Syria - what can be done

MOnica In response to Al Jazeera's story, the chief of Syria's medical examiners association, Dr. Akram El-Shaar, denied that Hamza was tortured. El-Shaar said that he supervised the autopsy in Damascus and that the boy did not have any sign of torture. He also claimed that Hamza had been shot in the Daraa riot and that all signs of disfigurement were due to decay.[

Monica. Yes a child was killed during a demonstration, however your description of the condition of his body on return to his family has most certainly changed to that which was reported at the time.

MOnica yes Assad rules as part of the minority Alawite Muslim sect. Within Syria there are a myriad of sub-sects of the main religions including Christians. The problem within Syria is the same as that which plagues the majority if the region Sunni vs Shiite Muslims. Despite being of a minority sect Assad managed to prevent either Sunni or Shiite taking power thus protecting the minority sects including Christians. Saudi Arabia supported by the west are promoting Sunni factions and Iran supported by Russia are supporting the Shiite faction and who is protecting the minority factions?
Many Syrians still back Assad, many fled because of the war, not because of him.

Baggs, the BBC made those claims in 2014- still relevant now:

www.bbc.com/news/uk-28212724

No-one is claiming here that Assad is 'good to his people' are they? Where? The question is- will bombing them make matters better, for the Syrians- and for the world - including our grandchildrens' future?

M0nica thank you, some truth is welcome amongst the rather odd theories being propounded.

Joelsnan providing a good standard of living is completely irrelevant as to whether Assad cared for his people. He headed a repressive undemocratic government, which arrested and tortured anyone who disagreed with it. All power lay in the hands of the small Alawite Islamic sect and the Syrian war started when his people rose up against him and his repressive regime.

One of the outstanding events of the early days of the revolt was when a 13 year old boy, Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb died while in the custody of the Syrian government in Daraa. He was detained on April 29, 2011 during a protest. On May 25, 2011, his body was delivered to his family, having been badly bruised, along with burn marks, three gunshot wounds, and severed genitals. Hamza's family distributed photos and video of his body to journalists and activists.

I suppose you would describe this and other actions at the time as signs of Assads care for his citizens.

Jura 2

I am confused.

If you are not sure where did you get the information from to post such a pointed comment ?

I can only think it was in the 1980's and I have read a few posts that are not giving recent information as to who supplied Syria with chemicals but blame the UK.

Happy to be informed otherwise .

The last thing we need in that region is another vacuum as happened in Iraq.

Not sure I will go on our planned holiday in Crete either
Oh! - I will think twice as we were thinking of going to Crete.

The situation there is so complicated - I have been out all day so haven't read the link which may include this - but why are the Turks complicating matters with their aggressive attitude towards the Kurds?

I do feel for the Kurds, they have been ill-treated by so many sides.

Not sure how we got from the situation in Syria to Faslane!

Anybody who is a member of CND or a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn will no doubt be up in arms, if you will excuse the pun, over the UK and France and the US for daring to send missiles to destroy labs, and military facilities in Syria in order to stop Assad (ably assisted by Iran and Russia) making more chemicals to drop onto civilians including children and babies.
Strange old world, isn’t it??

That's a really useful video Jura, showing how complicated the situation is in Syria. Thanks for posting.

BTW as said, I would not go to Cyprus on hols now- for sure- the map in the video shows just how VERY close it is.

Not sure I will go on our planned holiday in Crete either ...

Not sure POGS - and you think it is messy- watch this- it makes your head hurt and shows that even if we did not recently supply chemical weapons and all sorts of other weaponry to Assad and other regions - we are hardly 'innocent':

youtu.be/JFpanWNgfQY

jura2 Sat 14-Apr-18 18:35:24

BBC Investigation finds the U.K. was the sole supplier to Syria of 3 important ingredients in the product of Sarin, a chemical weapon.

When was that Jura 2?

Are you talking of recently or years ago as some posters are doing regarding the UK supplying Syria.

Lemon the 1st anti-nuclear march and rally I attended was back in the early 60s when I was 14/15 (too young to join the SNP . I went as part of a Church of Scotland Youth Group and all I can remember clearly was that our Minister was arrested and charged with causing an obstruction.

I have been to Faslane several times since, mainly to support the peace camp women by taking home baking, jam and warm clothes, blankets, etc. Most recently I attended a rally there during the YES campaign.

Successive opinion polls have shown that Scottish voters are split 50/50 on whether they support renewal of Trident, whereas in England only around 25% are opposed. Also, until last year, opposition was the approved policy of the Scottish Labour Party, still is for the Scottish Greens and all the major Churches in Scotland are opposed to nuclear weapons. So not just the SNP by a long chalk.

Prior to the uprising of a minority of the diverse Syrian population, Syrians were the best educated, had good living standards and social security, their health service was excellent. Doubters should research these facts...how does this show Asad does not care for his people?

After reading paddyann's last post, I am reminded of another thread where someone described the royal family as weird. I responded that I could meet more oddball, eccentric and weird people just walking the half mile through the village from my house to the shop. Obviously most communities are like that.

But that's a report from 4 years ago, saying chemicals were supplied in the early 1980s. Then, 'in 1985 and 1986, it (the UK) rushed through new rules to stop certain chemicals being shipped to Syria over fears they were being weaponised.'
Do you think that has anything to do with what is happening in Syria now?

The fact that something is irrational and damages a countries reputation does not preclude a government from doing it.

Assad with Putin to back him up, doesn't give a toss for his personal or his country's reputation nor does he care what others think of the methods he is using. Chlorine on its own is a very effective chemical weapon and that is easily come by, from Russia or through other intermediaries. When he has it, he can make the bombs and use it.

To think he would worry about what other people think is ludicrous.

BBC Investigation finds the U.K. was the sole supplier to Syria of 3 important ingredients in the product of Sarin, a chemical weapon.

This interview really makes sense too:

www.facebook.com/Syrianewsdaily/videos/809911002538636/

I feel sick and sad and powerless.

- TM was too quick to apportion blame for the Salisbury poisonings. It did not ring true. A wise PM would have hung back from pointing the finger in order to give the statement the credibility of having been based on reasoned and detailed analysis.
- equally the rush to give credence to the chemical attack on Syrian children lacked wisdom and balance.
- the hypocrisy of all nations in the condemnation of chemical weapons hits me in the face.

And what can we do? Democracy did not stop Iraq happening; and democracy is failing us now. People have no power - we just have to stand back and watch these events unfolding, whilst under the thumb of the rumour machine and lacking detailed facts.

There truly is nothing we can do but watch this dangerous farce unfold before our eyes.

Any nuclear missiles based at Faslane have to be armed before they become effective. Nuclear energy generators and storage facilities are as much if not more of a risk to greater populated areas.
Faslane is the Naval Nuclear base. The army and airforce will have nuclear storage facilities based elsewhere in the UK

There is a lot of experienced people out there, including the ex UK Ambassador to Syria- who has said it makes totally NO sense for Assad to attack his own people with chemical weapons at this time. He has been gagged. But there are a lot of info out there, which indicates that, as for Irak and weapons of mass destruction- which was a fabricated lie indeed- the same thing is happening now. The reasons are complex- Trump is in trouble, and the US is losing the war- and Mrs May is in big trouble too- and desperate for allies and business deals to replace the European market.

But mainly, it is- yet again- about oil- and the fact the Russian and Chinese are now controlling the market- and by-passing the $ and the £. OIL - again.

This man is no political expert- but he seems to understand the underlying issues really well. I did post on the other thread very recently:

www.facebook.com/indycargordonross/videos/2054608657901783/

we were lied to about Irak - and I am 100% sure we are being lied to now. Irak was not a terrible 'mistake' ..

being an SNP voter has damn all to do with my opposition of war...I've been a fully paid up member of CND for decades .These WMD that live just a few miles from my door pollute the waters around the area where my children and GC live.The incidences of cancers and other diseases are much higher here than in other parts of the country .

The dumping of waste in the lochs is common knowledge ,yet nothing is ever done about it.Accidents happen daily,the alarm can clearly be heard from my D's home .Its not the way we want to live .

I do understand that it is much more convenient for you who live "down south" to have this facility out of your way .You can be happy the MOD agrees with you .The statement I made earlier came direct from the MOD ....The nuclear facility is too dangerous for the people of Devonport ..it is much better sited at Faslane .Clearly the people of THIS area dont count!!