Supporters of Syrian Dictatorship: Political Dissonance?

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by Ghassan Karam

Many of the conflicts, both inter nations and intra states, would not exist had consistent yardsticks been applied and had we interested parties been driven by the logic of “what is good for the goose is good for the gander”. Unfortunately this is not the case and never will be.

Obviously the above is not meant to justify the rationalization that the supporters of the Syrian Ba’ath are using to justify acts that they would have opposed had these acts been committed by other states or by an opposing group. One of the strongest cases in support of this point is the absolute derision that greeted the George Bush declaration of the right for pre-emptive strikes by practically all nations but later on the application of this contemptuous logic was adopted and even implemented  by many of the same states that had opposed it.

I think that these efforts to accept an action at one time and oppose it at another stem from the tendency to arrive at a position and then find means of justifying it i.e. reverse engineering. This tendency to act irrationally is described by psychologists as Political dissonance. This is simply the inability to think logically whenever the facts do not agree with our preconceived cognition. Professor Larry Bartels, a political scientist at Princeton University explains it this way: “what they’re really doing is inventing facts or ignoring facts so that they can rationalize decisions they’ve already made.”

The above is very evident if one reviews the various stages that the arguments by the regime supporters in Syria have gone through over the past year. They started by stating emphatically that the Arab spring will not find its way into Syria since the Syrian people are totally satisfied with their lot and are confident that the Syrian dictatorship will reform itself out of existence :-). Then once the demonstrations started the supporters dismissed all of them as being the work of, literally speaking,  a few hundred dissatisfied individuals. But as the demonstrations grew and spread then the participants were accused of being foreign agents. When the authorities decided to hit back hard by employing tanks, heavy machine gun fire against civilians in residential neighbourhoods the regime supporters argued that this level of response was perfectly acceptable since the government forces have not employed even 10% of the fire power at their disposal (what a scary logic is that?).

All throughout this metamorphosis the language used was also undergoing change. It evolved from a handful of losers to foreign agents to traitors and along the way the cause of these “losers” started being described as having some legitimacy but only if they would submit to the dictates of their tormentors. No wonder cognitive dissonance is described as a malady that cannot be corrected since the suspicion is that it is hard wired into people.

Regime supporters are at the moment using every opportunity to demonize the uprising by pointing to its use of arms as being proof that those that are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice are doing so for the benefit of foreigners. That is laughable when the opposition was in essence driven into armed struggle by the policies of the regime itself that saw fit to marshal its military against dissenters. Unfortunately the Syrian opposition has played into the hands of the Syrian government by taking up arms in self defense. I wish that the opposition could have stayed peaceful and had instead concentrated on civil disobedience measures. But the fact that they did not is a disagreement about tactics and not goals. This is ultimately the weakness of the regime supporters. They are willing to keep adopting different arguments to justify and rationalize any policies adopted by the regime to suppress demonstrators, violate human rights, support armed struggle outside Syria and continue the brutal, cruel and deadly oppression of those that dare ask for a better life and a more democratic one.

Since the major criticism of the uprising by the regime centers on the use of arms by the opposition then does that mean that the regime supporters would accept massive well organized civil disobedience activities instead? I don’t think so since I am of the opinion that if that was to take place then those who favour the status quo would change tactics and would paint the demonstrators as uneducated, unskilled and as being paid mercenaries of KSA, Qatar and the US. The regime supporters are not opposing the uprising because they have a disagreement with the methods but they are opposing the uprising simply because it is asking for a regime change, a cruel dictatorship that is willing to employ any method to continue its undemocratic rule.

Ultimately it is the Assad clan that is responsible for the current state of unrest in Syria and for the bloodshed. No amount of justification or rationalization can ever legitimize a dictatorship especially if one believes that rulers must have the consent of the governed.

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92 responses to “Supporters of Syrian Dictatorship: Political Dissonance?”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar

    Again, excellent commentary Ghassan. Thank you.

  2.  Avatar

    Again, excellent commentary Ghassan. Thank you.

  3. prophettt Avatar

    Ghassan,
    As I have said many times on this very forum and  others, the Syrian revolution has been kidnapped by the Syrian opposition stationed outside of Syria, and by extremist  and radical groups who seem to be ready to move from one battle field to another.
    Non of what I just said justify the brutal oppression and killing by the regime.As you rightly pointed out in your article and on previous occasions, the biggest mistake the opposition made was to turn this revolution into a military conflict.And for that, I blame the external Syrian opposition groups who are willing to accept support from anyone and from anywhere,including the extremists,and those states who preach what they don’t practice.Had this revolution stayed peaceful,and had it evolved into civil disobedience, we would have been talking about the deposed dictator instead of Assad regime and the extremists. This has turned into a real war,and no longer a revolution as it should have stayed.

    It seems that the regime is getting sympathy from many people who are fearing the alternative, especially when the military opposition is spearheaded by the Islamist and the extremists.No doubt that there are those who would support the Syrian regime regardless of what happens,especially when it seems that western community and the so called Arab league  has shown so much interest in democracy and freedom for the Syrian people at a time when those Arab states  are just doing a pay back to their old friend Assad.
    A year ago , we had a discussion on this  forum of which both of us agreed that the Arab spring was on its way to Syria,and that the Syrian battle would be the longest and the bloodiest. We both agreed, not knowing or predicting that this revolution would become a military one; Having it turning out to be so, makes our prediction even bloodier, but not necessarily  more beneficial for the revolution or the people of Syria.It is no surprise that both sides are fighting to be right.Unfortunately, it became a stalemate where neither the regime can crush the aspiration of the Syrian people,nor can the opposition topple the regime by force.As a result, all parties involved, including Arab states and western countries are re-assessing their positions and plans.
    The fear of the alternative is being felt by all ,and a different approach would have to be found where a solution similar to that of Yemen might me the only solution.
    No one wants the extremists to rule Syria.I think the west is happy that Assad is destroying Homs on top of its citizens and on top of the extremists who seem to have made a base out of that city.It would allow the regime to show its true nature,and therefor it looses whatever legitimacy it might still have.
    All the cries we hear  from the west and the Arab states is nothing but hypocrisy.Destruction of Syria as a state, destruction of the radicals, and weakening the regime might just be the main purpose of many countries interested in the Syrian conflict.
    I hate to sound cold, but nations never base their policies on emotions, but rather on interests.The world has witnessed many conflicts where millions of innocent people were murdered, but only when  interests mattered, the world cared to get involved.Millions of people were massacred in Africa during the last 15 year, No thing was done, except indictment of few people here and there. Not even enough humanitarian assistance was provided.
    At the end of day, thousands more people are dead, a destroyed state, a weaker state would emerge, which would need years to rebuild itself before it can play any role in the regional politics of the middle east. This result might interest many nations; regional, Arab,and international.

  4.  Avatar

    Ghassan,
    As I have said many times on this very forum and  others, the Syrian revolution has been kidnapped by the Syrian opposition stationed outside of Syria, and by extremist  and radical groups who seem to be ready to move from one battle field to another.
    Non of what I just said justify the brutal oppression and killing by the regime.As you rightly pointed out in your article and on previous occasions, the biggest mistake the opposition made was to turn this revolution into a military conflict.And for that, I blame the external Syrian revolution who is willing to accept support from anyone and from anywhere, including the extremists,and those states who preach what they don’t practice.Had this revolution stayed peaceful,and had it evolved into civil disobedience, we would have been talking about the deposed dictator instead of Assad regime and the extremists. This has turned into a real war,and no longer a revolution as it should have stayed.

    It seems that the regime is getting sympathy from many people who are fearing the alternative, especially when the military opposition is spearheaded by the Islamist and the extremists.No doubt that there are those who would support the Syrian regime regardless of what happens,especially when it seems that western community and the so called Arab league  has shown so much interest in democracy and freedom for the Syrian people at a time when those Arab states  are just doing a pay back to their old friend Assad.
    A year ago , we had a discussion on this  forum of which both of us agreed that the Arab spring was on its way to Syria,and that the Syrian battle would be the longest and the bloodiest. We both agreed, not knowing or predicting that this revolution would become a military one; Having it turning out to be so, makes our prediction even bloodier, but not necessarily  more beneficial for the revolution or the people of Syria.It is no surprise that both sides are fighting to be right.Unfortunately, it became a stalemate where neither the regime can crush the aspiration of the Syrian people,nor can the opposition topple the regime by force.As a result, all parties involved, including Arab states and western countries are re-assessing their positions and plans.
    The fear of the alternative is being felt by all ,and a different approach would have to be found where a solution similar to that of Yemen might me the only solution.
    No one wants the extremists to rule Syria.I think the west is happy that Assad is destroying Homs on to of each citizens and on top of the extremists who seem to have made a base out of that city.All the cries we hear  from the west and the Arab states is nothing but hypocrisy.Destruction of Syria as a state, destruction of the radicals, and weakening the regime might just be the main purpose of many countries interested in the Syrian conflict.
    I hate to sound cold, but nations never base their policies on emotions, but rather on interests.the world has witnessed many conflicts where millions of innocent people were murdered, but only when  interests mattered, these countries cared.

    1. prophett,
                 As you correctly recalled many of us predicted a bloody uprising in Syria not only when the Arab Spring started about 14 months ago but even when there was no Arab spring. The democratization of the Arab world was inevitable and Syria promised to be the bloodiest of the all because no one could see the Baath relinquishing power after 40 years without a fight.
               Again, as you well know my personal preference is for a peaceful uprising but unfortunately that is not the case. So we agree on most things except one. Yes a few are taking advantage of the uprising , but that is not surprising. The surprise would have been if no one tried to take advantage of what is going on. Yet I am not willing to say that the Syrian revolution has been hijacked. We simply do not know. I am convinced that the Syrians, just like all people want dignity and self respect. The Ba’ath is not helping its cause by creating all this mayhem and destruction. They will wind up with a cadre of millions that are willing ti carry the fight. There is no excuse for the bombardment of residential neighbourhoods . Bashar might hang around for a while but unfortunately he is intent on taking everyone down with him. He is fighting like a cornered cat by lashing out at everyone and everything. He will have to go and we have to hope that whatever comes next will be a step forward.

      1. are you a salafist or zionist mr karam,,,just kidding good night.

        1.  Avatar

          he is the two you know as the stance put it Everywhere where money is …..

      2.  Avatar

        did you see a cornered rat!! i think rat is the correct assad demonstration do you agree with me?

      3.  Avatar

        Ghassan,

        Can you please tell me how is it you trust any of this,
        when the countries that are fighting for the Syrians,
        are the same countries that dont let there woman drive,
        vote,walk in front of a man,dont allow churches or synagouges,
        how can a man of your education level and knowledge tell
        us that the nations of the oppressed are teaching the nations
        of the world to un oppress,its a joke and its sad that people
        still dont see the game being played here,you will be writing
        a blog one day and it will be titled “The collosal mistakes of Damascus”,
        Peace

        1.  Avatar

          Now THERE’S a ‘user-name’ wrapped in a conspiracy …. hahahahahahhaha
          Are there more than 20 ?? My God.

        2. Are you talking about the confederacy rising again and bringing back slavery?

          Just a joke man dont take it too seriously…..

          I dont trust anything I hear and only 1% of what I see on the media these days. Its all a lie.
          Our leaders are satanic Illuminati pawns and they want chaos in the middle east so they can get their ww3 as albert pike ordered.

          Just because they dress like Muslims or act like good Christians is no reason to trust these criminals. How many so called religious people have been arrested for child molestation?

          Do a google search on Bohemian Grove and watch some videos on youtube.

          Its all a scam.

          By the way 5thdrawer, I sold the website a while ago just had not removed it from my profile. It was a pimping operation if you consider people paying me to join a dating site pimping…..

        3. The Southwillriseagain20,
                                              What are you talking about? Did you post this by mistake? Who is praising the Syrian regime?  ………

        4.  Avatar

          Ghassan,

          No, My point was how can you trust an oppostion made up of
          nations that oppress there own people,for Saudia Arabia,
          Al Qaeada and Hamas to support the syrian revolution to
          me it loses all crediblity right there,my question to you
          was how can you over look the people who are supporting
          this and not tell me it loses credibilty and gain proof for
          a much more hidden agenda.Thanks

        5.  Avatar

          Get another zero …. 😉

        6.  Avatar

          come on Ghassam is on the pay list of riyyad

        7.  Avatar

          The general response when someone aspires to a good side (like liberal women in close cultures), although they, as individual, don’t practice the aspiration, it is not their fault: Practically it is hard to change adults, habits and society practices, and specially the ones founded over religious foundations. Nonetheless we should always look to the future and the children not to inherit the adults limitations for change. the hypocrisy between what people preach and desire and what they practice is just human. If Arabs want to Liberate Syria and they are not free themselves, I think we shouldn’t lose the opportunity.

      4.  Avatar

        Ghassan,Thanks for your reply.
         I understand  that we disagree on whether the Syrian peaceful uprising  was hijacked by the militants and the extremists who are being manipulated by opportunists, or not,and I totally respect that.
              If I may, I’d like to elaborate on my views on this point a little further,hoping to narrow down our differences .     My view is that the greatest majority of the victims have been killed during military confrontations ,and not during protests. Even now, we see videos(aired by the opposition) of large protests throughout Syrian cities with no shooting taking place. I’m not suggesting that the regime is being tolerant  toward peaceful protest by any means, It has been killing people  for no reasons, but the extremists made  it easier for the regime to launch its military machine with full scale when It was reluctant to do so  at the beginning.The results are much higher casualties,and much more destruction.    I just don’t know what would be left of Syria if this conflict is to continue until one side wins.What would a win,as difficult and costly as it might get, mean to either side?     Recent experiences of where the extremists took arms for one reason or another, have all resulted in chaotic situations.No democracy can be built by those who act on what they believe to be God’s orders.No good would come out of those who claim to be God’s hand on earth.No freedom  can flourish at the hands of those who only recognize their own freedom to choose for other.      The reason I’m making these points is to remind you that at the start of the Syrian uprising, we saw signs and slogans that resonated with what we believed to be aspirations for freedom and  democracy, but what we see nowadays are slogans that take Syrians back hundreds of years.I believe that millions of Syrians who went out protesting and revolting peacefully against the regime have pulled out of the streets because of their fear of the uncertainties of the future. No wonder that Allepo and Damascus have ,for the most part, stayed relatively quiet. these two cities who represent the business communities and the educated and middle class, are fearing for their future and their life style.          I have said before,and will repeat again, that if and when these two cities join the other revolting cities,then and only then, the regime will fall automatically.The  fact that this uprising became militant,and spearheaded by the extremists, it discouraged those two cities from turning against Assad.

        1.  Avatar

          Hello Prophettt,

          The truth is democratic reforms are largely irrelevant to the West. Otherwise, it would do more to press Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and other petro-despotisms from which oil companies derive billions of dollars of profits to change their ways. Instead, Bahrain, site of renewed uprising that is being violently suppressed as one there was last year and continues to receive US-backing and arms.
          Calls for democratic reforms in some countries, not others are simply pretexts for intervention. The West’s real motivation for backing uprisings in Libya and Syria are economic and strategic in the case of Syria: turning the countries away from resource nationalism and a measure independent, self directed economic development into profit-disgorging spheres of exploitation for Western banks, corporations and investors.
          In pursuit of these goals, NATO countries are willing to ally with anyone. Even al- Qaeda.

          Prophettt read this article.
          http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29524

        2.  Avatar

          Sebouh,
          Good seeing you back on this forum,
          Thank you for the link. I have no disagreement with you ;At least  the United States and western countries are beginning to tell some truth, yet they seem to be interested in the  “constructive chaos” taking place in Syria. The Arab dictatorships who have been supplying arms and money to the extremists for a long time; now ,they declare their intentions to Arm the opposition and the extremist. HYPOCRISY ON STEROID.
          As I indicated in my first comment , the west and the Arab league of dictators have only one purpose which is eliminating Syria as a regional player at any coast.Historically, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria,and at one time Iraq, played and shared a decisive role on what happens in the Arab world. Iraq was eliminated as a  military threat to Israel and to its neighbors, Egypt is busy internally trying to figure out how to find stability , That leaves Syria as the only country that could ,and have done so, resist western and  Moderate Arab’s policies.They don’t realize that they are not immune ,and sooner or late,r these extremists will jump on their necks.
          Democracy and freedom  in the Arab world were never important to the west,and never will be.
          The Syrian regime ,and its oppressive rule  ,has been an active and decisive member of the Arab league of dictators for many years,but all of a sudden the league is preaching exactly what it does not practice. It shows the hypocrisy and the real intentions of these countries,which is a weak Syria that can never play any role in the region.
          Having the west in bed with the Arab dictator, and the Extremists  , including Al-quaeda, shows how much they really care for democracy and freedom for the Syrian people.
          My feeling is that all these players might be reassessing their plans and policies because of the stalemate between the regime and the opposition.The internal opposition, unlike the external opposition , are not happy with the militarization of their noble uprising.The regime could have collapsed,  had the uprising stayed peaceful, and evolved to widespread civil disobedience.
           The fact that most regime establishments have been intact,and  have maintained their support of the regime and its leadership  has surprised most people.But Again , what do I know?lol

        3. Rabih Hmaydani Avatar
          Rabih Hmaydani

           Sebouh80, how are you man? Its Rabih from Eastwood College!! Sorry about last time when I saw you in citymall. I was supposed to come back but my son fell and started to cry and by the time I came back to meet you I couldn’t find you….

        4.  Avatar

          you try to speak about reason with those guy come on don’t yoou know who hold the carnet de cheques?

        5.  Avatar

          I suppose, Prophet, that if it hadn’t been for the 13 savagely-mutilated dead children killed for making children’s statements on a wall near the beginning of the ‘uprising’, there may have continued to be that ‘peaceful’ revolution – with less killed by the snipers and arrested, maimed, cut up in hospitals, and generally tortured mentally and physically by imprisonment. The ‘Democracy’ wonderfully happening over a longer period of time than Bashar’s new 16 years … might have occurred in that ‘peaceful’ mode since the lambs were used to being slaughtered anyway. But attack a child … and cut it up … seems to be a no-no. In some minds, at least.

        6.  Avatar

          i answer for the one after as there is no reply on this one Great Lebanon need analyste like you impartial and truhtfull but yet intelligent ponderate and mature You know all things prophet,and i tell you the son of shaytan nemrod start the fitna by sending his tanks on Manama before it end we will have his uggly head on a spear

      5.  Avatar

        Nemrod the kurdish son of shaytan holding in the hole of his greazy ass the ould tayya book will fall first I swear you on every sacred things

    2.  Avatar

      don’t worry Damas will never be a city of God with the dogs salafiste in power,the shaytan of riyad nemrod the kurdish can host it’s ould tayya book in the hole of is greazy ass

    3.  Avatar

      5th, I appreciate your response, but not so much the effort to over simplify facts.With all due respect,  you seem to be on a mission of refusing to be impartial and objective when discussing Syria.
      The fact is that it was the killing of those children that triggered the uprising.People were outraged over these murders, they took to the streets seeking justice,and Justice was not served, people revolted.  Deraa took to the streets,and eventually most of the country followed. It started with hundreds of people,and spread to protests that numbered in the tens of thousands.
      This went on for weeks,and yes the regime shot and killed civilian protesters, as it was expected. But once the extremists took over,and started using weapons against  the regime,and against other civilians, the regime had all the excuses it thought I thad, and went out in force against the uprising. most Syrians civilian pulled out of the protests,and the entire uprising became a  military conflict between the regime and the extremists.Both the regime and the extremists are responsible for murdering Syrian civilians,and both are responsible for all the destruction which is taking place  in various cities. All the mujaheddin , being flown/ smuggled in from  Libya and Lebanon and other countries  have made matters worse, ,and you known it. 
      At the end, if the regime is toppled by force, you will have another Taliban,which will never believe in democracy, or you will end up with a regime , not capable of  providing security and stability,and definitely not able to play any regional role. The third,and not the best, option is for de-militarizing the conflict,and find a yemen like solution that can preserve the integrity of the country, but not necessarily providing much freedom or democracy. Syria is doomed in my opinion.Choices are very limited.

      1.  Avatar

        Hi Prophet … I might have been a little off on relating the children incident … although the thoughts were obviously there before. Where does a desire for ‘change’ take place first?
        I don’t need to re-write the documented history … and I think taking it to the simple makes it stand out in the mind much better. Take all the political crap out of it, and what do you see? Death – not by natural disaster, but by intent … in what ‘modern man’ considers horrible ways … performed on the least defensive. Snipers aim accurately most of the time … putting a bullet through the head of a baby in it’s mother’s arms is more of a statement of the mentality than shooting the mother, don’t you think? So .. keep the response simple. It’s wrong.
         And ALL is action/reaction …. in simple street terms and experience it is natural progression. The discussion, then one bad word, the hackles on the neck, a word in response, the push, the glove, the fist, the knife, the gun …. and buddies come in. Up to the point of weapon use, better words anywhere from better minds might have prevented action, and taken it back to discussion. Simple.
        The ‘big boys’ play in the same way – whether in business or in religion or in war. It’s simple.
         The lack of, as Ghassan says, morals. Simple. Either you think it’s ok to play the numbers game, or you believe that even one is too much. Simple.
        And on that point, I am NOT impartial. One was too much. No ‘ideal’ is worth trading the life of a child for in my mind. Just the way I am.

        Perhaps in writing here I may seem overly ‘reasonable’ or a little aloof .. at times. Well, that’s only because I prefer to attempt to make some ‘common sense’ thoughts go out – from my perspective.
        But if I could put my hands around the neck of that motherf&!!^&%^%## sniper who shot a baby ……
        Well … you know what I mean ….

        1.  Avatar

          5th, I can understand you “taking it to the simple”,
          and I can also understand the frustration these sad images create. You and I,
          as Lebanese, can understand and surly relate to what is going on in Syria much
          better than people who came from nations which has never experienced civil wars
          .Thousands of innocent Lebanese lost their lives for no reason . There cannot
          be any justification to killing innocent civilians by anyone, and especially by
          those who are supposed to protect and represent you. At the same time, there is
          no justification for anyone to loose his/her life to someone who decides to
          blow up a car , or himself for no other reason but his hatred and extremist
          views that is willing to eliminate those who do not agree with his views. You
          and I know that killings are taking place by the regime and the opposition. If
          you want to analyze the situation, you need to realize, and take that into your
          equation, regardless of what you think of either side.

          Nations and states do not think emotionally, or morally, nor do
          politicians and analysts. You, as a professional commentator, cannot do that
          either, unless you have an agenda .Not meaning to sound cold, but facts have to
          be stated as they are. Nations are always calculating losses and gains, but not
          morality. If there was any morality in politics, non the millions who dies in
          WW2 would have had to lose their lives.

          This revolution which evolved into a military conflict has
          reached a stalemate that can only be broken by an approach different than what
          both sides of conflict are  following. All
          Syrians , opposition and supporters of the regime are losing. On of the nations
          who are supporting the opposition give a damn about the welfare of the Syrian people
          or their freedom. They don’t even care about their lives. They are simply settling
          score with their old friend, Bashar. Even the Arab league of dictators are
          paying back their old member

           

           

  5. Ghassan Karam Avatar
    Ghassan Karam

    The Southwillriseagain20,
                                        The uprising was started by the Strian people driven by the simple idea that they have had enough lies, corruption, inefficiency and violation of human rights and dignity. If some other countries feel that this is a movement that deserves support then so be it. You cannot judge them on what they would become before they become that. What is important is the fact that they are rising against a regime that is neither democratic nor legitimate. They discovered the need for a multiparty system when they found out that they need to pretend that their set of beliefs has changed.
                                       When Winston Churchill was busy resisting and fighting the Nazis he did declare his willingness to deal with the devil himself if that will give Britain an edge in its fight.
                                      Should you support the revolutionaries because KSA is supporting them? Absolutely not. Your support should be based on the strength of the moral argument behind the uprising.moral
             

    1. THESOUTHWILLRISEAGAIN20 Avatar
      THESOUTHWILLRISEAGAIN20

      Ghassan.

      Thank You for your answer,
      Do you honestly think Syria will
      be a better place once Bashar is gone,
      and better yet do you think Lebanon will
      be better once Bashar is gone? I believe
      it will be exactly like Iraq and I dont see how
      you or anyone else can think that would be a good
      thing..Im sorry I just dont see it

      1. I know you want Ghassan to answer but here is my unsolicited answer… NO PLACE will ever be better as long as religulous nymphomaniacs rule the land and are armed to the teeth specially those who grow their beards and wear 5th century clothing. 

        1. so true…

        2. leobetapar Avatar

          for them there is in a good place a scientific modern doctor i mean dentist with a huge scapel We are ready
          So now your eyes start to opening Hannibal this Ghassam is payed by Riyad

      2. Ghassan Karam Avatar
        Ghassan Karam

        Thesouthwillriseagain20,
                                           Change always implies risk. If one is not willing to take a risk then no change will take place. We take a risk when we vote in a new party or when we develop a new technology. The same is true in political science. There are no guarantees except under a democratic system if the choice turns out to be a bad one then next time around the ballot box could bring about the desired change.
                                         Make no mistake about it, the best outcome for Lebanon is a democratic Syria. So in a sense if one is rooting for democracy in Syria one is also rooting for democracy in Lebanon.                          

        1. leobetapar Avatar

          you son of shaytan go to take risk with your mother and your wife and let syrian and lebanon in peace.Go to leave in the country of the shaytan like yoiu in mean Arabia Saoushit

    2. THESOUTHWILLRISEAGAIN20 Avatar
      THESOUTHWILLRISEAGAIN20

      Ghassan.

      Thank You for your answer,
      Do you honestly think Syria will
      be a better place once Bashar is gone,
      and better yet do you think Lebanon will
      be better once Bashar is gone? I believe
      it will be exactly like Iraq and I dont see how
      you or anyone else can think that would be a good
      thing..Im sorry I just dont see it

      1. I know you want Ghassan to answer but here is my unsolicited answer… NO PLACE will ever be better as long as religulous nymphomaniacs rule the land and are armed to the teeth specially those who grow their beards and wear 5th century clothing. 

        1. so true…

    3. leobetapar Avatar

      you are just a liar they are all terroriste salafiste ,it’s a duty for Assad to clean his country of this scum .The big shit from kurdish descent of Riyad his a shaytan enjoying putting fire and death everywhere is soon turkman have plan the 9/11 when he was interior minister at riyad he want to do it again in damas .usual question how much are you paid?

  6. The Southwillriseagain20,
                                        The uprising was started by the Strian people driven by the simple idea that they have had enough lies, corruption, inefficiency and violation of human rights and dignity. If some other countries feel that this is a movement that deserves support then so be it. You cannot judge them on what they would become before they become that. What is important is the fact that they are rising against a regime that is neither democratic nor legitimate. They discovered the need for a multiparty system when they found out that they need to pretend that their set of beliefs has changed.
                                       When Winston Churchill was busy resisting and fighting the Nazis he did declare his willingness to deal with the devil himself if that will give Britain an edge in its fight.
                                      Should you support the revolutionaries because KSA is supporting them? Absolutely not. Your support should be based on the strength of the moral argument behind the uprising.moral
             

    1.  Avatar

      Ghassan.

      Thank You for your answer,
      Do you honestly think Syria will
      be a better place once Bashar is gone,
      and better yet do you think Lebanon will
      be better once Bashar is gone? I believe
      it will be exactly like Iraq and I dont see how
      you or anyone else can think that would be a good
      thing..Im sorry I just dont see it

      1. I know you want Ghassan to answer but here is my unsolicited answer… NO PLACE will ever be better as long as religulous nymphomaniacs rule the land and are armed to the teeth specially those who grow their beards and wear 5th century clothing. 

        1.  Avatar

          so true…

        2.  Avatar

          for them there is in a good place a scientific modern doctor i mean dentist with a huge scapel We are ready
          So now your eyes start to opening Hannibal this Ghassam is payed by Riyad

      2. Thesouthwillriseagain20,
                                           Change always implies risk. If one is not willing to take a risk then no change will take place. We take a risk when we vote in a new party or when we develop a new technology. The same is true in political science. There are no guarantees except under a democratic system if the choice turns out to be a bad one then next time around the ballot box could bring about the desired change.
                                         Make no mistake about it, the best outcome for Lebanon is a democratic Syria. So in a sense if one is rooting for democracy in Syria one is also rooting for democracy in Lebanon.                          

        1.  Avatar

          you son of shaytan go to take risk with your mother and your wife and let syrian and lebanon in peace.Go to leave in the country of the shaytan like yoiu in mean Arabia Saoushit

    2.  Avatar

      you are just a liar they are all terroriste salafiste ,it’s a duty for Assad to clean his country of this scum .The big shit from kurdish descent of Riyad his a shaytan enjoying putting fire and death everywhere is soon turkman have plan the 9/11 when he was interior minister at riyad he want to do it again in damas .usual question how much are you paid?

  7. @google-c6ab0d02b96a6a8b11502879ead85164:disqus 

    Reading the comments of regime supporters; it is obvious they did not bother to read your post in its entirety. Irony is that supporters of the regime understand better than most the true hypocrisy of their stances. Ultimately they are they only hurting themselves; they no longer have any credibility or integrity; and are quickly loosing what is left of their humanity.

    On a parallel but not directly relent topic; what happens when the regime is toppled?

    Will Syria and indeed the world view Lebanese Humanitarian disasters (man-made or natural) as something to be disassociate from?
    What would of happened to the 100 000’s of Lebanese that sought refuge in foreign lands had it not been for the generosity and basic humanitarian sensibilities of the host nations?

    Our government (that some would argue is a product of decades of Syrian occupation) has set a very dangerous precedent. I feel this point has not been tackled seriously.

    Syrians are no longer fighting for democracy alone; they are fighting for their very existence.

  8. @google-c6ab0d02b96a6a8b11502879ead85164:disqus 

    Reading the comments of regime supporters; it is obvious they did not bother to read your post in its entirety. Irony is that supporters of the regime understand better than most the true hypocrisy of their stances. Ultimately they are they only hurting themselves; they no longer have any credibility or integrity; and are quickly loosing what is left of their humanity.

    On a parallel but not directly relent topic; what happens when the regime is toppled?

    Will Syria and indeed the world view Lebanese Humanitarian disasters (man-made or natural) as something to be disassociate from?
    What would of happened to the 100 000’s of Lebanese that sought refuge in foreign lands had it not been for the generosity and basic humanitarian sensibilities of the host nations?

    Our government (that some would argue is a product of decades of Syrian occupation) has set a very dangerous precedent. I feel this point has not been tackled seriously.

    Syrians are no longer fighting for democracy alone; they are fighting for their very existence.

  9.  Avatar

    @google-c6ab0d02b96a6a8b11502879ead85164:disqus 

    Reading the comments of regime supporters; it is obvious they did not bother to read your post in its entirety. Irony is that supporters of the regime understand better than most the true hypocrisy of their stances. Ultimately they are they only hurting themselves; they no longer have any credibility or integrity; and are quickly loosing what is left of their humanity.

    On a parallel but not directly relent topic; what happens when the regime is toppled?

    Will Syria and indeed the world view Lebanese Humanitarian disasters (man-made or natural) as something to be disassociate from?
    What would of happened to the 100 000’s of Lebanese that sought refuge in foreign lands had it not been for the generosity and basic humanitarian sensibilities of the host nations?

    Our government (that some would argue is a product of decades of Syrian occupation) has set a very dangerous precedent. I feel this point has not been tackled seriously.

    Syrians are no longer fighting for democracy alone; they are fighting for their very existence.

  10. THESOUTHWILLRISEAGAIN20 Avatar
    THESOUTHWILLRISEAGAIN20

    You guys need to see this video from Faisal
    show,OMG OMG OMG,if this is what the syrian
    oppostion is gonna lead with,than I beg bashar
    to never step down,please watch at the very
    least its very entertaining,its 50 min long,
    so if u dont have time scan through it and
    listen to this idiot in arm fatigues…lmaoooo
    this guy is nuts,especially at the end,the ones
    that have seen it will know what im talking bout,
    enjoy

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVYTPhBpHck&feature=related

  11. testing

  12. testing

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