Not surprising Russia is standing with Assad as he opens fire on citizens. That is ludicrous. There is no way the citizens of Syria, after have more than 7000 die, would risk more deaths. The idea putting pressure on basically unarmed citizens could enforce a ceasefire is nonsense. It is up to Assad, who is afraid of his own future, to end these deaths! This is a unilateral escalation by Assad. This is madness.
Assad will continue his attacks as long as he can get away with it and appear to have a shadow of legitimacy with Russia at his side. Russia is way out of line. There are human rights violations by Assad and it would seem now Russia as well.
The idea that civilians attempting to stop their own massacre are responsible for the returned attacks by Assad is nothing short of propaganda. The Medvedev Presidency actually approves of this? The number of dead Syrian troops is marginal compared to the deaths of Syrian civilians.
The truth of this matter is that Assad has lost the ability to project his own people's hatred of him onto Lebanon any more. For a very long time, Assad has demonized the leadership of Lebanon as a strategy of hate to distract from his own agenda. This opposition has been evident for a long time in the history of the Assad regime, it was muted until the people finally focused. This 'difference' between Assad and his people has finally come to roost.
The idea that civilians attempting to stop their own massacre are responsible for the returned attacks by Assad is nothing short of propaganda. The Medvedev Presidency actually approves of this? The number of dead Syrian troops is marginal compared to the deaths of Syrian civilians.
The truth of this matter is that Assad has lost the ability to project his own people's hatred of him onto Lebanon any more. For a very long time, Assad has demonized the leadership of Lebanon as a strategy of hate to distract from his own agenda. This opposition has been evident for a long time in the history of the Assad regime, it was muted until the people finally focused. This 'difference' between Assad and his people has finally come to roost.
Syria ceasefire 'fragile', Russia claims (click here)
10:46AM BST 17 Apr 2012
Russia has said the ceasefire in Syria is "fragile", as Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, urged countries to put more pressure on the armed opposition to co-operate with Kofi Annan's peace plan.
The claims came as activists said the Assad regime widened shelling attacks on opposition strongholds, in a fresh sign that the ceasefire is quickly unravelling.
"There really are those who are interested in the failure of Kofi Annan's plan and they actually mentioned that (opinion) even before this plan was made public," Mr Lavrov said without naming specific countries.
Russia has previously condemned some Arab states for agreeing to provide funding to the opposition Free Syrian Army....
"There are countries – there are outside forces – that are not interested in the success of current UN Security Council efforts," Mr Lavrov said....
This is unilateral action within the ceasefire initiated by Syria. The people have a right to protect themselves from what sincerely appears to be a mad man.
BEIRUT (AP) – The Syrian regime widened shelling attacks (click title to entry - thank you) on opposition strongholds Tuesday, activists said, targeting a second town in a new sign that a U.N.-brokered cease-fire is quickly unraveling despite the presence of foreign observers.
The truce is part of an international plan to launch talks between President Bashar Assad's regime and those trying to topple him. An uprising against Assad erupted 13 months ago, but became increasingly violent in response to a regime crackdown.
Regime compliance with the cease-fire has been partial, and the latest escalation further lowered expectations that the key element of special envoy Kofi Annan's plan can stick.
Annan, joint emissary for the U.N. and the Arab League, was to travel to Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday to brief the Arab League on the situation in Syria....
