Syrian Girl – Syrian Demographics An Intro [video]
YouTube – 108morris108
February 20, 2012
Lots of different types of people in Syria!
Hillary Clinton’s “Enemies of Syria” Conference a Total Fiasco: Many No-Shows, No Russia, No China, No Presentable Syrians, Reviled by Arabs [video]
by Webster G. Tarpley, Ph.D.
TARPLEY.net
February 24, 2012
[download video] [download audio]
A political analyst says the Friends of Syria conference expected to be held in Tunisia’s capital Tunis aims at creating a scenario in Syria similar to the one, which materialized in Libya.
What follows is a rush transcript of the interview:
Press TV: A number of big players this Friends of Syria meeting. Taking that into account, will it accomplish anything at all?
Tarpley: Well, of course it is very notable that Russia, China, and indeed Lebanon, a country that is immediately involved with Syria, will be boycotting this meeting. This meeting bills itself as the Friends of Syria, and all I can say is that with friends like that, you don’t need enemies. The purpose of the conference is to bring the wonderful benefits of NATO bombing and a civil war on the Libyan model to Syria.
My calculation is that if NATO does to Syria what it did to Libya last summer, that would mean between half a million and one million dead Syrians, civil war, chaos, warlords, and so forth. The solution to Syria is very simple: Tell NATO to call of their death squads, tell NATO to stop smuggling foreign fighters and weapons and explosives into the country.
Now the conference itself in Tunisia will be held not far from the Ruins of Carthage, which should serve as a momento mori to some of these imperialists.
What’s notable about the conference is that Syria will not be represented. Imagine a conference about Syria, where Syria isn’t even invited. Even equally absurd, the Syrian opposition so-called, is also not invited. The NATO people have not been able to come up with a group of serious-looking presentable puppets so the Syrian National Council, the Free Syria Army, all of these people, they are not invited. They’re being kept in the closet.
The reason they’re officially given is that they’re fragmented, they squabble and can’t agree. They notice this actually a regime-change conference, but there’s no alternative. So they’re saying, let’s have regime change, with no alternative government and they even admit that. I think the deeper level of course is the Syrian opposition is shot through with Al Qaeda operatives, if they had a delegation, who knows who the head of the delegation might be. It might be Abdul Hakim Belhaj, the fighter from Libya who has been reported to be leading some of these death squads in the northern part of Syria.
The Tunisians in setting this up have reverted unfortunately to their role as the obedient puppet of the West. The Tunisian foreign minister is with I think amazing arrogance has said that the Syrians can choose between Libya and Yemen. In other words, you can be bombed and destroyed as a country, or you can have this fake transition of power where you then end up with an election with only one person.
On the whole, it looks like [US Secretary of State] Hillary Clinton who is the main architect of this exercise; I think there’s a good chance she’ll end up with a lot of egg on her face, because this looks to me like it might be headed to be a fiesco. There supposedly people from 70 countries [expected to be at the conference].
Press TV: As you mentioned, those out to topple Assad have tried various ways to get the international community behind their plot, but have only gotten a non-binding UN resolution so far. Does that in a sense indicate failure on their part and will that remain the status quo?
Tarpley: I think it does indicate failure. We may coin a phrase, be in the last throes of imperialism. What is being attempted here is an ultimatum. The plans that are circulating on the eve of this Tunisian exercise are that the countries, this ad hoc group, coalition of the willing, I guess we can call it, of rump states or rump coalition, at least. They come together and they say OK Assad, you have 72 hours to do what we want. We have humanitarian corridors; we want the Syrian army out of the cities so that our dead squads can take over with al-Qaeda leading the pack and if you do not cave in within 72 hours, then we will impose more sanctions.
I do not know who is going to follow those sanctions. I think they have already reached the limit with that because these of course would be unilateral sanctions; they would not even be UN sanctions.
So it seems to me that the international climate is changing and one other thing on a belated topic that I would point to is the Brazilian Foreign Minister, [Antonio] Patriota has called on Ban ki-Moon to say, look Ban ki-Moon, you have a responsibility to say that all of these options that we hear on the table, as for example in regard to Iran, some of those violate the charter and you Ban ki-Moon have got to say these are illegal. So in effect, stop playing the role of a good NATO puppet and start acting like the Secretary General of the United Nations. I think that is another straw in the wind for a change of the international climate.
Chossudovsky: Foreign Powers Behind Syria Unrest [video]
Global Research TV
February 14, 2012
A report recently released by DEBKAfile, an Israeli military intelligence website, which is believed to have close links to Israeli intelligence sources, has shown that the UK is providing logistical support to armed terrorist groups in Syria.
Press TV has conducted an interview with Michel Chossudovsky, the director of the Centre for Research on Globalization in Montreal, Canada, to further discuss the issue.
The video offers the opinions of two additional guests: Sukant Chandan, a filmmaker and political commentator in London and Hisham Safiedding from Al Akhbar, a Lebanese daily published in Beirut.
The following is a rough transcription of the interview.
Press TV: Doesn’t this undermine the United Nations and its role, by the UK and Qatar, if this is true?
Chossudovsky: Well, I should disclose the fact that this news concerning British special forces is nothing new.
There’s evidence of foreign interference in affairs of Syria, going back right to the beginning, when you know the… started in Dara’a, in southern Syria in March of 2011.
We know, that these armed groups, which were recognized in fact in the Arab League report, are all supported by foreign powers, and they are operatives of those foreign powers on the ground inside Syria.
We know that Turkey is involved, and we know that they are supporting those groups.
So in effect, what the report published by Debka, the intelligence news agency or related to the Israeli intelligence is suggesting is something we know already, that this insurrection, this armed insurrection, is supported by foreign powers.
And in fact, we have previous reports to the fact that both NATO and Turkey are not only recruiting fighters to go in, mercenaries, but they are also training them…
Press TV: If they had been on a patch in terms of interference, their assistance and arming, was going to the UN then only a face-saving show for the world?
Chossudovsky: Well, it’s a face-saving show that had unexpected results. Because as you recall, the Arab League commissioned a mission to go into Syria, with a view of establishing the nature of this insurrection and the nature of the protest movement.
The assumption was that the Arab League would instruct its mission to toe the line of media disinformation and come up with a report saying, blaming the government for the civilian deaths, when in fact what they presented was a much more balanced report, where they said there is an armed entity, and that armed entity is committing crimes against the civilian population, killing people and involved in terrorists acts.
And consequently it’s not an issue of blaming the Syrian authority, but one of acknowledging the existence of an armed insurrection.
And of course they didn’t mention who was behind it, but it ties in with other reports that we have that this armed insurrection is supported by foreign forces.
I think that the issue of resolution between the government and the opposition is a red herring, because it can only proceed if these armed gangs are neutralized and that foreign forces withdraw from the country.
There is an opposition within Syria, but what is at stake, in this insurrection is not an opposition, these are mercenary forces. These are trained paramilitary, they are equipped with heavy machine guns and so on, but they’re not protesters.
Originally aired on PressTV, February 10, 2012
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/225933.html
FALSE FLAG ALERT – Syrian Sources Warn: Al Jazeera to Claim 17 Children Killed by Assad Forces; Kids are Already Dead, Slain by Nato Death Squads to Induce Hysteria at Friday’s “Friends Of Syria” Conference in Tunisia
by Webster G. Tarpley, Ph.D.
TARPLEY.net
February 23, 2012
A reliable Russian source in Syria warns that al Jazeera is about to launch within hours a major false flag provocation. Al Jazeera will allege that 17 children have been killed by Assad’s forces. These children are already dead, and have been killed by NATO death squads. The goal is to create an atmosphere of hysteria at the Tunis “Friends of Syria” conference today Friday, which otherwise threatens to be a fiasco due to the boycott by Russia, China, and Lebanon, and due to the fragmented nature of the Syria opposition.
Please spread this story as fast as you can as a highest priority False Flag Alert.
–Webster Tarpley
[Click here to go to the source article where you can TRANSLATE TO MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.]
Friends of Syria? Peaceful resolution vs intervention [video]
Russia Today
February 24, 2012
World leaders and Syrian opposition are attending the “Friends of Syria” forum in Tunisia, seeking a solution to the escalating bloodshed. Humanitarian aid will top the agenda, amid rising suspicions this may be a pretext for military intervention.
RT’s Maria Finoshina takes a look at the noose tightening around Damascus.
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Firestorm Forecast: ‘Syria can set region ablaze’ [video]
Russia Today
February 23, 2012
The UN is seeking to send its humanitarian chief to Syria to secure aid delivery to civilians caught-up in the fighting. The international body is also preparing to investigate the country’s officials over allegations they’ve committed crimes against humanity. RT’s correspondent in Damascus, Maria Finoshina, has been keeping across developments on the ground.
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Counter-Terrorism and Northern Border Drug Strategy Tied to Perimeter Security Deal
by Dana Gabriel, Contributing Writer
Activist Post
February 22, 2012
In a move that went largely unnoticed, the U.S. government unveiled a new counter-narcotics strategy for the northern border which will work towards closer cooperation with Canada in the war on drugs.
This includes both countries strengthening integrated cross-border intelligence sharing and law enforcement operations.
Canada has also released a comprehensive counter-terrorism plan aimed at combating the threats of domestic and international violent extremism.
The separate U.S.-Canada undertakings are both tied to the Beyond the Border deal and efforts to establish a North American security perimeter.
In January, the Obama administration announced the National Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy. A press release by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) described how the plan seeks, “to reduce the two-way flow of illicit drugs between the United States and Canada by increasing coordination among Federal, state, local, and tribal enforcement authorities, enhancing intelligence sharing between counterdrug agencies, and strengthening ongoing counterdrug partnerships and initiatives with the Government of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).”
Senator Charles Schumer proclaimed, “I pushed so hard for this strategy to be finalized because we have to immediately stop the flow of drugs from Canada into New York, and it’s going to take an inter-agency and international effort.” He added, “I’m pleased that this agreement lays the groundwork for Canadian and American law enforcement to work hand-in-glove to fight the drug trade.” Schumer has also endorsed the new cross-border action plan. In addition, he is pushing to establish a Northern Border Intelligence Center in Franklin County, NY to better coordinate efforts to fight drug smuggling and other cross-border criminal activities.
While commenting on the new plan to disrupt the flow of drugs over the U.S.-Canada border, ONDCP Deputy Director of State, Local and Tribal Affairs, Ben Tucker explained that, “By strengthening integrated cross-border law enforcement between our two countries, the Strategy supports a key area of cooperation outlined by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper in the Beyond the Border declaration.”
In December of last year, the leaders issued the follow up Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan. The deal focuses on addressing security threats early, facilitating trade, economic growth and jobs, integrating cross-border law enforcement, as well as improving infrastructure and cyber-security. As part of the agreement, both countries will, “create integrated teams in areas such as intelligence and criminal investigations, and an intelligence-led uniformed presence between ports of entry.” The U.S. and Canada continue to expand the nature and scope of joint law enforcement operations, along with intelligence collection and sharing.
The new northern border drug strategy also called for increasing judicial cooperation, improving information-sharing and extradition arrangements, as well as better coordinating cross-border undercover operations and investigations with Canada. It recommended working towards, “operational fusion with Canadian partners in interoperable communications, technology, and activities. The ability to integrate Canadian and U.S. technology, including sensors, videos, radio communications, and radar feeds, will permit automated sharing of timely information.”
The document also argued that, “It is imperative that Canada and the United States work together to expedite the sharing of information from electronic communication service providers; and share information necessary to lay the foundation for intercepting internet and voice communications.”
While various new measures are being put in place to thwart illegal drug, terrorist and other criminal activity, they could easily be used to target anyone else the government deems a threat.
The use of technology is emphasized throughout the report, “Technical collection capabilities and programs along the Northern border, such as thermal camera systems, License Plate Readers (LPRs), Mobile Surveillance Systems, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), national distress and command and control networks, and Remote Video Surveillance Systems will be deployed and carefully coordinated among participating agencies.”
The new strategy also recommended enhancing air and maritime domain awareness and response capabilities as another means of disrupting the flow of illegal drugs across the U.S.-Canada border. In February of 2009, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began using unmanned aerial vehicles on the northern border and expanded the program in January of last year. The UAV drones are being deployed in support of border security, counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism missions. Congress recently passed a bill that will make it easier for the government to use surveillance drones and it is projected that that there could be up to 30,000 in operation over U.S. skies by 2020.
On February 9, the Conservative government released the Building Resilience Against Terrorism: Canada’s Counter-terrorism Strategy. The new plan is aimed at countering domestic, as well as international terrorism and better protecting Canadian interests. It outlined counter-terrorism efforts under four pillars, “prevent individuals from engaging in terrorism; detect the activities of individuals who may pose a terrorist threat; deny terrorists the means and opportunity to carry out their activities; and respond proportionately, rapidly and in an organized manner to terrorist activities and mitigate their effects.”
The report stressed partnership and cooperation as the key to achieving these goals which, “will require an integrated approach not only by the Government of Canada, but by all levels of government, law enforcement agencies, the private sector and citizens, in collaboration with international partners and key allies, such as the United States.” The strategy will, “serve to reinforce security initiatives between Canada and the U.S. and will complement the Canada-U.S. Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Competitiveness.”
The anti-terror policy identified Sunni Islamist extremism as Canada’s top security threat. It also warned of homegrown terrorists and lone wolf attackers, including issue-based domestic extremism which it stated, “tends to be based on grievances—real or perceived—revolving around the promotion of various causes such as animal rights, white supremacy, environmentalism and anti-capitalism.”
CTV News reported that similar intelligence assessments can be found in documents regarding CSIS and RCMP surveillance between 2005-2010 which categorized, “some animal rights, environmental and aboriginal activists alongside terrorists that pose a threat to national security.” The documents were obtained through access to information requests. They became the basis of the research paper Making up Terror Identities where authors Jeffrey Monaghan and Kevin Walby voiced concerns on how, “intelligence agencies have blurred the categories of terrorism, extremism and activism into an aggregate threat matrix. This blurring of threat categories expands the purview of security intelligence agencies, leading to net-widening where a greater diversity of actions are governed through surveillance processes and criminal law.”
The never-ending war on drugs and war on terrorism are being used to justify the huge police state security apparatus being assembled. This includes the militarization of the northern border and plans for a North American security perimeter.
In the name of national security, there has been a steady erosion of civil liberties and privacy rights in both the U.S. and Canada. Our freedoms are under assault. The amount of information being collected and shared on all aspects of our daily lives has expanded and is being stored in massive databases. Sweeping new surveillance powers targeting terrorists and other criminals are being increasingly turned against those who are critical of government policy.
There is a concerted effort to demonize political opponents, activists, protesters and other peaceful groups. We are witnessing the criminalization of dissent where those who oppose the government’s agenda are being labelled as terrorists and a threat to security.
Related articles by Dana Gabriel:
Strengthening U.S.-Canada Security Interests
Perimeter Security and the Militarization of the Northern Border
Towards a North American Security Perimeter
Pretext for a North American Homeland Security Perimeter
Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at beyourownleader.blogspot.com
