Assad flashes arrogance and deception in BBC interview

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assad  re election posterIn a wide-ranging interview with the BBC’s Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad talks about the devastating civil war, the use of barrel bombs, the battle against Islamic State and al-Qaeda and relations with the US.

Bashar al-Assad’s BBC interview may not have broken any new ground regarding what the Syrian leader thinks about the tragic situation in his country or in the wider region. But it did portray a man of utter cynicism and terrifying self-confidence.

The crisis in Syria is approaching its fourth anniversary. It started in March 2011 with a popular peaceful uprising against Mr Assad, which six months later morphed into a civil war after the regime began using snipers, machine guns and tanks against the crowds. The death toll now stands at over 210,000. There are around 3 million refugees in neighboring states and a third of the 22-million-strong Syrian population, trying to flee the fighting, is internally displaced.

Watching Mr Assad smugly commenting in an almost casual way about this ongoing calamity sounded like an exercise in denial. There were no words of empathy for a population that his troops have massacred, leaving whole cities, including Homs and Aleppo, in a state of ruin reminiscent of such 20th-century horrors as Guernica or Dresden. Thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of Syrians have been detained and tortured, some to death, in Mr Assad’s dungeons. Behind the slick images of an interview in a presidential palace, a whole country is being methodically and ruthlessly sacrificed to the interests of the Assad dynasty. This is a leader who feels, or wants to appear to feel, able to discuss regional politics like any other regional leader. This is an impression that is both flawed and problematic.

It is flawed because Mr Assad lies, for example about such things as the well-documented use of barrel bombs, a lethal improvised weapon of mutilation expressly intended to kill and terrorise civilians.

Below are excerpts from the interview recorded in the Syrian capital Damascus.

Q: Mr President, you’ve lost control over large areas of Syria, the Islamic State has emerged, there are perhaps 200,000 Syrians dead, millions have lost their homes. Has Syria become a failed state?

A: No, as long as the government and the state institutions are fulfilling their duty toward the Syrian people, [we] cannot talk about failed states.

Talking about losing control is something completely different. It’s like if you have [an] invasion of terrorists coming from abroad and the government is doing its job in fighting and defending its country.

Q: Can we briefly go back to when all this started in 2011 – you’ve said that there were mistakes made in the handling of those early demonstrations. Did you make mistakes yourself?

A: No, I never said we made mistakes in handling this. I always said that “anyone could make mistakes”, but there is a difference between talking about, or asking your question about policies and about practice.

If you want to go back to policies, we took the decision to fight terrorism from the very beginning. We took the decision to make dialogue on [a] national level, and I think both policies are correct. While if you want to talk about mistakes in practice, and that some mistakes [have been] committed towards some civilian, that happened from time to time, and some people were punished for these mistakes.

Q: You’ve talked about the influence of terrorism, as you call it, from the very beginning. But I was able as a reporter to go to some of those early demonstrations inside Damascus, in areas outside as well, and people there were not saying they wanted an Islamic Caliphate – they were saying they wanted freedom, democracy – not some kind of vision that IS have now for the country. Do you think you got it wrong?

A: You in the West called it that time, and some still talk about that period as [a] peaceful demonstration period.

And I will tell you that during the first few weeks many policemen were killed. Shot dead. I don’t think they were shot dead and killed by the sound waves of the demonstrators – so it was just a fantasy to talk about this… we have to talk about facts. From the very beginning the demonstrations weren’t peaceful.

Q: What about barrel bombs, you don’t deny that your forces use them?

A: I know about the army, they use bullets, missiles, and bombs. I haven’t heard of the army using barrels, or maybe, cooking pots.

Q: Large barrels full of explosives and projectiles which are dropped from helicopters and explode with devastating effect. There’s been a lot of testimony about these things.

A: They’re called bombs. We have bombs, missiles and bullets… There is [are] no barrel bombs, we don’t have barrels.

Q: On the fight against IS and al-Qaeda, the US and others have said you cannot be a partner in that fight. Would you like to be partner, would you like to join the coalition?

A: No, definitely we cannot and we don’t have the will and we don’t want, for one simple reason: because we cannot be [in] alliance with the country who support the terrorism… because we are fighting the terrorism.

Q: You’ve been very harsh in your criticism of the Saudis. Now the Saudis say they are against IS, they are frightened because IS do not want a royal family in Saudi Arabia. So isn’t it logical that they want them out? Why would they support them?

A: First of all, the source of this Islamic State ideology, and other al-Qaeda affiliated groups are the Wahhabi that have been supported by the royal family in Saudi Arabia. So just to say that “we do” and “we don’t”, it doesn’t matter. It’s what you do – what the action that you are taking in order to prove that what you are saying is correct.

Q: Let’s talk about American attitudes. Your departure from office is still the official American policy, but there are signs that they are softening… Do you believe that you are now being seen as part of the solution?

A: First of all, we don’t breathe through the Americans, we only breathe through our citizens. That’s how we breathe, this is first. So it’s not a lifeline for us.

Q: Syria has been very isolated, you’re under sanctions here, people can’t use credit cards, you’ve been cut off from a lot of the commerce of the world. You must surely welcome a situation which might get you back into the family of nations in a way that you haven’t been since 2011?

A: We’re not against co-operation with any country, we will never be. We didn’t start this conflict with the others. They started, they supported the terrorists, they gave them the umbrella.

It’s not about isolating Syria now, it’s about an embargo on the Syrian population, on the Syrian citizens. It’s different from isolation, it’s completely different.

Q: There’s the American military in the air above Syria and the Syrian Air Force. But there haven’t been any incidents between the two, no shots seem to have been traded, no planes have been shot down. That suggests to me surely that someone is talking to someone here?

A: That’s correct, that’s correct. But again there’s no direct co-operation…

Through a third party – more than one party – Iraq and other countries. Sometimes they convey message, general message, but there’s nothing tactical.

BBC, The Guardian

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65 responses to “Assad flashes arrogance and deception in BBC interview”

  1. No Mom i did not eat the chocolate cake..i swere…i don’t know how the smears got to my face either

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar

      Btru2u, Wargame, Majoous 8 Guests, Salafists, Takfirist, Turks, Zionists favourite subject!!: Assad Assad Assad Assad

      Except that the Lebanese have reasons and the others Want Syria with no Christians alive, it’s the only time all applaud for Daesh and Wahhabi..

      1. You are so Hindtelligent, dear Hindafist, Hindjoos, Hindfirist, Hindionist, Hindangelist. It’s OK, you can still continue your MUTAH sessions with Ass ad. Don’t know who is what in that lovely relationship, though???

        1. Open your eyes Avatar
          Open your eyes

          Lol let the delusional cow defend that psychopath. Birds of a feather flock together.

          Btw the cow believes you are me and i am you. Haha
          Nice to meet you me.

          1. Yes, according to Hindafist EVERYONE who stands against EVIL Iran, Ass ad, Hezbulshaitan, ISIS, and their Allies are them. Wish they were here to confirm.

          2. Do you buy Hindafist’s story of being a Christian? Shiites are Shi*s, they will lie until their last breath.

          3. Open your eyes Avatar
            Open your eyes

            If she/he is Christian then I am mother thereasa.

          4. Hind Abyad Avatar

            It’ not the first time you talk to yourself for the audience rnian.. unfortunatly it doesn’t work and it will never work :’-‘:

        2. Hind Abyad Avatar

          Mutah right, well spoken salafist

      2. did it ever occur to you that we are right and you are not?

  2. Reasonableman Avatar
    Reasonableman

    Can’t believe BBC gave this useful idiot the time of the day.
    The overt excitement of this degenerate is sickening, you call this objective reporting?

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      I think it’s Psychoanalysis … they may be trying to figure out how he thinks … but as we see, he doesn’t, and the whole interview concept fails miserably.

      1. MekensehParty Avatar
        MekensehParty

        It’s called the Baghdad Bob syndrome in remembrance of the great comedian Muhammad Saeed Al-Sahhaf
        Has to do with projecting into another reality
        An American soldier was slapping Baghdad Bob on the back of the neck and he was saying we killed all the 3oulouj
        Assad burned Syria with his own hands and yet projects into a reality where he is still the “president” of Syria and its people.

        1. Open your eyes Avatar
          Open your eyes

          LOL i forgot about him. He was hilarious. Did he end up being a comedian?

          Btw what does ” 3oulouj” mean?

          1. MekensehParty Avatar
            MekensehParty

            3oulouj was how he called the Americans

            This guy was the #1 comedian during the Iraq war

            here’s a best of

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfAeMtcURg0

          2. Open your eyes Avatar
            Open your eyes

            LOLLLLL
            “They flew….like rats”. Haha rats fly in his world.
            I watched 5 minutes and i dont usually watch vids coz my data is limited but that was worth every byte i wasted. Omg im still laughing.
            “We thrusting them”. Lol

          3. 5thDrawer Avatar

            I think he talked his way into an ‘economics’ ministry somewhere, after he shed the uniform and walked away, before they found his boss babbling in a hole in the ground.

        2. Open your eyes Avatar
          Open your eyes

          Maybe he had a sex change and named himself hind.

          1. Whoever you are…you gotta great sense of humor. Wish people like our dear Ladyboy and he-r troop had it. Didn’t know Hindafist had a sex change, it’s not like it matters. BTW, the Hindyatollahs in Iran encourage it and most are IT (in-between) anyways.

  3. By giving Asshead free time on air, proves that BBC and its backers are supporting him.
    I cant even go on 2gb radilo to defend the assault on the muslim community . They screen and cut off calls that don’t meet their agenda.

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar

      Guests are getting exited.

      1. Open your eyes Avatar
        Open your eyes

        Your life must be very sad if all u do is count guests. Get a job.

        1. Hind Abyad Avatar

          I told you that numerous times ..parrot..too much creating new avatars then liking yourself.. rnian ..Majoos & co.

          1. Open your eyes Avatar
            Open your eyes

            Lol you are dumb. I CERTAINLY am not and have NEVER been any of those people but its obvious you are delusional and psychotic so go ahead and believe what you want. Hahaha lmfao hoho khee khee khee omg someone stop me, im laughing too much.

          2. Hind Abyad Avatar

            laugh more.. and choke..rnian, t0i, Manjoo, Guest…Open dead fish eyes.

      2. 5thDrawer Avatar

        Lots of them in Australia, I guess. ;-)))

        1. Open your eyes Avatar
          Open your eyes

          How would you know they are from austria? Unless you own this site. Oops did you give yourself away?

          1. 5thDrawer Avatar

            Stick it in your ear.

          2. Open your eyes Avatar
            Open your eyes

            Busted.

          3. Hind Abyad Avatar

            hhhh…

          4. Hind Abyad Avatar

            Austria has the best pastries, and of course beautiful waltzes:))

          5. 5thDrawer Avatar

            Wrong country … Dork.

          6. Open your eyes Avatar
            Open your eyes

            😉

    2. Maborlz Ez-Hari Avatar
      Maborlz Ez-Hari

      What assault? Has there been an assault on the moslem community? Regarding 2gb, Its their program call another station, or just stop whinging and make yourself useful. Go to syria or Iraq and give the moslem community a hand Coz the moslem communities in Australia are doing fine. People around here have mortgages and families and work, if you want to have a sook call that caliphate guy in Iraq and see if he will listen to your grievences Allan Jones and co are probably over the whole thing.

  4. Open your eyes Avatar
    Open your eyes

    “So just to say that “we do” and “we don’t”, it doesn’t matter. It’s what you do – what the action that you are taking in order to prove that what you are saying is correct.”

    Yea asshole hence you denying the barrel bombs while your ACTIONS (ie: dropping barrel bombs) prove what you are barking doesnt matter.
    May you and everyone who support you have a billion barrel bombs dropped on your ugly heyana head.

  5. cook2half Avatar

    He lies

  6. nagy_michael2 Avatar
    nagy_michael2

    why give this fucking moron a light of day. you know very well he was going to lie and he lives in denial. now let’s if hezbollah, Iran, Russia and china and many others surrogates he would be crying like a baby if not dragged from cars with the rope around his neck. But instead those powers are as much arrogant as he was and still and his ending days will be ugly and those who helped him. i hope him and Daesh will enjoy the fires in hell soon.

    1. cook2half Avatar

      Al-BBC loves terrorists

    2. Maborlz Ez-Hari Avatar
      Maborlz Ez-Hari

      I dont know about the enjoying bit

  7. Free Lebanese Avatar
    Free Lebanese

    Its not Assad fault( i,m not protecting this butcher) this guy is only a puppet between the hands of USA, Iran,Israel, Russia, China, CNN, BBC, Al Jazzera, Al Manar, and a lot more…..all of them against the innocent syrian people… They send him weapons, chemicals, hizb el shaytan fighters, iranian shit revolutionnary guards, the so called Isis (made by USA, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran,quatar, france, britain…..and all the countries pretending to fight this boogeyman and to keep him in place so the destruction of syria and all the middle east and its people continues…… Country after country are failing under destruction and chaos. Under these circumstances killing of civilians, destruction of countries,invasions are today a legitimate act. All that under the cover of war on terror… We all know who are the real terrorist in syria( assad and his thugs), in Lebanon( hizb el shaytan and his proxies), in the persian golf(the Iranian regime), saudi arabia and quatar( money financing and weapons). And to end all that we have to mention the biggest blessing of the west, specially by usa and israel who are the real orchestrators and maestro of that game… Wake up people, open ure eyes and live in peace between each others!!!! If not we will all perish together!!!!!

    1. Open your eyes Avatar
      Open your eyes

      My friend if i may correct you on something without meaning any offence. It os arabian gulf not persian gulf. There is no persia in this world.

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        You ‘correct’ everyone … no offence, of course.

        1. Open your eyes Avatar
          Open your eyes

          Except you. Now why dont you be a man and own up to being the dog that owns yalibnan!

          1. 5thDrawer Avatar

            🙂 Would be nice. You wouldn’t be ‘on’ at all. :-))))

          2. Open your eyes Avatar
            Open your eyes

            Liar! You were already caught out. The proof is there and i have screenshot it

          3. 5thDrawer Avatar

            OOooohhhh .. (shiver) … a ‘screen shot’. MMMmmmmmm …
            But … why not simply mark the story, date, time, and keep that … uses less k’s.
            Or ‘bookmark’ this … and then you can have all the following commentary too. :-)))))

          4. How about people who ‘like’ Hind and he-r troop of Hindtelligent Hindombies?

        2. Open your eyes Avatar
          Open your eyes

          Everyone??
          Exaggeration much?
          Do you have the baghdad bob syndrome?

      2. Free Lebanese Avatar
        Free Lebanese

        100 % right its the Arabian gulf, thanks for the correction !!!! Its important to make the difference!!!

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        If the guy could speak properly it might sound less like FOX. :-)))))

        1. Hind Abyad Avatar

          American style

      2. Free Lebanese Avatar
        Free Lebanese

        ISIS is the abreviation of: Israeli Secret Intelligence service…. And go make a quick search on the net about the subject and give me more news about that, unless ure an mossad agent , I won’t try to convice you…

        http://topinfopost.com/2014/08/08/isis-leader-al-baghdadi-is-a-jewish-mossad-agent-french-reports

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Come ON, Free-L. You know Israeli intelligence isn’t secret. They keep telling us they invented everything, after all. :-))))))

          1. Free Lebanese Avatar
            Free Lebanese

            I don’t believe what they say they are or what they invented, I know exactly who they are!!!! And by the way 5th Drawer I want to ask you a question, and I expect you to answer in a honnest way: Are you a hizb elshaytan supporter and do you think this party say the truth??? Thank you.

          2. 5thDrawer Avatar

            Ooops .. just saw this one, Free-L.
            ( I think he missed the last 3 years of my little chats about Nastyrallah …. can there be another explanation??)
            Are you asking ME if the ‘Party of God’ handled by El Supremo tells the truth?? Seriously?
            (sounds sincere … better think on it … whew … a toughie)

            By the way, did you ever see my Advert for the ‘Square-Meter-Bucket’ Company?
            (I have a few left ….)

    2. 5thDrawer Avatar

      An Optometrist who can’t see the crumbling cities. Like THAT should be the head of a country??

  8. He can continue to deny ,but facts are facts and this cannot be altered!!!

    1. Open your eyes Avatar
      Open your eyes

      In an ideal world that would be true but there’s a saying which goes something like this: “the victor writes the history”.

      1. MekensehParty Avatar
        MekensehParty

        There is a truer saying: The truth always appear, no matter the victor and how they wrote the story.

        1. Open your eyes Avatar
          Open your eyes

          But arent people who believe in something other than the official narrative labeled conspiracy theorists?

          1. MekensehParty Avatar
            MekensehParty

            not until they PROVE that their theory is true
            and this is where the Truth factor comes in
            Once it’s true, there is no denying it and History rewrites itself based on the new proofs

  9. Caribbean Avatar

    The west predicted Assad will fall within months. it’s 4 years now he’s still standing strong. Assad predicted that the terrorists will turned against its masters.

    and behold! the great Assad prediction have come to pass. and the west prediction will never come to pass!.Assad forever! Assad forever!

    1. Free Lebanese Avatar
      Free Lebanese

      Of course his predictions came on, he is part of the propaganda…He learned this way of acting from his father Hafez…its in their blood!!!!

  10. TheUSequalsTheIS Avatar
    TheUSequalsTheIS

    those 150,000 israelis deserved to die

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