U.S. allies dismiss Syrian referendum as ‘farce’

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The U.S. and its allies dismissed the Syrian regime’s referendum on a new constitution Sunday as a “farce” meant to justify the bloody crackdown on dissent.

But voters in government strongholds suggested why some Syrians have not joined the uprising against President Bashar Assad: Loyalty, distrust of the opposition and fear his fall will ignite a civil war.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called the poll “a cynical ploy” and urged Syrians who still support Assad to turn against him. A “farce” and a “sham vote” was how German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle described it.

The new constitution allows — at least in theory — for the formation of competing political parties and limits the president to two seven-year terms. Such change was unthinkable a year ago. Syria has been ruled by the Baath party since it seized power in a coup in 1963 and the Assad family has ruled since Bashar’s father Hafez took over in another coup in 1970.

The opposition called the referendum an empty gesture. Supporters of the uprising say nothing short of Assad’s ouster will end the bloodshed.

AP

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12 responses to “U.S. allies dismiss Syrian referendum as ‘farce’”

  1. Like the U.S elections in 2000 ? Either way what a stupid reason to vote. You either allow multiple political parties or you dont. Whats next the people vote to keep Bashar in power forever? I wouldn’t be surprised if they vote to keep the one party system…..

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Wasn’t that the election when they introduced the ‘voting machines’ floridians didn’t know how to operate? 😉

      1.  They also stopped counting the votes and had the president appointed by the supreme court because the machines didnt work properly. They needed GWB in the white house so they could get their 911 and patriot act along with the Afghanistan war to control the heroin and Iraq war to control the oil befor china made investments in Iraq.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Ahh … yes. But, I also thought it was because floridians couldn’t tell the difference between  two of the buttons and sometimes pushed both. One said ‘Bush – Pres’ and the other said ‘Bush – Gov’. Most didn’t realize it was two different people. 🙂 Although they were related. 😉
          Considering the average age of floridians is probably 85 (except during spring break) we could assume that education in the last half-century was not as good as now … perhaps? 😉
          But perhaps the machines got overloaded. They didn’t expect so many people to come in off the golf-links. At least they have the electricity to charge up the golf-carts that move them around.

      2.  They also stopped counting the votes and had the president appointed by the supreme court because the machines didnt work properly. They needed GWB in the white house so they could get their 911 and patriot act along with the Afghanistan war to control the heroin and Iraq war to control the oil befor china made investments in Iraq.

  2. Like the U.S elections in 2000 ? Either way what a stupid reason to vote. You either allow multiple political parties or you dont. Whats next the people vote to keep Bashar in power forever? I wouldn’t be surprised if they vote to keep the one party system…..

  3. Like the U.S elections in 2000 ? Either way what a stupid reason to vote. You either allow multiple political parties or you dont. Whats next the people vote to keep Bashar in power forever? I wouldn’t be surprised if they vote to keep the one party system…..

    1.  Avatar

      Wasn’t that the election when they introduced the ‘voting machines’ floridians didn’t know how to operate? 😉

      1.  They also stopped counting the votes and had the president appointed by the supreme court because the machines didnt work properly. They needed GWB in the white house so they could get their 911 and patriot act along with the Afghanistan war to control the heroin and Iraq war to control the oil befor china made investments in Iraq.

        1.  Avatar

          Ahh … yes. But, I also thought it was because floridians couldn’t tell the difference between  two of the buttons and sometimes pushed both. One said ‘Bush – Pres’ and the other said ‘Bush – Gov’. Most didn’t realize it was two different people. 🙂 Although they were related. 😉
          Considering the average age of floridians is probably 85 (except during spring break) we could assume that education in the last half-century was not as good as now … perhaps? 😉
          But perhaps the machines got overloaded. They didn’t expect so many people to come in off the golf-links.

  4. josephphdman Avatar
    josephphdman

    syria produce about 30 billions dollars a year of oil and natural gas , also all the taxes revenues from import. also few billions of export products?
    where is the money , 90% of syrian people are poor and they live on average 200 dollars per month each, where is the syrian people money?where is the syrian county money< that is a question the syrian people should ask .

  5.  Avatar

    bashar family had been stealing 10 bilons dollars a year from the syrian people for over 40 years , the money is hidden in swiss banks , and iran,s bank , and some in europe and england, the syrian people  should demand that bashar returned more than a 100 billions dollars  to the syrian people .

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