We invite GR readers to review the video and images below and make up their own mind as to what is happening in Syria.
There is a mass movement across the country against foreign interference. This mass movement is not being reported by the Western media.
The Syrian population does not support the “freedom fighters” recruited and trained in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.
What is at stake is the sovereignty and survival of a country with a longstanding history. This movement also includes people who are opposed to the Syrian government.
The Syrian people are fully aware that Washington is supporting Al Qaeda. They know that this is a US sponsored insurgency and that the rebels who are killing civilians are mercenaries.
They are fully aware that this is a war of aggression which is intent upon destroying their country.
Let us spread this message far and wide.
Michel Chossudovsky, GR, February 21, 2014
**
Report by Syria 360
Thousands of Syrians went out in massive rallies in various areas and cities on Thursday in support of Syrian national principles and staunch support to the Syrian Arab Army.
Thousands in Qudsayya show support to Syrian army, national principles
Thousands from Qudsayya, al-Dimas and al-Sabboura areas in Damascus countryside gathered in a massive popular rally in Qudsayya area to show support to the Syrian army operations against the armed terrorist groups and national principles.
The participants, who waved Syrian flags and held posters for President Bashar al-Assad, affirmed that ”those endowed with the spirit of Correctionism and Liberation must have a spirit of victory,” expressing confidence that Syria’s victory is imminent.
Chairman of Damascus Countryside Council, Saleh Bakro told SANA that the rally ”is a popular referendum on the basic choices and firm principles that hold the Syrians together no matter their different affiliations.”
Najha residents voice support to national principles
A massive rally took place in Najha area in Damascus Countryside, with the participants expressing their rejection of any foreign interference in Syria’s affairs.
Waving the Syrian flags and posters of President Bashar al-Assad, the participants stressed that the national principles proclaimed by the delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic in Geneva express the aspirations of the Syrian people.
They chanted slogans reflecting firm national unity and voiced strong support to the Syrian army while it is performing its national duty of confronting terrorism to restore security and stability to the homeland.
Massive rally in Misyaf to glorify martyrdom
Residents of Misyaf city and its countryside in Hama province also went out in thousands in a rally during which they held up banners that glorify martyrdom and the martyrs and the heroic achievements of the Armed Forces.
The participants affirmed that the aggression waged against Syria makes the Syrians more determined to adhere to the sovereignty, just rights and independent decision of their country.
They strongly condemned the brutal terrorist massacres committed against the Syrian people, expressing their readiness to make more sacrifices so that Syria can get out of the crisis stronger and restore its regional role.
“People of Misyaf stress through this massive gathering that they stand by the Syrian Arab Army in the face of the terrorist takfiri groups and their backers,” said Governor of Hama Ghassan Khalaf in a statement to SANA.
For his part, Misyaf Mayor Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali said the rally reflects the Syrians’ determination and will to go on with their lives and overcome the harsh circumstances they are going through.
He added that the rally also indicates the failure of all the attempts seeking to weaken the Syrians and break up the Syrian social fabric.
Million man march in Tartous to support the army
In Tartous province, a million man march was organized on the Cornish where the masses expressed support to the firm national principles and Syrian Army.
The participants waved national flags and banners glorifying national unity and the Syrian people’s commitment to the path of resistance, expressing pride in the feats of the Syrian army in the war against terrorists.
Tartous governor, Nizar Ismail Moussa said that the locals in Tartous wanted to echo a strident massage of support to the Syrian army and the ”honorable people who have declined to compromise their homeland.”
”The march is a manifestation of commitment to national principles and the blood of martyrs who offered their lives for Syria to remain steadfast and for the whole world to know that the Syrian people are forever united,” he added.
Residents of Haffeh city in Lattakia express rejection of terrorism and support to Syrian Arab Army
Residents of al-Haffeh city in Lattakia province staged a huge march in support of the national principles and the Syrian Arab Army.
The participants raised the national flags and photos of President Bashar al-Assad and placards expressing support to the Syrian army and appreciation of its sacrifices to defend the homeland.
They expressed rejection of the sedition projects planned by some enemies of the nation, pledging to continue the march of confrontation until victory and rebuilding Syria.
They called on President Bashar al-Assad to run for a new constitutional term as he is a genuine guarantee for Syria’s unity, strength and pride.
Earlier on Sunday, residents of al-Nabek city in Damascus Countryside and al-Liwan neighborhood in Kafar Souseh district in Damascus took to the streets to express support to the Syrian Arab Army.
Massive rally in Deir Ezzor in support of Syria’s army
Hundreds of citizens took to the streets in al-Joura neighborhood in Deir Ezzor city in support of the Syrian national stances and army’s operations against the armed terrorist groups.
The participants raised placards that expressed the unity of the Syrian citizens and rejection of any foreign intervention in their internal affairs.
They hailed the role of the Syrian army in fighting terrorists and working on stemming their sources in the area. Mass rally in Daraa in support of the leadership and army
A huge rally also staged in Daraa al-Mahata in support of the firm national principles and the Syrian Arab Army in confronting the armed terrorist groups.
The participants voiced their support to the Syrian official delegation in Geneva, asking President Bashar al-Assad to run for presidency as he is the genuine insurance for the return of stability to Syria.
They highlighted the need to unmask the takfiri Wahabi reality along with the sides which are supporting them, adding that Syria will be victorious over its enemies as it is today far more stronger than it was.
Citizens of al Midan neighborhood in Damascus staged huge mass rally in support of national principles and Syrian army
Michel Chossudovsky is an award-winning author, Professor of Economics (emeritus) at the University of Ottawa, Founder and Director of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG), Montreal and Editor of the globalresearch.ca website. He is the author of The Globalization of Poverty and The New World Order (2003) and America’s “War on Terrorism”(2005). His most recent book is entitled Towards a World War III Scenario: The Dangers of Nuclear War (2011). He is also a contributor to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. His writings have been published in more than twenty languages. He can be reached at crgeditor@yahoo.com ——————————————————————————————————————Michel Chossudovsky est directeur du Centre de recherche sur la mondialisation et professeur émérite de sciences économiques à l’Université d’Ottawa. Il est l’auteur de “Guerre et mondialisation, La vérité derrière le 11 septembre”, “La Mondialisation de la pauvreté et nouvel ordre mondial” (best-seller international publié en plus de 10 langues). Contact : crgeditor@yahoo.com
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BOWLING GREEN – Thanks to the work of the Arizona Tenth Amendment Center, an Arizona state senate committee passed the Restoring Constitutional Governance Act, SB 1291, 4-3 today. This legislation, drafted by the Patriot Coalition, is the strongest in the nation as it explicitly prohibits the laws of war from being used on non-soldiers in Arizona, and Arizona citizens anywhere, and will punish any person, including Federal or international agents, who attempts to utilize those powers.
From Arizona TAC:
“PHOENIX, February 17, 2014 – Today, an Arizona state senate committee gave initial approval to a bill nullifying indefinite detention under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012 or any other federal law which might claim to authorize the same. The vote was 4-3.
Introduced by State Sen. Judy Burges, SB1291 would ban the state of Arizona from enforcing sections 1021 and 1022 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. These sections purport to give authority to the federal government to indefinitely detain anyone, anywhere – without charge or trial. This bill also covers indefinite detention without due process authorized under “any similar law or authority enacted or claimed by Congress or the President.”
The bill garnered a large number of cosponsors, including Senators Crandell, Farnsworth, Murphy, Melvin, Shooter, Ward and Representatives Borrelli, Mitchell, Seel, Thorpe, Townsend, Barton, Gowan, Livingston, Lovas and Petersen.
“This will be Arizona’s third attempt to essentially nullify the NDAA’s kidnapping and indefinite detainment provisions – which blatantly violate several portions of the constitution,” Henriksen said. ”I look forward to working with Dan to stop that.”
The bill states that anyone in violation of this new legislation would be ”subject to prosecution pursuant to title 13 or any other applicable law.”
If this bill passes into law, Arizona would become the fifth state to take steps to nullify indefinite detention, joining Alaska, California, Michigan and Virginia. Those states have passed similar legislation in the last two years, but far more limited in scope. An additional eight states have legislation based on the Tenth Amendment Center’s model legislation, the Liberty Preservation Act.
“Justice Antonin Scalia said we would be kidding ourselves if we didn’t think the Supreme Court would approve another WWII, Japanese-American style, internment,” Johnson said. “With SB1291, Arizona has a chance to join several states to head this off and avoid repeating a dark part of American history.”
All of these states are following James Madison’s blueprint for stopping federal overreach. In Federalist 46, heargued that a “refusal to comply with officers of the Union” along with other actions at the state and local level would create a situation where the federal government would have an almost impossible time enforcing their acts. When several states join together and do the same, Madison said it would “present obstructions which the federal government would hardly be willing to encounter.”
SB1291 moves on to the senate rules committee where it will require approval by majority vote before the full senate can consider it.”
Dan Johnson is the Founder and National Director of People Against the NDAA.
BOWLING GREEN – Thanks to the work of the Arizona Tenth Amendment Center, an Arizona state senate committee passed the Restoring Constitutional Governance Act, SB 1291, 4-3 today. This legislation, drafted by the Patriot Coalition, is the strongest in the nation as it explicitly prohibits the laws of war from being used on non-soldiers in Arizona, and Arizona citizens anywhere, and will punish any person, including Federal or international agents, who attempts to utilize those powers.
From Arizona TAC:
“PHOENIX, February 17, 2014 – Today, an Arizona state senate committee gave initial approval to a bill nullifying indefinite detention under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012 or any other federal law which might claim to authorize the same. The vote was 4-3.
Introduced by State Sen. Judy Burges, SB1291 would ban the state of Arizona from enforcing sections 1021 and 1022 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. These sections purport to give authority to the federal government to indefinitely detain anyone, anywhere – without charge or trial. This bill also covers indefinite detention without due process authorized under “any similar law or authority enacted or claimed by Congress or the President.”
The bill garnered a large number of cosponsors, including Senators Crandell, Farnsworth, Murphy, Melvin, Shooter, Ward and Representatives Borrelli, Mitchell, Seel, Thorpe, Townsend, Barton, Gowan, Livingston, Lovas and Petersen.
“This will be Arizona’s third attempt to essentially nullify the NDAA’s kidnapping and indefinite detainment provisions – which blatantly violate several portions of the constitution,” Henriksen said. ”I look forward to working with Dan to stop that.”
The bill states that anyone in violation of this new legislation would be ”subject to prosecution pursuant to title 13 or any other applicable law.”
If this bill passes into law, Arizona would become the fifth state to take steps to nullify indefinite detention, joining Alaska, California, Michigan and Virginia. Those states have passed similar legislation in the last two years, but far more limited in scope. An additional eight states have legislation based on the Tenth Amendment Center’s model legislation, the Liberty Preservation Act.
“Justice Antonin Scalia said we would be kidding ourselves if we didn’t think the Supreme Court would approve another WWII, Japanese-American style, internment,” Johnson said. “With SB1291, Arizona has a chance to join several states to head this off and avoid repeating a dark part of American history.”
All of these states are following James Madison’s blueprint for stopping federal overreach. In Federalist 46, heargued that a “refusal to comply with officers of the Union” along with other actions at the state and local level would create a situation where the federal government would have an almost impossible time enforcing their acts. When several states join together and do the same, Madison said it would “present obstructions which the federal government would hardly be willing to encounter.”
SB1291 moves on to the senate rules committee where it will require approval by majority vote before the full senate can consider it.”
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How likely are Western powers to retract their ‘Assad must go’ statements? Could we again see the possibility of the US striking the Assad regime? And what needs to happen for a breakthrough in the Syria talks? CrossTalking with Daniel Serwer, Christoph Horstel and Richard Rubenstein.
Does the disposal of Syria’s chemical weapons by the two selected waste disposal companies, namely Finland’s Ekokem and France’s Veolia require a contractual arrangement (or “agreement”) with Italy’s most powerful criminal syndicate on behalf of the Nobel Peace Prize winning Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)?
Read down. Its a long saga…
On September 12, last year, Syria’s President al-Assad committed to surrender Syria’s chemical weapons, with the caveats that the United States must stop threatening his country and supplying weapons to the terrorists. He has been as good as his word. The same cannot be said for the US and its boot licking allies.
Three days earlier US Secretary of State John Kerry – who had been killing Vietnamese in the US onslaught on Vietnam as American ‘planes rained down 388,000 tons of chemical weapons on the Vietnamese people (i) – had threatened Syria with a military strike if the weapons stocks were not surrendered within a week, stating that President Assad: “isn’t about to do it and it can’t be done.”
The ever trigger-happy Kerry was right on the second count, it can’t be done for two reasons, extracting dangerous chemicals from a war zone is, to massively understate, a foolhardy and hazardous business. Additionally it seems having received Syria’s agreement, the “international community” and the Nobel Peace Prize winning Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had no disposal plan in place and had not a clue what to do with them, whilst at every turn Syria is blamed.
As ever double standards and hypocrisy rule. According to CNN (10thOctober 2013):
“The United States estimates it will be at least another decade before it completes destruction of the remaining 10% of its chemical weapons, estimated at more than 3,100 tons.”
And Syria? “U.S. intelligence and other estimates put its chemical weapons stockpile at about 1,000 tons.” they are believed to be “stored in dozens of sites”, in the circumstances a logistical nightmare and a massive danger to the public and those driving them to be insisting on transporting them anywhere.
CNN also quotes Wade Mathews who had worked on “the U.S. project to destroy its chemical stockpile” who doubted that Syria could meet the deadlines. The US operation, he said: “took billions of dollars, the cooperation of many levels of government – including the military – and a safe environment to make sure the destruction was done safely.”
“We had a coordinated effort, we had a government that insisted that it be done safely and that the community was protected … I don’t think those things are in place in Syria.”
Shopping Around for a Country to Destroy the Weapons
Having received Syria’s compliance, the OPCW started shopping around for a country -any country it seems – to destroy the weapons. Norway, approached by the US, was first choice. They declined, since the country had no experience in dealing with chemical weapons, the Foreign Ministry website stating: “… Norway is not the most suitable location for this destruction.”
Battle for Yabroud – What the Media won’t tell you
All rebel groups agreed to be under AlQaeda command and their holding hostage a group of 12 nuns from Ma’loula. Meanwhile Congress approve arms and Saudi starts arming..
BOWLING GREEN – Several national and local artists, inspirational speakers, and activists are coming together for an NDAA Resistance concert tour this spring. Artists include Saving Abel, The Siren, Jordan Page, Tatiana Moroz, and more, with nationally renowned speakers from across the political spectrum like antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan, Dan Johnson, We Are Change’s Luke Rudkowski, Jeff Lewis from the Patriot Coalition and more.
Signed on December 31st, 2011, the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has been largely ignored by mainstream media sources. It received a whopping two mentions of primetime CNN coverage, 45 seconds of FOX News coverage, and 30 minutes from MSNBC. Comedy Central had a larger segment on the NDAA than most of these networks combined.
Since the 2012 NDAA is the first law in American history to authorize the indefinite military detention of any person, including American citizens, adding Congressional approval to the same actions of the now-infamous executive order authorizing the detention of 110,000 Japanese-Americans in WWII. The detention sections, 1021 and 1022, authorize the President to detain, torture, or extra-judicially execute any person, including someone on U.S. Soil, merely suspected of terrorism without a charge, trial, or a day in court.
Founded in January 2012, People Against the NDAA (PANDA), and the NDAA Resistance it created, is the nations leading movement against the detention provisions of the 2012 NDAA. Since 2012, PANDA has introduced 21 pieces of state-level legislation, helped citizens ban the laws of war in four cities, and raised national awareness of the issue reaching 30,000 – 1.2 million people per week through email, Facebook, twitter and partner sites, .
Since the mainstream media has refused to cover such an important issue, PANDA has gathered nearly 20 artists, a crack event team led by Robert Rodrigo and Rustic Justice Productions, and several powerful speakers to get the word out a different way: through music.
The goals of the Take Back Tour are threefold. Firstly, to bring awareness to the NDAA, and spark serious action against it as PANDA has done in the past. Secondly, to encourage local-level action on the issues. Our lawmakers in D.C. want to live in a bubble, so let them. Take local level action to solve national issues. Thirdly, to bring people, especially youth, from across the political spectrum together to discuss issues. There is a huge left/right divide in this nation, and we need to unite to defeat threats like the 2012 NDAA. If we cannot hang together, we shall surely hang separately.
The Take Back Tour will stop in Kalamazoo, MI on April 19th, the anniversary of the beginning of the American revolution, Atlanta, GA on May 25th, the anniversary of the Constitutional Convention, and Albany, NY on June 7th, anniversary of the introduction of the Resolution for Independence to the colonies.
How can I help?
PANDA has launched an IndieGogo campaign to raise the $10,000 necessary to cover the initial costs of the Tour. Donate and receive awesome perks like tickets to the event of your choice, meet and greet with the artists, shout-outs on the Facebook page, and PANDA gear. If you run an organization, business, or other group you want to advertise, get your logo and name in front of thousands of people for rock-bottom prices, while supporting activism in your community. HELP LAUNCH THE TOUR: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/panda-take-back-concert-tour/x/6276168
If you have more time than money, you can help by volunteering for the tour. We are currently looking for graphic designers, video editors, and writers, but anyone can help make this tour a success. Email us at events@pandaunite.org If you have a group, and want to sponsor the Tour, the more publicity this gets the better. Contact us HERE: http://pandaunite.org/aboutus/contactus/
We don’t need the mainstream media. We don’t need D.C. Help spread the word about this Take Back Tour across social media, publish it on a blog, or write about it for your hometown newspaper. Let’s rock the nation awake.
###
BOWLING GREEN – Several national and local artists, inspirational speakers, and activists are coming together for an NDAA Resistance concert tour this spring. Artists include Saving Abel, The Siren, Jordan Page, Tatiana Moroz, and more, with nationally renowned speakers from across the political spectrum like antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan, Dan Johnson, We Are Change’s Luke Rudkowski, Jeff Lewis from the Patriot Coalition and more.
Signed on December 31st, 2011, the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has been largely ignored by mainstream media sources. It received a whopping two mentions of primetime CNN coverage, 45 seconds of FOX News coverage, and 30 minutes from MSNBC. Comedy Central had a larger segment on the NDAA than most of these networks combined.
Since the 2012 NDAA is the first law in American history to authorize the indefinite military detention of any person, including American citizens, adding Congressional approval to the same actions of the now-infamous executive order authorizing the detention of 110,000 Japanese-Americans in WWII. The detention sections, 1021 and 1022, authorize the President to detain, torture, or extra-judicially execute any person, including someone on U.S. Soil, merely suspected of terrorism without a charge, trial, or a day in court.
Founded in January 2012, People Against the NDAA (PANDA), and the NDAA Resistance it created, is the nations leading movement against the detention provisions of the 2012 NDAA. Since 2012, PANDA has introduced 21 pieces of state-level legislation, helped citizens ban the laws of war in four cities, and raised national awareness of the issue reaching 30,000 – 1.2 million people per week through email, Facebook, twitter and partner sites, .
Since the mainstream media has refused to cover such an important issue, PANDA has gathered nearly 20 artists, a crack event team led by Robert Rodrigo and Rustic Justice Productions, and several powerful speakers to get the word out a different way: through music.
The goals of the Take Back Tour are threefold. Firstly, to bring awareness to the NDAA, and spark serious action against it as PANDA has done in the past. Secondly, to encourage local-level action on the issues. Our lawmakers in D.C. want to live in a bubble, so let them. Take local level action to solve national issues. Thirdly, to bring people, especially youth, from across the political spectrum together to discuss issues. There is a huge left/right divide in this nation, and we need to unite to defeat threats like the 2012 NDAA. If we cannot hang together, we shall surely hang separately.
The Take Back Tour will stop in Kalamazoo, MI on April 19th, the anniversary of the beginning of the American revolution, Atlanta, GA on May 25th, the anniversary of the Constitutional Convention, and Albany, NY on June 7th, anniversary of the introduction of the Resolution for Independence to the colonies.
How can I help?
PANDA has launched an IndieGogo campaign to raise the $10,000 necessary to cover the initial costs of the Tour. Donate and receive awesome perks like tickets to the event of your choice, meet and greet with the artists, shout-outs on the Facebook page, and PANDA gear. If you run an organization, business, or other group you want to advertise, get your logo and name in front of thousands of people for rock-bottom prices, while supporting activism in your community. HELP LAUNCH THE TOUR: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/panda-take-back-concert-tour/x/6276168
If you have more time than money, you can help by volunteering for the tour. We are currently looking for graphic designers, video editors, and writers, but anyone can help make this tour a success. Email us at events@pandaunite.org If you have a group, and want to sponsor the Tour, the more publicity this gets the better. Contact us HERE: http://pandaunite.org/aboutus/contactus/
We don’t need the mainstream media. We don’t need D.C. Help spread the word about this Take Back Tour across social media, publish it on a blog, or write about it for your hometown newspaper. Let’s rock the nation awake.
by Felicity Arbuthnot
PN 