Bashar al-Assad, Syria and the Armenian people

[Federate]

Re: The Danger of Syrian Situation

Genocide of Armenians? Can you provide some sources?

He means the war caused the collapse of the Armenian community of Iraq since they all pretty much moved out.

The pro-NATO interventionist opposition are scum and I would never support them. Assad is not targeting civilians per se but he is actively fighting the so-called "Free Syrian Army" who use urban warfare. Casualties will naturally (*sigh at the word*) be high among civilians. There have been hundreds soldiers from the Syrian Armed Forces who have died in the conflict for example. Anyway, i'm in contact with Armenians in Haleb and the situation there is calm according to them and much of the "direness" is exaggerated. The Armenian community has been safe under Assad and the majority supports the government. Assad had grown close to Turkey but he had also always remained close to Armenia. How many Arab leaders visit Armenia these days? The peaceful opposition's (one that is not a NATO/Qatari/Turkish/Saudi puppet) role should be to put pressure on Assad to adopt reforms. If Assad falls and the Burhan Ghalioun led SNC come to power, I believe this will cause the biggest shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. And I don't say that as a good thing.

[Federate]

Re: Bashar al-Assad, Syria and the Armenian people

Based on my own research, here are some of the regional and non-regional actors of the Syria issue based on where they stand.

Pro-government
Hezbollah, Iran, China, Russia.

Anti-government
Muslim Brotherhood, NATO, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and most of the Arab dictators.

Undecided or unclear
Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Iraq, Lebanon.

Notes:
- Palestinian organisations Hamas and Islamic Jihad are both headquartered in Syria and have remained silent on the issue possibly due to newly-elected Muslim Brotherhood influence from Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.
- Iraq and Lebanon (along with Yemen) were the only 3 countries in the Arab League that voted not to kick out Syria from the organisation. Lebanon and Yemen voted NO and Iraq abstained.
- Hezbollah is highly dependent of Syria for its arms and money supply as well as political backing.
- The Syrian opposition is headquartered primarily in Turkey but also in Jordan and Europe. Draw your own conclusions.

[Mos]

Re: Bashar al-Assad, Syria and the Armenian people

Our only real friends in Arab world are Lebanon and Assad's Syria. Many of the other Sunni Arab countries are pro-Azeri/Turkish.

[Mos]

Re: The Danger of Syrian Situation

All the progovernment factions are our friends, lol

[Federate]

Re: The Danger of Syrian Situation

All the progovernment factions are our friends, lol

Indeed.

Finally, there's the position of Israel. I think i'd put them with anti-government. Both sides of the conflict have used the "they are friends with Israel" excuse but given the Assad government's backing of anti-Israel groups, I think it's unlikely that Assad is seeking friends there. Also take this into consideration: the SNC's leader Burhan Ghalioun has pledged to break off all Syrian ties with Hezbollah, Iran and Hamas (which has stayed neutral officially) and has pledged to negotiate with Israel on getting back the Golan Heights peacefully.

[Davo88]

Re: The Danger of Syrian Situation

Another testament to the fact that Sunnis often are against our interests. It seems Shia's have treated Christians better.

I don't think it's as simple as that. Azerbaijan for instance is Shiite (although secular) and is contrary to Armenian interests. Assad actually belongs to the Alawi sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam which has a large following in Syria.

What do you guys think of Assad's violent crackdown? I think it’s hard to deny that he is committing human rights violations, though the severity of which might be exaggerated. Do you genuinely support his actions, or is he simply a necessary evil, that is a preferred option over the western pro Turkish puppets who will likely destroy the Armenian community?

To me he is the lesser of two evils. I am sure that if the opposition ends up toppling Assad there will still be chaos in Syria and an all-out civil war.

[Federate]

Re: The Danger of Syrian Situation

I don't think it's as simple as that. Azerbaijan for instance is Shiite (although secular) and is contrary to Armenian interests. Assad actually belongs to the Alawi sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam which has a large following in Syria.

To me he is the lesser of two evils. I am sure that if the opposition ends up toppling Assad there will still be chaos in Syria and an all-out civil war.

Azerbaijan's Shia-ness is borderline laughable. They take their orders/influence from Turkey anyway.

Part of the opposition is also highly sectarian and they are bent on genocidal "revenge" against the Alawis for being in power even though Syria is a secular country. Assad must be given time to usher in reforms, the pressure is on him and he will surely do so in order to survive. Lots of concessions have been given by the Assad government, more so than any other Arab dictatorship.

[Federate]

Re: Bashar al-Assad, Syria and the Armenian people

Pro-Syrian government demonstration in Yerevan, Armenia

[Mos]

Re: Bashar al-Assad, Syria and the Armenian people

Azerbaijan's religion is Turanism and the saviour Aliyev. They are the poorest excuse for Muslim you can find and actually most are irreligious and just use Islam as an anti-Armenian tool.

[Mos]

Re: Bashar al-Assad, Syria and the Armenian people

Pro-Syrian government demonstrations in Yerevan, Armenia

Are these Syrian-armenians?