War Contingency with Israel is used to Divert Protestors Attention
Syria, Hizbullah, And Iran Are Notorious For Diversionary Tactics
Counterattack Plan against next Israel attack is Now in Place
Israel is in for a Surprise when pushing North into Lebanon
April 15, 2011
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
Daniel 11:40 – And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
Begin Excerpt from MEMRI
Middle East Media Research Institute
Syrian Human Rights Activist in ‘Al-Sharq Al-Awsat’ Interview: ‘Whenever We Ask For Freedom and Democracy – They Tell Us That Our Confrontation With Israel is More Important Than Narrow Domestic Issues’
Special Dispatch No. 3765
April 14, 3765
In an interview published April 4, 2011 in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, which was headlined “Al-Assad Should Step Down and Return To Dentistry,” Syrian human rights activist Muntaha Al-Atrash states: “Whenever we ask for freedom and democracy they tell us that our confrontation with Israel is more important than narrow domestic issues.
They excuse themselves with this confrontation with Israel, and now they are
saying that the Syrian regime is nationalist and does not bow to the West. However, we too do not bow to the West, and do not accept anybody’s dignity being harmed.
The dignity and pride of Syria will not bow regardless of who is ruling.”
The following is the article, including the interview transcript, in the original English:[1]
Bashar Al-Assad is Playing With Fire By Dealing with a Complex Political Situation in a Sectarian Manner
“Al-Sharq Al-Awsat spoke with well-known Syrian human-rights activists Muntaha Al-Atrash, who is also the daughter of the Commander General of the Syrian Revolution Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash. Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash played a prominent role in the Arab revolt, and led the Syrian revolution against the French Mandate (1925-27). His funeral in 1982 was attended by more than a million people.
“Muntaha Al-Atrash graduated from Cairo University’s Faculty of Arts in 1967, and is the official spokesperson of the Syrian Organization for Human Rights (Swasiya). In an exclusive telephone interview with Al-Sharq Al-Awsat from Damascus, Al-Atrash denied that there was any foreign conspiracy against Syria, stressing that the protests were being carried out by Syrian youth who wanted democracy. She also said that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad was playing with fire, and that he should step down from power and return to dentistry.
“The following is the text of the interview:
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] What is your view of the current political scene in Syria
?
“[Al-Atrash] Some people are optimistic that the Syrian regime will put forward genuine re
forms, but I am not optimistic at all, for President Bashar Al-Assad is addressing a complex and delicate political situation in a sectarian manner. He is playing with fire because playing on sectarianism in Syria will only ensure that the situation spins out of control and the magic may turn on the magician.
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] Are you afraid of Syria becoming a new Iraq
?
“[Al-Atrash] In Syria we are all one family, and there is no difference between a Druze, a Sunni, or an Allawite, we are all Syrians, we all live in the same neighborhood… however, what is happening now is completely different, for the Syrian regime is utilizing the viewpoint of ‘divide and conquer’ so that the Allawites fear for their future if the Sunnis come to power, whilst 15,000 Syrian pounds are paid to Allawite youth to take up arms against the Sunnis in Doma City [in the suburbs of Damascus]. This is in order to allow the situation to be portrayed as sectarian unrest; however, this narrow view of the crisis will drown the country.”
“Absolutely No Foreign Parties” Are Involved in the Uprising
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] The Syrian regime has repeatedly stated that foreign hands are responsible for what is happening in the country. What is your view of this claim
?
“[Al-Atrash] I completely deny this, there are absolutely no foreign parties involved [in the uprising], this is a revolution of the youth who are hungry for democracy and freedoms, a youth who are living through a historic period that all the people of the world passed through dozens of years ago. There is no conspiracy; the conspiracy is being hatched against the Syrian people; in Banias, the demonstrators captured four Shabiha gangsters who confessed that they were hired to kill demonstrators.
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] Do you believe that Iranian hands are moving behind the scenes in Damascus?
“[Al-Atrash] I cannot talk about what I don’t know, and I do not know what is happening behind the scenes [in Damascus], but Iran is strongly supporting the Syrian regime, and the two are linked by strong strategic interests.
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] Are you afraid of a repeat of the Hama massacre?
“[Al-Atrash] What happened in Doma city and Der’a is similar to what happened in Hama; the security forces that should be protecting the people and the peaceful demonstrators are instead firing bullets at them. In Doma city they are arresting the injured in hospital and killing the wounded in the street in cold blood. Israel itself does not act in this manner, so why is there all of this bloodshed?
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] In your opinion, why are the Syrians revolting at this time?
“[Al-Atrash] [This is due to] 40 years of injustice, 40 years of oppression, 40 years of subjugation, 40 years of fear, 40 years of bleeding the homeland and repressing liberties. I assure you that the revolution that broke out in Tunisia will spread to the entire Arab world. The Arab people have one culture, and we are the children of one Arab nation, and we revolt together.”
Bashar Al-Assad Continues To Rule Like His Father – “Therefore, His Regime Will Fall, Sooner Or Later”
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] How can the Syrian regime be toppled?
“[Al-Atrash] Easily. The Syrian regime is a throwback to the Soviet regime… the era of one party rule is history. I am astonished that Bashar Al-Assad, as a doctor, is unable to cope with the huge changes that are taking place in our region. They continue to use violence, although this card has been played and the whole world knows it. However, the tactics of the house of Al-Assad, the house of Makhlouf, and the house of Shalash have not developed.
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] In light of the recent events in Syria…what would you say to President Bashar al-Assad?
“[Al-Atrash] I have addressed him before, during an interview, as a mother or a big sister, telling him that the youth have demands, and that he should give them his ear and listen to them, as well as dialogue with them. However now, after all of this bloodshed, I can only say that it would be better for him and for Syria if he steps down from power. I would tell him, Honor the blood of your people and step down from power with your head held high. You are a dentist, you can return and reopen your clinic and work as a dentist. I would also remind him how my father, Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash, as the leader of the great Syrian revolution, did not look for a seat [in power], although he was offered high positions, but rather he preferred to be of the people and was only concerned with the interests of the state.
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] In your opinion, is the Bashar Al-Assad regime approaching collapse?
“[Al-Atrash] Logic says that such rotten systems must always collapse. Autocratic regimes cannot keep pace with the times. I believe that anything is possible.
[Bashar] Al-Assad continues to rule in the same manner that his father ruled, using the same old thinking, which is obsolete, and therefore his regime will fall sooner or later.”
“Whenever We Ask For Freedom and Democracy – They Tell Us That Our Confrontation with Israel Is More Important Than Narrow Domestic Issues”
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] Supporters of President Bashar Al-Assad say that he has refused to bow to the West or Israel, and that he is the guardian of Arab nationalism, what is your view of this?
“[Al-Atrash] Whenever we ask for freedom and democracy they tell us that our confrontation with Israel is more important than narrow domestic issues. They excuse themselves with this confrontation with Israel, and now they are saying that the Syrian regime is nationalist and does not bow to the West. However, we too do not bow to the West, and do not accept anybody’s dignity being harmed. The dignity and pride of Syria will not bow regardless of who is ruling.
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] Should the Al-Assad regime fall, what credible names can step in to govern the country
?
“[Al-Atrash] All of Syria is qualified, including but not limited to, Dr. Arif Dalila, who is a prominent economist who has a unique vision, as well as Dr. Haitham Al-Maleh, the well known Syrian opposition figure. There are also Syrians abroad like Dr. Burhan Ghailoun, who is a political sciences professor, all of these names have political and popular weight in the Syrian street. There are many others who would also be able to govern Syria with dignity, for the rule of Syria is not a monopoly for the Al-Assad family.
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] Can you put forward a moderate solution to this crisis?
“[Al-Atrash] The truth is that the blood of the martyrs has unsettled my thinking, but we will give him [Al-Assad] until 25 April, which is the deadline that he put forward to reveal his package of reforms… and then we will see what happens.
“[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat] In your opinion, what kind of reforms would satisfy the Syrian people?
“[Al-Atrash] The holding of a national conference to study the different views and visions of Syria’s thinkers and intellectuals for the future [of the country], as well as lifting security from ordinary life in Syria, and putting an end to the bloodshed.”
Endnote:
[1] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), April 4, 2011. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
Counterattack Plan against Israel’s next attack is Now in Place
Israel is in for a Surprise when it pushes north into Lebanon
Begin Excerpt 2 from Haaretz
Haaretz WikiLeaks exclusive / ‘Hezbollah expected to launch 100 missiles a day at Tel Aviv’
Israel expects next war against Hezbollah to be much more painful, leaked cables reveal, with 24,000 to 36,000 rockets and missiles expected to be launched at Israel.
By Yossi Meiman
April 8, 2011
Israel expects the next war against Hezbollah will last two months, during which 24,000 to 36,000 rockets and missiles are expected to be launched at Israel − about 6,000 of them aimed at Tel Aviv, Wikileaks documents reveal.
Telegrams sent from the U.S. Embassy summing up talks between American and Israeli officials in November 2009 cite a Mossad official as saying Hezbollah is expected to launch 400-600 missiles at Israel a day − 100 of which will be aimed at Tel Aviv, over the course of two months.
The talks were held between American and Israeli defense and intelligence officials in Israel, as part of the strategic dialogue between the countries entitled the Joint Political Military Group, which was established in 1983. The American delegation was headed by State Department official Robert Maggi and the Israeli delegation was headed by then-Defense Ministry Director General Pinhas Buchris.
This was the group’s fourth meeting.
On November 18 the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv sent the first of four telegrams summarizing the talks, which spanned various issues including the Iranian nuclear program, the situation in Iraq and Gaza, Israel-Egypt relations, the peace process with the Palestinians and Israel’s future war with Hezbollah.
“The IDF and Israel Defense Intelligence argued that Hezbollah’s ultimate goal during any future conflict is to launch a massive number of missiles and rockets daily into Israeli territory, including those that can reach the Tel Aviv area,” the telegram said.
“Defense officials highlighted the continued desire by Hezbollah to avenge the assassination of its former military commander Imad Mughniyah, and pointed to failed attempts to do so in Azerbaijan and Egypt.”
The Israelis argued “smuggling [from Syria and Iran to Hezbollah] represents a strategic challenge for Israel … and is severely limiting its diplomatic options for peace.”
The Israelis said that since the Second Lebanon War Hezbollah “increased its quantity of sophisticated arms with improved range and accuracy.”
Military Intelligence officers presented estimates of Hezbollah’s arsenal in Lebanon. “Hezbollah possesses over 20,000 rockets, hundreds of 220 mm and 302 mm rockets, several hundred Fajr rockets, hundreds of simple anti-tank (AT) launchers with rockets and missiles, and hundreds of advanced anti-tank wire guided missiles (ATGM), dozens of SA-14, SA-7 and QW-1 anti-aircraft guns, several Ababil unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), an unknown quantity of C-802 coastal missiles and up to thousands of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).”
An Israeli officer said “Hezbollah was preparing for a long conflict with Israel in which it hopes to launch a massive number of rockets at Israel per day.”
“In the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Tel Aviv was left untouched − Hezbollah will try to change the equation during the next round and disrupt everyday life in Tel Aviv,” the officer is quoted as saying.
A Mossad official said “Hezbollah will want to ensure it can launch rockets and missiles to the very last day of the conflict … Hezbollah will try to launch 400-600 rockets and missiles at Israel per day − 100 of which will be aimed at Tel Aviv … [and] sustain such launches for at least two months.”
This means Israel expects a war that would last up to two months, during which 24,000 to 36,000 rockets and missiles would be launched into its territory, about 6,000 of them aimed at Tel Aviv.
An argument erupted between the Israeli and American officials about the American arms supplies to the Lebanese Armed Forces, also known as the
Lebanese Army.
The Israelis complained about it, saying they could fall into Hezbollah’s hands. The Americans said the aid to the LAF was intended to prevent it from growing closer to Hezbollah and stressed the “U.S. support of the LAF as a counterweight to Hezbollah.”
Amos Gilad, director of policy and political-military affairs at the Defense Ministry, completely disagreed with this approach. He said “the Lebanese Army will come to the defense of Hezbollah if attacked by Israel.
Thus, a strengthened LAF hurts Israel.”
This was not mentioned in the discussions, but at the time foreign media reported that an Israeli spy ring had been captured in Lebanon. The Lebanese government said it had caught dozens of Lebanese nationals − some of them former senior military and intelligence officers − following cooperation between Hezbollah and Lebanese intelligence. The suspects had confessed they had spied for Israel and some of them were sentenced to death.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more detailed information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
You may use material originated by this site. However, if you wish to use any quoted copyrighted material from this site, which did not originate at this site, for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner from which we extracted it.