Free Syrian Army preparing for “final battle” for Damascus, US believes Syria moving part of chemical stockpile

"Over 200" dead in new Syria massacre as Free Syrian Army preparing for “final battle” for Damascus and US believes Syria moving part of chemical stockpile

"Over 200" dead in new Syria massacre: "Government troops bombed (Treimsa) using tanks and helicopters," said by phone the president of the SOHR, Rami Abdel Rahman. The NGO has estimated that the death toll amounts to over 150, thus putting the overall daily death toll on Thursday at over 200. "Considering the small size of the town, it is perhaps the biggest massacre since the beginning of the revolution," said Mr. Abdel Rahman.

Abu Mohamad, a rebel leader of fighters based nearby has said the attack had left "over 200 dead ". According to an activist living in the province, the situation is particularly serious because the government forces shelled a mosque where many people had sought refuge. Treimsa "is now empty. Everyone is dead or has fled, "said the activist, calling himself Abu Ghazi. "About thirty army vehicles have completely surrounded the village. There was no way out. Whoever tried to escape through the fields was shot," said a fellow activist. "After the bombing, the army came (into Treimsa) with small arms and the (pro-regime militia called) Shabiha followed with knives," he added.

Free Syrian Army preparing for “final battle” for Damascus: In light of the noticeable development in the Free Syrian Army [FSA]’s military operations, not to mention the escalated pace of defections from the regular army’s forces, the FSA has announced that it is gearing up to take the fight to the al-Assad regime in Damascus. Speaking exclusively to Asharq Al-Awsat, FSA commander Colonel Riad al-Asaad revealed that “preparations for the battle of Damascus are underway and are in full swing, particularly as this operation – which will be the final and decisive confrontation with the regime – requires special preparations and arrangements”.

He added “this has led to the battle being postponed so far; however once it starts it will be resolved quickly, within a matter of weeks.” The FSA commander also stressed that “with regards to today, you could say that the situation has changed. We are now able to take decisions at the right time, after the FSA seized weapons at depots affiliated to the regime, in addition to those present in the border regions.”

'US believes Syria moving part of chemical stockpile': U.S. officials said that Syria has started to move part of its chemical weapons arsenal out of storage facilities, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The country's undeclared stockpiles of sarin nerve agent, mustard gas and cyanide have long worried U.S. officials and their allies in the region, the report said. Western nations have looked for signs amid the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad's government of any change in the location of those weapons, believed to be the world's largest stockpile.

I absolutely believe Assad will use those chemical weapons on his own supporters and people as all he sees is his regime in trouble and a last chance to kill the vermin "terrorist" protesters.

* Assad kept saying that Syria is no Libya but it is in the respect that all the fears we had in Libya essentially did not come true but heretofore have come true in Syria. This includes the fear of chemical weapons being used on the protesters. You better absolutely believe that fear will become real if Assad feels the Alawite's are in danger of losing their control over Syria.

*You also really have to wonder now about that large Russian Naval force that arrived over there recently supposedly to guard the Russian submarine base in Tartus "complete with landing marines.

* We now know Iran and probably Russia are preparing for Syria to fall to the protesters or at the very least into total disarray for years. Russia and China let alone Iran are not going to let this go down. I see their Vietnam. They will keep installing "their leaders" until they are overwhelmed and they are forced out. The entire middle east will be in this if not the world. The future direction of the middle east and the world is at stake and nothing less.

* High ranking Government officials have started defecting along with high ranking military officials. I am hoping they do so en masse because I fear they will be fighting at least Iran and Russia for total control of their beloved Syria.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Damascus residents fear regime reprisals if and when Syria falls to opposition

 
Many Syrian political activists are certain that the Syrian capital will be the scene for the final battle to topple the al-Assad regime, however they also fear that the Baathist regime will seek to carry out systematic reprisals against Damascus residents upon its ouster, particularly as the city is surrounded by heavily armed pro-regime troops and militia.
A Damascus political activist working with the opposition Local Coordination Committee [LCC], who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat under the name “Farah”, revealed that “Bashar al-Assad will not easily surrender Damascus, even if he believes that his regime has been toppled. There is a spirit of retribution in the decisions of this man and those around him, and this spirit will be transformed into a burning desire for revenge, particularly against the residents of Damascus, the city which rose up against al-Assad after he believed that they would stand by him.”

Assad: I won't quit: In an interview with German journalist Juergen Todenhoefer, the Syrian head of state Bashar Assad insisted he would not quit. "A president should not run away from problems, and we have significant problems in Syria. A president should not escape in this situation. " The interview was held on July 5 2012 in Damascus.

When asked if he believed the majority of the Syrians stand behind him, Assad replied: "Yes. Of course, I still enjoy the support of the Syrian public." Assad denied that his family alone holds the power in its hands. "The majority does not participate in the demonstrations," he said.

It is not that he is delusional, him saying the people are still behind him tells you he believes only the Alawite's are people and all other sets are vermin to be eradicated! Also, those Alawite's still behind him are because they now feel they will be eradicated.

You have to be very concerned about what is happening in Syria especially. Russia, China, and Iran are not going to allow Syria to fall to Democracy. What we saw after the voter fraud in Iran was mild compared to what the IRG will do if this movement spreads to Iran. I really wish Bashar would step down but Iran is the elephant in the room any way you look at it. The total middle east breakdown we have written about numerous times is well under way. We can only hope we keep it from erupting into WW3.

In closing: You know Putin just got himself reelected as President, he did this so he could be at the helm of Russia as he like me knows 100% that world war is our future. He plans on marshaling China who is rapidly building a more formidable military and whoever he can to take on US hegemony.Russia watched helplessly as we had our way in Libya. Putin blames what is happening in Syria on our interference and Libya for training the protesters to fight against Bashar Al-Assad. Russia and Iran will not let this be another Libya but?

*You really have to wonder now about that large Russian Naval force that arrived over there recently supposedly to guard the Russian submarine base in Tartus "complete with landing marines.

* We now know Iran and probably Russia are preparing for Syria to fall to the protesters or at the very least into total disarray for years. Russia and China let alone Iran are not going to let this go down. I see their Vietnam. They will keep installing "their leaders" until they are overwhelmed and they are forced out. The entire middle east will be in this if not the world. The future direction of the middle east and the world is at stake and nothing less.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com

Lebanese ready to fight next to Syrian 'brothers' Assad: I won't quit:

Lebanese ready to fight next to Syrian 'brothers

Lebanese ready to fight next to Syrian 'brothers': About 20 armed men enter a dilapidated barn in northeastern Lebanon, preparing to sneak across the border and fight alongside their Syrian "brothers" against the regime in Damascus. The young men decide to rest briefly at the farm near Al-Qaa in the Bekaa Valley, their arms and baggage placed against a wall. The volunteers aim is to join the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA), which is made up mostly of Syrian army deserters.

Reclining on mattresses on the ground, they dip bread into tins of sardines or tuna, their evening meal. "We will cross the border to go to Idlib (in northwest Syria). The FSA is trying to retake the city and needs all the help it can get. Let's go for it," says Abdel Hakim says in decent English. Like his comrades, the young man from the Baalbek region has dropped everything to go fight in Syria.

The defection this week of a key general with longstanding ties to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad was hailed Friday by officials in the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama as an important step towards ending the regime. Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlas, the son of former defence minister Mustafa Tlas, was reportedly smuggled by opposition activists to Turkey three days ago.

and may be en route to Paris, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters Friday during a high-level meeting of the “Friends of Syria” group in the French capital. Fabius later stated that he had no indication of Tlas’s final destination. “We welcome this defection and we believe it is significant,” Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby said, while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who took part in the Paris meeting, also praised Tlas’s defection and predicted that more would follow.

Assad: I won't quit: In an interview with German journalist Juergen Todenhoefer, the Syrian head of state Bashar Assad insisted he would not quit. "A president should not run away from problems, and we have significant problems in Syria. A president should not escape in this situation. " The interview was held on July 5 2012 in Damascus.
When asked if he believed the majority of the Syrians stand behind him, Assad replied: "Yes. Of course, I still enjoy the support of the Syrian public." Assad denied that his family alone holds the power in its hands. "The majority does not participate in the demonstrations," he said.

It is not that he is delusional, him saying the people are still behind him tells you he believes only the Alawite's are people and all other sets are vermin to be eradicated! Also, those Alawite's still behind him are because they now feel they will be eradicated.

You have to be very concerned about what is happening in Syria especially. Russia, China, and Iran are not going to allow Syria to fall to Democracy. What we saw after the voter fraud in Iran was mild compared to what the IRG will do if this movement spreads to Iran. I really wish Bashar would step down but Iran is the elephant in the room any way you look at it. The total middle east breakdown we have written about numerous times is well under way. We can only hope we keep it from erupting into WW3.

In closing: You know Putin just got himself reelected as President, he did this so he could be at the helm of Russia as he like me knows 100% that world war is our future. He plans on marshaling China who is rapidly building a more formidable military and whoever he can to take on US hegemony.Russia watched helplessly as we had our way in Libya. Putin blames what is happening in Syria on our interference and Libya for training the protesters to fight against Bashar Al-Assad. Russia and Iran will not let this be another Libya but?

* We now know Iran and probably Russia are preparing for Syria to fall to the protesters or at the very least into total disarray for years. Russia and China let alone Iran are not going to let this go down. I see their Vietnam. They will keep installing "their leaders" until they are overwhelmed and they are forced out. The entire middle east will be in this if not the world. The future direction of the middle east and the world is at stake and nothing less.

James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com