Thierry Meyssan on the war propaganda against Syria

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) appeared on the media scene suddenly. This association has no significant track record and only one of its members is known. He is a Syrian Muslim Brotherhood official, holder of three passports, Syrian, British and Swedish. This gentleman announces daily the number of "repression victims," without ever substantiating his claims. His assertions are unverifiable and therefore worthless. Yet, they are taken up by all those whose interests they serve. The High Commissioner for Human Rights appointed three commissioners to investigate the events in Syria. Their mission oversteps the competence of the UN, that provides for regular inspections to which Syria submits in accordance with the relevant treaties. As in the Hariri case, the United Nations goes on the assumption that the local authorities (Lebanese or Syrian) are either incapable or dishonest and must be replaced by foreign investigators. Under such conditions, it can not reasonably expect the local authorities to cooperate. The UN has therefore worked from Switzerland and Turkey. The appointment of the three commissioners is no guarantee of impartiality, as all three originate from States which advocate military action against Syria. Their method is equally unacceptable: under pressure from the Turkish commissioner, who is an activist committed to the fight against violence against women, the Committee considered that the testimonies of prosecution witnesses did not need to be cross-checked and verified. It would be for the accused to demonstrate their innocence when brought before a court. This inquisitorial procedure allows for anyone to be accused of just about anything, but proves nothing.

"The decision to attack Syria was made at a Camp David meeting on 15 September 2001"

Edinburgh U's 55-Page 'Gay Damascus' File Omits Results of Investigations

The Records Manager for Edinburgh University on December 23 emailed me a two-page letter and fifty-three-page file in response to my Freedom of Information request, seeking the results of their two investigations into the Gay Girl in Damascus hoax perpetrated by their student Tom MacMaster (pictured), and what is clear from the records is that the institution was never committed to releasing the results. Emails between university officials shows an overriding effort to avoid creating an email or paper trail, with the preferred method of any communication about the matter being personal chats, and a full understanding of FOI requirements regarding destruction of records to better cover the institution's ass.

Edinburgh U's 55-Page 'Gay Damascus' File Omits Results of Investigations

The March to War: Iran and the Strategic Encirclement of Syria and Lebanon

For half a decade Washington has been directing a military arms build-up in the Middle East aimed at Iran and the Resistance Bloc. It has sent massive arms shipments to Saudi Arabia. It has sent deliveries of bunker busters to the U.A.E. and Israel, amongst others, while it has upgraded its own deadly arsenal. U.S. officials have also started to openly discuss murdering Iranian leaders and military officials through covert operations. What the world is facing is a pathway towards possible military escalation that could go far beyond the boundaries of the Middle East and suck in Russia, China, and their allies. The Revolutionary Guard have also made it clear that if conflict is ignited with Iran that Lebanon, Iraq, and the Palestinians would all be drawn in as Iranian allies.

The March to War: Iran and the Strategic Encirclement of Syria and Lebanon

Angry Syrians bury Damascus bombing dead

The funerals on Saturday turned into pro-Assad rallies in which mourners called for revenge and condemned Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani whose country, once an ally of Assad, is now one of his main critics. The crowd, carrying posters of Assad and Syrian flags, chanted "We want your head, Hamad" and "We sacrifice our souls and blood for you Bashar" and "God, Syria and Bashar only." The coffins, wrapped in Syrian flags, were lined up inside the city's historic gilded 8th century Umayyad Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites. Many were marked "unknown." Both Muslim and Christian clerics attended the funerals which were led by senior Sunni Muslim cleric Said al-Bouti. Syria's state television aired live footage of the funeral processions.

Angry Syrians bury Damascus bombing dead

"Free Syrian Army" commanded by Military Governor of Tripoli

In the wake of the "Arab Spring" and NATO interventions, both official and secret, Qatar seeks to impose Islamist leaders wherever possible. This strategy has led it not only to fund the Muslim Brotherhood and to hand Al-Jazeera over to them, but also to support Al Qaeda mercenaries, who will henceforth oversee the Free Syrian Army. However, this new scenario raises serious concerns in Israel and among the supporters of the "clash of civilizations."

Free Syrian Army commanded by Military Governor of Tripoli

Goldman Sachs Lost 98% of Libya's $1.3B Sovereign Wealth Fund Investment

Gadhafi`s Libya entrusted $1.3 billion through its sovereign wealth fund to Goldman Sachs in 2007, of which the investment bank lost approximately 98%, sparking the ire of Libyan officials.

Goldman Sachs Lost 98% of Libya's $1.3B Sovereign Wealth Fund Investment

Zawahri, Al Qaeda’s New Leader, Praises Syrian Protesters

In what appeared to be his first video message since succeeding Osama bin Laden as the leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahri expressed strong support for antigovernment protesters in Syria, claiming that their movement to topple the country’s authoritarian leader was rooted in a wider regional conflict with the United States and Israel.

Zawahri, Al Qaeda’s New Leader, Praises Syrian Protesters

Lebanon defense minister documents Qaeda activities

“There is information that militants from al-Qaeda are entering Lebanon pretending they are members of the Syrian opposition and smuggling arms into the country,” Ghosn said in an interview covered by the London-based al-Hayat.

Lebanon defense minister documents Qaeda activities;

Analysis: Russian oil the winner from Syria, Iran sanctions

"The strength of Urals relative to Brent in recent weeks is due to a combination of factors: uncertainty over the impact of sanctions on Iran and the loss of Syrian production and exports," Roy Jordan with consultancy Facts Global Energy said. Forced to pay higher Urals prices, European refiners have been losing money, which could discourage the EU from moving ahead with a proposed ban on Iranian oil. Urals is typically sold at discounts to Brent, because it contains about 1.3 percent of sulfur with API gravity of about 32, making it heavier and more sour than the crudes that go into setting the North Sea benchmark. Most Iranian and Syrian crudes are similar to or heavier than Urals. All of these crudes require extra refining. Syria exported most of its 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) of heavy sour crude to the Mediterranean before sanctions were imposed earlier this year following repression of civil protest against President Bashar al-Assad's 11-year rule. Syrian heavy crudes were typically the alternative to Urals crude, when the Russian prices were high.

Analysis: Russian oil the winner from Syria, Iran sanctions

Sit-in in Egypt hit by mass food poisoning, dozens hospitalized

According to eye-witness reports, a woman wearing a niqab (face-veil) distributed grilled meat sandwiches — known as “hawawshi” — to protesters camped outside the cabinet building in central Cairo. Dr. Ahmed Farouq, a volunteer physician serving at a field hospital, confirmed that "the hawawshi was delivered to the protesters at their camp, wrapped in the wrappers of a fish and seafood restaurant." The doctor added that this restaurant does not make hawawshi.

Sit-in in Egypt hit by mass food poisoning, dozens hospitalized

'No credence in Blackwater revival' (video)

As U.S. troops prepare to leave Iraq, thousands of contractors are moving in to make a buck in the country devastated by war. And one of them is the world's most infamous mercenary company, formerly known as Blackwater. The firm was once banned from Iraq over allegations of indiscriminate shooting of civilians but now it's trying to wash away the bloody taint by rebranding itself for a second time - it's now to be called 'Academy'. Jack Rice, a lawyer and former CIA officer, who's done extensive research into Blackwater's operations in Iraq, says that, although the company is blamed for having an awful lot of blood on its hands, it's still likely to get new contracts in the country.

RT: 'No credence in Blackwater revival'

The Syria Crisis: Assessing Foreign Intervention

Outside training and intelligence support would lead to an increase in the strategic impact of attacks by armed opposition groups, such as the FSA. The opposition claims to have conducted several strikes against targets like the Syrian Directorate for Air Force Intelligence in suburban Damascus, but such attacks do not appear to have been very meaningful. To date these attacks have served more of a propaganda function than as a means to pursue military objectives. We are carefully monitoring alleged FSA efforts to hit oil and natural gas pipelines to see if they become more systematic and tactically effective. We have heard rumors of American, Turkish, French and Jordanian special operations forces training FSA personnel in Turkey, and if these rumors are true, we should begin to see results of the training in the near future. As we watch videos and photos coming out of Syria we are constantly looking for evidence of the FSA possessing either an increased weapons supply or signs of external weapons supply. This not only includes a greater quantity of weapons, but different types of weapons, such as anti-tank guided missiles, mortars, mines, MANPADS and improvised explosive devices. We have yet to see either increased weapons or external weapons; the FSA appears to be using the weapons with which they defected.

The Syria Crisis: Assessing Foreign Intervention | STRATFOR

Qatar names its largest mosque after Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab

Qatar has named its largest mosque after Imam Mohammad Ibn Abdul Wahab, the influential Muslim scholar who lived in the 18th century in today's Saudi Arabia. "The mosque naming directive by the Emir Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani is in honour of the reformer's position and a reflection of Qatar's keenness on the revival of the nation's symbols and civilization values," Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported on Tuesday. Ibn Abdul Wahab (1703-1792) preached a return to "pure Islam" and called for purging Islam of what he considered "impurities and negative innovations." In his teachings, he urged Muslims to uphold only "the original principles of Islam as typified by the Salaf" and to reject "corruptions introduced by bidah (negative innovations and heresy). The scholar emphasized that there could be no intercession between God and worshippers.

Qatar names its largest mosque after Muslim scholar

Outspoken Egyptian cleric in Qatar guides Arabs on revolution

From his base in Doha, the Egyptian-born Qatari citizen has long been one of the most influential religious authorities in Sunni Islam, an influence derived partly from an unlikely standing as a media celebrity. His weekly show on Qatar’s Al Jazeera draws millions of viewers from across the Muslim world.

Role in Revolution

Victory Speech in Egypt:

Libya's oil industry improving rapidly after war

One politician, who says he will stand for the position of prime minister, goes even further.
"I respect those powers who helped us, and they should get special treatment from the new Libyan government," says Dr Abdurrahman Sewehli.
He says China, Russia and Germany, who were "actively against any military intervention" in Libya, would not.

No Oil for you Russia!

Exxon Mobil Corporation Boosts Investment in Qatar

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) has decided to invest more in Qatar. According to a report, the US based oil giant Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), which has already invested about $18 billion in the country, is planning to increase its investment in future.
Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) said, “Clearly, Qatar will continue to play a key role in global energy supplies. ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) has played a huge role in the development of Qatar’s gas industry; we are proud of that. Obviously, we will be very interested, as an investor, when the country is ready to move forward with the next phase.”

Exxon Mobil Boost Investment in Qatar

Exxon's deal with the Kurds inflames Baghdad

The bombshell exploded last month when Exxon Mobil, the world's largest oil company, defied the instructions of the Baghdad government and signed a deal with the Iraqi Kurds to search for oil in the northern area of Iraq they control. To make matters worse, three of the areas Exxon has signed up to explore are on territory the two authorities dispute. The government must now decide if it will retaliate by kicking Exxon out of a giant oilfield it is developing in the south of Iraq.

The oil giant has defied Iraq's government by signing up to drill in disputed territory

Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick: Iraq cannot defend air sovereignty after US withdrwal

When asked if Iraq had the capability to defend its own air sovereignty, the General had a different answer.

“No, not completely. You know, to defend air sovereignty, you have to see what is coming across the border, and then you have to be able to react and defend your sovereign airspace. Right now, there’s no problem at all with commercial air traffic inside the country. The government of Iraq controls all the airspace. But if there is someone that wants to breach the airspace that doesn’t have any kind of transmission capability in their airplane or does not want to transmit, to not be seen as they cross the border, Iraq cannot see them. And Iraq doesn’t have an advanced jet fighter yet to be able to react and defend their airspace.”

However, that will eventually change. Helmick said Iraq has purchased 16 F-16s. but the purchase and training of pilots will take time. As of now, Iraq understands they have a gap in their defense. “How they deal with that gap is really up to them.”

Iraq cannot defend air sovereignty after US withdrwal

Egypt’s “nude photo revolutionary” just that, revolutionary

Despise Aliya Mahdy or not, she has done what few revolutionaries in Egypt have been able to do: take revolutionary action. Her public display of her naked body in a blog post has seen attacks from the conservative Islamists and the liberals alike. Nudity, especially female nudity, leaves people queasy. Had she been a man, would the reaction have been so virulent against her? Doubtful. The man would likely have been praised for his use of his body as expression. Mahdy, unfortunately, is a woman living in Egypt.

BikYaMasr

Syria Receives 72 Yakhont Missiles from Russia

Russia has supplied two Bastion coastal missile systems to Syria, concluding a controversial $300 million arms deal inked with the Syrian government four years ago. Russian sources claim the new missile system will “enable Syria to protect its entire coast from a possible seaborne attack”

Defence Update

Syrian President talks to US people and administration

l I think the American people, people should know more about what's happening beyond the ocean, second the American media I would like them to tell only the truth about what's happening in the world, and for the American administration. Don't look for puppets in the world.

 Interview with Barbara Walters (Video and Full Transcript)