Syria Opposition Chief Urges Arabs to Back Western Strikes
The head of Syria's opposition National Coalition on Sunday urged Arab countries to back U.S.-led Western strikes on the Damascus regime over an alleged chemical weapons attack.
"I am here before you today to appeal to your brotherly and humanitarian sentiments and ask you to back the international operation against the destructive war machine" of the Syrian regime, Ahmed al-Jarba told a Cairo meeting of Arab League foreign ministers.
“I urge your assistance and support for a military strike against the regime, which has sought the support of the Iranians and Hizbullah,” added Jarba.
He noted that “national sovereignty has no meaning in the face of the behavior of the regime, which has exposed the country to all types of intervention.”
Arab League foreign ministers had initially planned to meet on Tuesday to discuss an imminent U.S.-led punitive strike on Syria for allegedly gassing civilians on August 21 in Damascus suburbs.
The meeting was brought forward to Sunday as U.S. President Barack Obama said he was determined to launch a strike on Syrian regime targets and would seek congressional approval for it.
Washington says the alleged chemical attack killed hundreds of people and Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday that Washington had proof the Syrian regime used sarin gas.
The United States has pointed to the Arab League as a potential ally for military action against Syria but several member states of the Cairo-based organization are opposed to a strike.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar, major backers of rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, want firm action while other Arab states such as Syria neighbors Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan have ruled out joining any attack.
Earlier on Sunday, the Saudi foreign minister told a news conference that the international community must stop "the aggression against the Syrian people before these people perish."
But he did not explicitly mention Obama's call for a punitive strike on Syrian regime targets.
The Syrian opposition has expressed disappointment at the resident's decision to delay military intervention until after a vote in Congress, which is not due to convene before September 9.
over 10 years
Prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Hezbollah was responsible for the deaths of more Americans around the world than any other terrorist organization. An April 1983 suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut killed more than 60 people, including 17 Americans. The following October, a Hezbollah truck bombing killed 241 American marines at the multinational force barracks in Beirut. Hezbollah is also responsible for the 1985 hijacking of TWA flight 847, during which a U.S. Navy diver was killed, and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 American servicemen.
over 10 years
In addition to its activity against American interests abroad, Hezbollah maintains a network of cells in the U.S., according to the FBI. These American-based cells use funds raised in the U.S. through criminal activities, including credit card fraud, illegal drug trade, cigarette smuggling and theft, to help finance the organization's terrorist activities abroad
over 10 years
How wrong does this headline look? An Arab asking for the support of other Arab countries for a western power to invade an Arab country...
over 10 years
The following was written by Fr. Georges Massouh of Balamand University:
A person's humanity is complete only if he is able to tame his instincts and dominate them rather than letting them dominate him. What we are currently witnessing in our country is conclusive evidence for instinct dominating reason. What is happening now confirms that blind prejudice based on stirring up instinct has disabled reason, free will, and logic. Those who are ruled by instinct, then, have lost their humanity.
Thank you KSA, USA, Israel and all others who have contributed to this unimaginable tragedy. May you reap the same seeds you have sowed.
over 10 years
The following was written by Fr. Georges Massouh of Balamand University:
A person's humanity is complete only if he is able to tame his instincts and dominate them rather than letting them dominate him. What we are currently witnessing in our country is conclusive evidence for instinct dominating reason. What is happening now confirms that blind prejudice based on stirring up instinct has disabled reason, free will, and logic. Those who are ruled by instinct, then, have lost their humanity.
Thank you KSA, USA, Israel and all others who have contributed to this unimaginable tragedy. May you reap the same seeds you have sowed.
Syrian government has to insist on two things, 1. The government has no need to use the chemical weapon since its gaining ground on the ground.
2. The fear the USA is spreading about Iran and Hezballah is baseless. Iran and Hizballah never attcked USA interest anywhere in the world. Iran had a hostage incident in 1979 on its soil since USA was supporting Shah. Hizballah attacked USA occupier in Lebanon 1980. After that and since USA left Lebanon there was no friction all rhetoric. USA interest should be with Iran and Hizballah against the common enemy: AL QAIDA