Syria Uprising

 

‘Europe gives money but only cares about one thing: keeping refugees out’

published by You on 6 March, 2016 - 22:27
Syrian refugees and migrants pass through Slovenia, 23 October 2015

Millions of Syrians stuck in Turkey feel the €3bn offered by Europe as part of an ‘action plan’ will be of little benefit to them

...None of the Syrian refugees and the volunteers around the table believes that they will benefit from the joint action plan that EU member states and Turkey will discuss on Monday. They know that the plan primarily aims to curb the refugee flow to Europe. Under it, the EU has pledged €3bn and political concessions to Turkey in exchange for increased border patrols and a crackdown on people smugglers.

“That money is not for us,” says Suhaila, 25, from Aleppo, the mother of two children. “All they care about is how to keep us out of Europe.”...

 

"Cessation of hostilities" reached in Syria

published by You on 26 February, 2016 - 22:50
Syrian Army tank hit by explosives in Deraaya

As I right this, the time has been reached for a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria.

This is not the same as a cease fire, because, well, they wont be ceasing fire.

Some groups such as ISIS and Al Nusra will still be targeted by Assad. Previously, Assad and Russia have in the name of bombing ISIS bombed anyone but ISIS, so it will be worth noting what happens this time.

Other smaller groups may join the cessation of hostilities, or they may not depending on many things including whether they themselves are bombed and targetted.

I don't think that anyone really expects much to be accomplished here, but even an unfair cessation of hostilities is better than nothing because atleast the people will have some peace - if it works out.

Hezbollah turns on the people that supported it

published by You on 2 June, 2013 - 16:26

Hezbollah is a large millitant group mostly based in southern Lebanon with a goal to resist Israel.

It had large popular backing when until around 2000, Israel had occupied southern Lebanon. It got a lot of support from the people on the street, and the governments of Syria and Iran.

It has also been involved in two conflicts with Israel since the Israeli withdrawal, but still enjoyed widespread support as "Legitimate resistance" and also for being a thorn in Israel's side.

The people of Syria supported Hezbollah almost totally, and this was helped by the fact that the regime also supported Hezbollah as its trump card to hit Israel should any hostilities arise with Israel or its allies.

The people of Syria gave them shelter and support.

Syria will continue to bleed in 2013

published by You on 2 January, 2013 - 01:20

So far, the Syrian conflict has resulted in a reported 40,000 lives being lost.

There are some estimates that 100,000 lives will be lost over the following year.

Hopefully though the deaths and suffering will be far less than what is expected, and will result in an improvement for the people in Syria, but some of the fighting groups may not please the locals too much.

We need to give greater focus to this (and other conflicts) and not focus just on Palestine (but that also does not mean that the focus on there should be reduced).

It is sometimes easier to focus on other conflicts where Muslims are being oppressed by Non Muslims, but solely focussing on them leaves us open to arguments of bias which belittle out focus on those opressions.