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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Breaking News: Syria's Defence Minister killed in suicide bomb attack


RT reports:

Several Syrian government officials have been badly wounded by a suicide bombing attack at a national security building in Damascus. State TV says the country’s Defense Minister Gen. Daoud Rajha was killed by the attack.
A meeting of Syrian ministers and security officials was taking place on the premises at the time of the blast. 

So, the terrorists have struck again- oops sorry, I shouldn't use the word 'terrorists'-I forgot it's only meant to be used when people who aren't on 'our' side carry out such attacks......

UPDATE:

The Guardian reports:

The defence minister, Gen Dawoud Rajha, was a Greek Orthodox Christian from Damascus. Aged 65, he was appointed defence minister last August. He had previously served as the army's chief of staff.  


It seems that President Assad's brother-in-law has also been killed in the bombing.


Some people seem quite delighted about today's events.

Here’s Sultan Al Qassemi boasting on Twitter about how they are ‘dropping like flies’

We’ve got some great peace-loving, moderate ‘allies’ in Syria, haven’t we?

UPDATE: 'Don't be duped by Western humanitarian rhetoric on Syria': an interview with Russia's US Ambassador Churkin, here on RT.

We know those greatest humanists in the world – US and UK – intervened in Iraq, for instance, citing all sorts of noble pretexts, in that particular case – non-existent weapons of mass destruction. What it caused – 150 thousand civilian deaths alone, to say nothing about millions of refugees, displaced persons and the whole dislocation in the country. So, don’t be duped by humanitarian rhetoric. There is much more geopolitics in their policy in Syria than humanism

I must add that after Yugoslavia, after Afghanistan, after Iraq, and after Libya, that anyone who does believe that the west & its allies are motivated by humanitarian concerns in Syria, must be extraordinarily naive.


29 comments:

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Robert said...

Thanks for posting this, Mr Clark. I hope it does some good, though I fear it won't.

Neil Clark said...

Thanks, Robert. It seems that terrorists blowing people to kingdom come is fine if they're on the 'wrong' side in Syria.

brian said...

Eyewitness: post-attack Damascus

| 19 JULY 2012 Damascus residents interviewed by the Voice of Russia correspondent Nawaf Ibrahim [Editor’s note: these testimonies coincide with the on-the-ground reports from Voltaire Network chairman, Thierry Meyssan].

What’s going on in the city now? How are you feeling about it?

Yara Ismail: Generally, life in Damascus is returning to normal after the July 18 blast. People are recovering from fear and desperation they all feel. As for me, I’m a little smitten. But, I’m happy to see that life goes on in the city. Yesterday, we were walking around and saw people eating out in restaurants and cafés, though they were few. I saw people in the markets buying stuff for Ramadan. Nobody stopped going to work or school.

Muhammad al-Deri: What is really going on in Damascus is that even those who were not physically hurt by the attack are hurt morally. The killed officials were real leaders who fought for Syria and its people. It’s a great loss for us all. Officers who died in the blast were among Syria’s best people. However, the deaths wouldn’t weaken the Syrian army as our ex President Hafez al-Assad created powerful troops indeed, and they comprise top officers.

Tell us about Bashar Assad. It is true that he can be easily contacted by ordinary people?

Muhammad al-Deri: Absolutely true. I met him twice being part of youth activists. We don’t perceive him as a president, he is family for us. When one talks to him, Assad behaves friendly and though one understands that he is a president it’s very easy to talk to him. Assad is supported by over 80% of Syrians and he seeks peace by all means as the majority of Syrians do. Thus, we are so grateful to Russia for all its efforts to establish a dialogue between the government and the opposition. We are for talks, not weapons.
http://www.voltairenet.org/Eyewitness-post-attack-Damascus

brian said...

a reminder of a similar event in 1946:
'Sunday marks the anniversary of the 1946 attack on the British. My 91-year-old grandfather helped carry it out.'
http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/blowing-up-the-king-david-hotel/

brian said...

On the question of how the top brass of the ministry of defense were killed, I'm told that a briefcase bag full of explosives was left in the room and detonated by remote control, and the person who did it worked daily in the building where it happened (working as a secretary as "Brian" already posted). I get that info from http://www.facebook.com/MhbyAlalamytAlmqawmtHnaAlsalh which is a blog in Arabic by a well-informed and well-connected person in Syria who reports it as a fact, not as a rumour, and this is a person who is, on the basis of my previous visits to the blog, sensible and conscientious and doesn't rehash unreliable rumours of unknown origination. On the other hand, we still haven't had an official account of how it happened. Until we do, we don't know for sure how exactly it happened.

It is common in office buildings for meeting rooms to be located in the interior of the building, i.e. in a room with no windows. The top brass were probably in a meeting room in the interior of the building, and the breifcase bag of explosives was on the table or under the table. SANA has officially reported that Interior Minister Mohammed Al-Shaar was at the meeting and survived the explosion. Hence, explosion damage on the exterior of the building is not to be expected as likely.
Posted by: Parviziyi | Jul 20, 2012 7:01:25 AM | 59

Neil Clark said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Neil Clark said...

Hi Brian,
Seems clear that the bomb was timed to coincide with the planned UN meeting. Hague and co, far from condemning it, tried to use it to get their way for a UN resolution which would have allowed military intervention (Chapter 7). Thankfully, the Russians & Chinese held firm again against the serial warmongers.

brian said...

"Progressive" Journalism's Legacy of Deceit

By Prof. James F. Tracy
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31942.htm
July 20, 2012 "Information Clearing House" -- Progressive-left media persist in acting as propaganda outlets for the US-NATO destabilization of Syria, thus placating a politically conscious audience that might otherwise be mobilized against acts of imperialism and violence. The historical record suggests how this is not the first time "Progressive publicists" were used to sell a war.
A recent report in the UK Guardian by Charlie Skelton explains that Western news outlets remain willing victims (or accomplices) in a propaganda campaign for US -NATO led Syrian intervention being carried out by skilled and well-financed public relations practitioners. According to Skelton, “the spokespeople, the ‘experts on Syria’, the ‘democracy activists’ … The people who ‘urge’ and ‘warn’ and ‘call for action’" against the Assad regime are themselves part of a sophisticated and well-heeled public relations effort to allow NATO forces to give Syria the same medicine administered to Libya in 2011. “They're selling the idea of military intervention and regime change,” Skelton reports,
“and the mainstream news is hungry to buy. Many of the "activists" and spokespeople representing the Syrian opposition are closely (and in many cases financially) interlinked with the US and London – the very people who would be doing the intervening. Which means information and statistics from these sources isn't necessarily pure news – it's a sales pitch, a PR campaign.”[1]
If one thinks that a revelation of this magnitude would be cause for other major Western news media to reassess their reportage of the Syrian situation they would be greatly mistaken. Amy Goodman's Democracy Now is a case in point. Since the beginning of the “Arab Spring” color revolutions the foremost broadcast venue of “independent” progressive-Left journalism in the United States has used its reportage to obfuscate and thereby advance the campaign for regime change in Egypt, Libya, and now Syria. The tactics of disinformation and death squads employed in Libya and Syria should be easily recognizable since they were refined against popular Central American moves toward popular enfranchisement by the Reagan administration during the 1980s.

brian said...

Amnesty and SOHR: buddies in arms:
'While much attention has been raised on the modus operandi of both groups, international organizations and media outlets quoting the numbers have largely gone unquestioned. Most seem to favor Abulrahman as their source.

Amnesty International has maintained a long relationship with Rami Abdulrahman. Al-Akhbar understands they have been meeting with him in person for years. “Amnesty International has been receiving information from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London based non-governmental organization, since its establishment in 2006,” an Amnesty officer said speaking on condition of anonymity. “Over the years the information provided by the Observatory has generally been credible and well researched and founded.”'
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31934.htm
LOL: amnesty, SOHR is not credible at all! nor are u

Robert (again) said...

I've only just discovered, Mr Clark, that you are an admirer of Saki's writings. Another good reason to study your output!

brian said...

Syrian Truth l SANA l Turkish Labor Party Deputy Chairman: We Have Clear Evidence That Turkish President Incited Terrorism and War on Syria

Jul 20, 2012

Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Labor Party Hasan Basri Ozbey denounced the position of Turkish President Abdullah Gul who is encouraging terrorists to commit crimes in Syria, saying that the Labor Party will file a complaint against Gul to try him in the Higher Court.

In a press statement published on Friday, Ozbey said that his party will file a complaint to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the Attorney General of the Higher Court to try Gul, affirming that the Labor Party has clear evidence that the latter incited terrorism and war on Syria and signed a secret agreement with the United States, which alone is grounds for trial.

He said that Gul's statement after the terrorist bombing that targeted the National Security HQ in Damascus was shameful and disgraceful to Turkish citizens, affirming that Gul didn't fulfill his duties and responsibilities as a statesman towards an act of terrorism against the officials of a neighboring countries.

Ozbey said that Gul encouraged the terrorists by saying that the Syrian government isn't legitimate instead of denouncing the crime, adding that his statements constitute a crime according to the Turkish penal code.

He went on to note that world media – primary US media – has unveiled the fact the current Turkish government headed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan is among the top governments in terms of organizing terrorist operations in Syria and providing weapons to terrorists in it, all under instructions from the US.

Ozbey pointed out that Gul himself admitted that the ruling Justice and Development Party signed a secret agreement with former US Secretary of State Colin Powell in April 2, 2003, and that these admissions were printed in Vatan newspaper in May 24, 2004.
etc
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1167117&l=a8586927a9&id=304084042989240

Neil Clark said...

Hi Robert,

Yes, I'm a HUGE Saki fan. Pleased to hear you are too!

Hi Brian: Really good that Turkey's political elite are being challenged over their aggressive policy towards Syria. The stance of the Turkish government does not have majority public support inside the country.
Let's hope Ozbey's legal challenge is successful.

Charlie Skelton's Guardian piece was a great expose of the western links of the Syrian opposition, but the illiberal liberals weren't too happy with it, surprise surprise.

neil craig said...

Current reporting seems to fit with it not being a swuicide bomb but a preplaced one as Brian says. Closer to the IRA Brighton bomb than a typical arabic terrorist.

I have seen it said that the Gulf emirates are "buying" Syrian officials. If so for a bit more they could buy one willing to leave a bomb before departing.

This, however, would require good intel on where and when such "high vale targets" would be present. This might come from the turncoat but I think a more certain source would be the sort of electronic intel GCHQ & Langley are undeniably good at.

Overall this seems more consistent with a well planned western operation, based on western intel, using an arab recruited with Gulf oil money and contacts than the sort of bloody but incoherent terrorism our al Quaeda allies in Syria, Libya and elsewhere, have recently achieved.

brian said...

on the assassination of the syrian generals:
Lilly Martin Sahiounie
The American Ambassador's residence in Damascus is surrounded by the Syrian Arab Army. We now know that a Syrian man is inside the residence. This man is a University student. This man has been accused, by his fellow accomplices, with bombing the Security building, last Wednesday, in which now 4 senior officials have died. The bomb was detonated by remote control and the Syrian man now inside the US Ambassador's residence in Damascus is the person who detonated the bomb and from that location. The bombing was planned and executed by several people, some are in custody and giving information about those involved. The last official to die yesterday, from his wounds on Wednesday, gave information about having trusted that University student with important security information, concerning the meeting. It would appear that the United States of American is involved in this bombing possibly. I don't like to make accusations without proof against my own country, so I am careful about stating the situation in terms which are truthful. The material used in the explosion has been found and examined and is found to be a very sophisticated substance, not the common C4 and other stuff which is everywhere. No, instead this substance is found to be of a grade and type which is not available to common terrorists, but it is a form which is available for use by military only, and not just any military, but of a specific origin. The source of this type of explosive material is rather rare, and therefor can be used to trace it back to the actual manufacturer. This information comes from Damascus, via ShamFM, which is a Damascus media.

neil craig said...

"The United States has suspended operations of our Embassy in Damascus as of February 6. Ambassador Ford and all American personnel have now departed the country."
http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2012/02/20120206113017su0.1708577.html#axzz1lckl4V6S017su0.1708577.html#axzz1lckl4V6S

I do not find parts of brian's previous post unlikely but if the US embassy is closed it cannot be providing refuge. Always follow the evidence, even when the only evidence is lack of evidence.

FaridaSamantha said...

Correct Neil Craig! There is overwhelming and irefutable intelligence as well as evidence that Saudi Arabia as well as the Gulf Kingdoms and Sheikdoms are the ones who are paying off the Syrian rebels. These countries are not even "democratic" and they brutally crushed protesters in their own countries. We don't know about the Syrian embassy but we do know that there is evidence that the NATO-GCC alliance wants to overthrow the Assad government. These people are both corrupt and evil.

FaridaSamantha said...

The NATO and GCC countries will do all they can until they overthrow the Syrian government. The "Free Syrian Army" is funded by the Gulf States and they include members of Al Queada. It's even worse Ayman al-Zawahiri has also supported them. Why are the American and British and Western governments doing this. Wake up everybody!

Neil Clark said...

FaridaSamantha: Great to hear from you- people do need to wake up over what's happening in Syria- I totally agree. Pleased that you and Neil Craig are in agreement on this one! Best wishes.

brian said...

The FSA: NOT Free NOT Syrian and NOT an Army:

'We arrived to Midan, to the Police center; they sent us in a tanked vehicle with some soldiers to accompany us. We got down in the heart of a popular area where streets are narrow and houses are traditional (irregular houses). The quarter was empty of inhabitants. Soldiers told us that Syrian army helped them to evacuate the quarter before starting its operation. We saw traces of fights everywhere. Bullets’ caps everywhere. We wanted to see bodies of fighters of the so-called FSA (I said “the SO-CALLED” because the bodies belonged to NON-Syrian nationalities!) Answering a question of the journalist, soldiers said that most of the foreign fighters are Libyan, Afghan, Pakistani and other Arabic nationalities.'
http://nsnbc.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/syriaonline%C2%B4s-iyad-khuder-reports-from-damascus/

brian said...

on the turkish jet:

http://newsaboutsyria.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/us-tricked-erdogan-fact-behind-downing.html

and
Syrian refugees are fearing rebels, not Assad!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH7ilDsHQQ8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

neil craig said...

Refugees fleeing the rebels being portrayed as fleeing the government comes straight out of the playbook used for Kosovo. Then the BBC were caught broadcasting "news" of fleeing refugees with a woman telling the "translator" "it wasn't the government it was the bombers we were running from" which got "translated" into the opposite.

The BBC is not a news provider, it is the corrupt totalitarian propaganda organistation George Orwell parodied with his Ministry of Truth.

FaridaSamantha said...

We found a new information that the Kosovan "Government" has offered to train members of the Kosoov Liberation Army. Just look up at Google and you will find out that we are correct. Neil Craig it is much worse than media portrayal. The Kosovo "government" is reported to be training the Syrian rebels. These people are all very evil. Wake up and stop these people now!

neil craig said...

The KLA in turn was recruited from Albanian gangsters worldwide, including in New york hails. The effective buts of the Bosnain "national army" from al Quaeda Mujahadden. The Libyan "democratic army" from al Quaeda (including someine we rendited to Gaddafi.

It looks like the world rulers are establishing their own mercenary terrorist units/police force to be used as deniable ground forces. Not as disciplined or civilised as the British Empire's Ghurkas.

Increasingly we see

brian said...

'One veteran Turkish journalist whom this author interviewed in Ankara in April, just back from an extensive tour of Syria, gave his eyewitness account of the capture of a small band of “opposition” fighters. The journalist, fluent in Arabic, was astonished as he witnessed the head of the rebels demand to know why their military captors spoke Arabic. When told that was their native language, the rebel leader blurted out, “But you should speak Hebrew, you’re with the Israeli Army aren’t you?”
So, that's why the rebels don't go after Israel.. '
http://deadlinelive.info/2012/07/23/putins-geopolitical-chess-game-with-washington-in-syria-and-eurasia-f-william-engdahl/

recalls Anhar Kochnevas:
'There are a lot of soldiers of fortune among the bandits. They are Chechens, Romanians, French, Libyans, and Afghans. Moreover, there was a very funny accident with Afghan soldiers. A few Afghans were caught and asked, ‘What are you doing here?’ They replied, ‘We were told that we came to Israel, and at night we are shooting at Israeli buses. We are fighting with the enemy to liberate Palestine.’ It might be funny, but it is true. The guys were really surprised, ‘Are we in Syria? We thought we were in Israel"
http://gbtimes.com/third-angle/syria/syria/eyewitness-account-media-lies-about-syria

so how many of the insurgents believe the are fighting israelis?????

FaridaSamantha said...

That's correct Neil Craig very correct and true. We all know about this. Just Google it up and find out. Yes we know the origins but you should look at this one too. The so-called "Free Syrian Army" is offered to be trained by the "government of Kosovo". This is happening. This has to be reported to everyone and the people who are doing this must be stopped now.

brian said...

Alex Thomson is in Syria for the British Channel 4. He put up a Q&A at his blog. Some excerpts:

What will happen in Aleppo?
Probably what happened in Damascus – the rebels will lose.
...
But the rebels look to be doing well on TV?

That’s because they are winning the propaganda war better than the real war.
...
But why is the Syrian army shelling its own people?

You could just as easily ask why are the rebels using the Syrian people as human shields? It’s a dirty civil war and the rebels sometimes choose to fight in residential areas.
...
So what do Syrians want?

Hard to tell. But for sure this is not Egypt – there are no Tahrir Squares or vast protests against the regime.

There is no discernible sign in any of the big cities – Homs, Aleppo and Damascus for example,that the people even wish to rise up against the regime.
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2012/07/syria-a-turn-in-western-media-coverage.html

brian said...

even NT calls them 'islamic extremists'(which is what they are) and admits many arent even syrian
'Two foreign journalists captured by Islamic extremists in Syria and held for a week were rescued by Syrian opposition fighters, one of them said on Friday...Mr. Oerlemans said their captors apparently included no Syrian fighters, but instead jihadists from Bangladesh, Britain, Chechnya and Pakistan...“They were only foreign jihadis; I don’t think there was one Syrian among them,” Mr. Oerlemans said...“They were definitely quite extreme in their religious beliefs,” he said. “All day we were spoken to about the Koran and how they would bring Shariah law to Syria. I don’t think they were Al Qaeda; they seemed too amateurish for that. They said, ‘We’re not Al Qaeda, but Al Qaeda is down the road.’”...'
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/world/middleeast/jeroen-oerlemans-john-cantile-two-journalists-freed-by-islamic-fighters-in-syria-after-weeklong-ordeal.html?_r=1

so UK is now harboring islamic terrorists...some are also Chechnya.

according to the Bush Doctrine the UK is now a base of terrorism and can be attacked by US forces:
http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/defense/a/The-Bush-Doctrine.htm

neil craig said...

The Israelis are treating credibly a claim that Syrian intelligence has killed the Saudi intelligence chief because he and the Americans organised the Damascus bomb.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/pro-assad-websites-claim-syria-has-killed-saudi-intelligence-chief-to-avenge-damascus-bombing/

No idea whether they have but clearly the assumption is being made that that bomb was indeed a foreign attack not indigenous rebellion. Don't expect it to appear in the british media.

HT to Steve Sailer for finding this.