by the Syrian government against protesters, a grinding civil conflict that has left what the United Nations says is more than 3,500 people dead. B
He said the strike reflects the growing sophistication of the group, which has brigades across the country and has been in existence since the summer. "It opens up a new era of the conflict," said Tabler, adding that the development represents "a bad direction" for the county. "Until now, most of the protests have been peaceful."
The Free Syrian Army said it "carried out special operations in various areas in Damascus in order to spoil the plan that the regime is preparing against our people and our homeland," the group said.
The regime should "take note" that the deserter force "is capable of striking them in any place and at any time we want," the group said.
Activists said the deserter army used rocket-propelled grenades and the intelligence complex was damaged. Activists also reported damage at the complex in Harasta, an eastern suburb of the capital, Damascus.
It was one of five actions reported by the opposition force, which has recently emerged as an important factor in the opposition movement as more and more soldiers have left the Syrian army.
The opposition force also reported clashes with personnel loyal to al-Assad in several areas. They include Qaboun and Arbeen, Damascus neighborhoods and Saqba, a suburb.
There was also fierce fighting in Douma, a city in the Syrian countryside.
"A clash between the Free Syrian Army and Assad's criminal gangs and his mobsters (the shabiha) in Douma, our Free Syrian military caused the Assad's gangs a lesson that they will never forget and heavy losses at the roundabout in the Douma municipality," the army said. The shabiha are pro-government militias.
Tabler said the group consists of soldiers who've left their posts instead of obeying orders to fire on protesters. They are aligning themselves with the Free Syrian Army. He said they've also had active operations in and around Homs, Idlib and other areas recently.
Opposition groups like the Free Syrian Army have been calling on the international community to help protect protesters. They have urged the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone, as it did in the Libyan conflict, and a naval blockade. Army leaders have said such policies could allow them to establish a base of operations to launch a campaign to bring down al-Assad's regime.
Full article: Syrian deserters strike military target - CNN.com
Syrian Baath Party in Damascus 'hit by rockets'
Protests have taken place in towns and cities across Syria since March
Continue reading the main story
Syria Crisis
At least two rocket-propelled grenades have hit a building of Syria's governing Baath Party in the capital Damascus, residents and activists say.
One witness said security forces had blocked off the square, while smoke was seen rising from the building.
If confirmed, it would be the first such attack reported inside the capital since the uprising began in March.
A BBC Arabic reporter at the scene saw no signs of damage but said residents reported an exchange of fire overnight.
The reports come amid growing fears of civil war in Syria, after months of unrest.
Foreign journalists are unable to move around Syria freely, making it difficult to verify reports.
The opposition Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC) said "several" RPG rockets were shot at the Baath Party building in the Mazraa neighbourhood and that two fire brigades have been dispatched to the area.
'Message to the regime'
An unnamed witness told the Reuters news agency the attack happened before dawn and said the building was mostly empty.
"Security police blocked off the square where the Baath's Damascus branch is located. But I saw smoke rising from the building and fire trucks around it," he told Reuters
"It seems to have been intended as a message to the regime," he added.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to continue his crackdown on opposition groups despite mounting international condemnation.
"The conflict will continue and the pressure to subjugate Syria will continue," he told Britain's Sunday Times newspaper.
"However, I assure you that Syria will not bow down and that it will continue to resist the pressure being imposed on it," he added.
Things continue to slowly escalate, and the 'opposition' grows bolder by the day.