Free Michel Kilo Now - Enough Already

Innocent face and talk does not make you innocent in actions…Have I not known and followed Bashar’s actions the last few years, i would be inclined to say Bashar Assad is the best young leader our Arab nation have produced. Even ABC was hinting at that. But sadly I have seen him the last few year: destroy Lebanon directly or through his allies. I have seen him encourage Palestinians with violent resistance movements in the Second Armed Intifada and now through Hamas and Palestinians infighting. I have seen him cheer on the destruction of the Iraqi society calling it Resisting the occupiers. I have seen him rush to beg for Negotiations with Israel while his actions have been anything but peaceful. To negotiate Peace you have to show signs and do some nice gestures, not talk resistance and attack moderates. Peace does not happen by supporting and encouraging hardliners such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Also you don’t beg for the support and alliance of an imperialist emerging force of the Mullahs of Iran.

That is Bashar’s resume on foreign affairs, very impressive if war and chaos in the region is your goal and vision. The administration of Bush does not mind few trouble makers in the region since their policy is war, oil, and selling weapons. The Defense and oil industries have flourished and peaked ever since sept 11. So Bush does not care about democracies in the Middle East, does not care about fighting terrorism; He cares about funding wars. Wars are not needed when there are no trouble makers. Saddam was so useful for the US interests in the 90s, Qazafi was useful for Reagan in the 80s. Najad is double useful now while Bashar position is on the bench. He is a sub, will be used if needed and the final call on him has not been released. There are no plans to take him out, because it is so easy to do that. Just ask General Noriega of Panama who was captured in a day. It would be just an easy excursion for American fighter jets. Since he has a baby face and talks like a school boy he would be allowed to leave the country in 24 hours with American help to a luxury palace in Europe of his choice. He owns half of them anyway.

On the internal front, I have noticed that the Syrians are getting poorer, the economy is deteriorating. Any Syrian who can get out is buying one way ticket out. Money is flowing out of the country, regime money is getting out as well, and foreign investments are down. Unless of course you count Rami Makhlouf (The Cousin) foreign companies pumping money in or The Father in law moving his fortune (or is it?) from London to build a private hospital. The situation is very gloomy money wise, there is no substantial trade to talk about, and the troubles in Lebanon and Iraq must have a negative impact on Syria.

Education is miserable and Bashar’s greatest weapon is the youth born after 1975, they constitute a big percentage of the population. I would say 60 to 70%. The problem with that generation is that it is Brainwashed, completely brainwashed. Mostly ignorant but even the intellectual one is too regime supportive especially with a young president who rides bicycles, listen to Ipod and eats out. He has a beautiful wife, a Sunni wife if you are not convinced.

I escaped slightly that generation. The political Education got worse but it was bad around my time too. The problem with the 1975 onward generation is that they have not witnessed or were aware of what is going on with the Muslim Brotherhood events in the late 70s early 80s, and how the regime massacred an entire city Hama and razed it down with its habitants inside. How so many families got liquidated in Aleppo and other places. How many people were thrown in jails, God forbid in you get caught talking politics or anti government. Their parents were completely tamed when they grew up.

The youth did not witness the civil war of Lebanon in the 80s (started in the 7os) and how Syria was fueling it by supporting different factions at different times. It was divide and conquer strategy. Instead, they got used watching Lebanese politicians ass kissing the sister Syria and its God leader. They did not witness how Hafez Assad was constantly weakening and undermining the PLO and Arafat until Assad Senior died. They did not witness how Assad was openly siding with Iran against Iraq in their war, preventing Syria from all the oil money they could have received from Pipeline transit money or Gulf support. They did not witness all the self inflicted economical hardships because of regime mafias in the 80s and how they controlled several smuggling rings and black markets. They saw only one side of the coin which is America and Israel don’t like us because we are in their face and we the Syrian people are the only deterrent to Imperialism and plans to control the region.

I have news for that generation and for people who believe in that bull shit theory. First the US and the west have controlled the oil in the middle east ever since it was discovered, all the wars that happen in the region are by choice and don’t challenge the west control. Second the Syrian Regime exists and depends on American and Israeli support. Third the Syrian regime has never acted for Syrian and Arab interests like it claims. If any thing they have more Syrian and Arab blood on their hand than the external or traitor forces they point to. Fourth I would welcome the sacrifices of the Syrian people if it was matched by less greed from the Regime’s elements. Fifth don’t underestimate the Syrian people if they are allowed to flourish and given the right climate to prosper and impress. For people who say give the young doctor time: I say 7 years is plenty of time and he is only good at killing time. He could have done a lot if he wanted to.

I won’t elaborate about the Syrian political prisoners now since Bashar the liar has confirmed in several interviews and occasions that they are none!!! We have only criminals or people who broke the law, law that he designs to suit him best. We are only dreaming or imagining about people in jail. In fact Michel Kilo, Kamal Labwani, Aref Dalila to name a few are not political or journalist prisoners, they are just in government shelters because they have no homes, families or friends.

And to Bashar “the inventor of Democracy in 1000 years for Syria because it does not suit us”. I say “IL KIZB 7aram” or “Lying is a sin” since Syrians have known democracy since more than 4000 years ago. Also Syrians have lived democracy after independence (or even before) in some periods in the 30s, 40s and 50s before you were born. Go study the history of the country before your nose becomes like Pinocchio and lying while laughing and joking about it is still LYING.

سيد الموت والتخلف
الشيعي المقموع
لا يستطيع حزب الله العيش في دولة حضارية طبيعية متوازنة شأنه شأن النظام السوري الذي لا يستطيع العيش إلا بذريعة مقاومة اسرائيل كي يسكت شعبه وتخويفه بعدو يتربص به وفي الحقيقة أن المشكلة هي أن نظام حزب الله الايراني ونظام البعث السوري متخلفان من القرون الوسطى ولا يمكن لهما إقناع اتباعهمابالسير ورائهما إلا بالتهديد والتخويف. كان الله بعون الشيعة الحضاريين المحبين للحياة والسوريين الطبيعيين الذين يريدون العيش بكرامةأمام ثقافة الموت والقتل والدواليب السوداءكوجوههم والمحترقة كضمائرهم والمهترئة كعقولهم

For the first time ever, I put an arabic title to one of my posts. Because It is mainly directed to an arabic audience. The title means “The Master of Death and Backwardness/Ignorance”.

 I found this great comment on Elaph by one of the readers “Oppressed Shite” on the following link which is an editorial about the Mask Falling from my dear Ass**le Nasralla.

 Here is the Translation of the comment above:

 Hizballah can’t live in a balanced and civilized normal state, similar to the Syrian regime that can’t survive without using the resisting Israel excuse in order to silence its people and scare them with a relentless enemy waiting to attack.

The Truth is that the source of the problem is that the Hizballa Iranian regime and the Syrian Baathist regimes are ignorant and from the middle ages. They can’t convince their followers to follow but by Threats and Fears. May God help the civilized life loving Shites and the normal Syrians that want to live with dignity against the cutlure of Death, Murder and black burned Tires. Black like their faces (the regimes), burned like their conscience, rotten like their minds. 

TY My dear Shite and God help us and help Lebanon and the region from the suicidal trouble making mentality of the blackmailers of Iran and Syria. What contribute to this problem is that the US and Israel to a degree enjoy and relish the divisions in the region, the sectarianism and the rivalries of different groups and communites. It even nurture those problems but leaving trouble makers like Iran and Syria and the Islamic extremists fully functional. But the wise Syrians and Lebanese and other arabs don’t see that, the ones that support the troubles and call it resistance only see what they want to see (that their regimes are the ones to trust) so without their will or knowledge help destroy the region.

My God, there seem to be no hope. Wake up enlightened people and renounce the stupid realities that keep us from flourishing and advancing. PEACE.

Year 2006, I ventured online through my blog into politics and defense of human rights. I thought it would be very simple and very easy to let people know how wrong things are some times. I needed to explain How we need to stand together to help eliminate injustice and improve our societies. I got a lot of friendly warnings not to embark because of the risks, the headaches and that nothing will change anyway.

Not only it was hard to gain sympathizers, but I realized how the various dictators including our own Mr Bashar Al Assad control the societies with an iron fist and does not stop at anything that seems helpful to their control including killing, lying, torturing, murdering, terrorizing, brainwashing, playing sectarian games, using religion, you name it. It turned out you can control the ignorant Arab masses with words such as fake dignity and honor, divine victories, standing up to imperialism, I am the good guy but all others are traitors, stay with me because I offer security “But indeed I am the one who is the trouble maker and I offer nothing positive”. It is so easy to sell anything in the name of religion or we are under attack.

Syrian politics turned out to be a big headache since people have different opinions or mix up the issues and believe that for some unknown reason keeping Michel Kilo or others in prison is crucial to the National security of the country!!!! I was disgusted sometimes by the arguments of people and how the reasons for keeping people in prison kept changing and kept offering justifications! I was also not encouraged to see people not push for their release saying that the Syrian regime is under international pressure or under survival!!! war and once that is eased then everything will become perfect and all the wrongs would be corrected!

Not only Syrian politics and the way people thought was twisted and did not help the country, but Syria meddled big time in Lebanese, Palestinian and Iraqi politics and security. Iran and Syria versus Israel and the US are to blame for destroying Lebanon. The Lebanese along with the Arab liberal hopes and dreams in Peace, Freedom and Prosperity for Lebanon were dashed. Prosperity and freedom in Lebanon which would spread to Syria and the rest of the region is a big red line and a no-no for them. Iran is using Syria as a gate to dominate the region and that is not a good sign for anyone including the people that see Israel as the only evil in the region. Iran or Syria do not care about Israel,Israel is perfect for them to camouflage their negative ambitions and plans. The Iranian and Syrian regime are a big danger to the region.

Meanwhile I can’t stand any news coming from bloody Iraq anymore. The Palestinians are enjoying fighting among themselves forgetting that they are only losing more and more and by their actions they are liquidating the Palestinian cause. The Palestinian cause that Nasralla and his masters love to use to destroy the rest of Lebanon.

But the Lebanese, the Syrians, the Palestinians and the Iraqis and all the loving life people will stand together each in their own way to not let evil plans destroy us. The Syrian regime should know that people’s live, freedom and prosperity is not a commodity in their hand. They are humans like us and they will be judged now and in their after life. Oppression does not last.

Even though it was gloomy and sad for the prisoners in Syria and their families during this festive period of Christmas/Eid/New Year; We should not lose hope, we should not forget,we should keep pushing for their immediate release. I got the following message from Michel Kilo in Prison through some friends:
To all of you I hold your hands strongly and tell you all that I am okay. Be strong. Please do your best in not letting your friends forgetting those in Prison.

Happy New Year to all of you and May 2007 be more peaceful than the dark 2006. Freedom for Michel, Anwar, Aref, Kamal, Habib and everyone else who is suffering because of political oppression, may God keep them strong.

Micheal Young wrote analying the Iraq Study Group Recommendations on Syria:

Similarly, the report’s passage on Syria is so anemic, so unpersuasive, so shaky for being loaded down with an ancillary recommendation that the US help resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict as a possible incentive to Damascus, that nothing will come of it, at least for now. In truth, the battle was always going to be tough. Bush rejected the idea of dealing with Syria some weeks ago, and the recent death of Lebanese Minister Pierre Gemayel, probably the work of the Syrians or their allies, further damaged what little legs the initiative had. What those who want to engage Syria cannot comprehend is that its regime thrives on exporting instability. For President Bashar Assad, normalcy in Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon would deny Syria a role as regional playmaker, while also forcing the Syrian leader to dismantle the vast security edifice that keeps him in power.

This is also what really struck me in the report itself, the hinted admission that Iran, Syria and the Jihadists have won. While I don’t like Bush whatsoever and I think he is a big idiot for going into Iraq, he could have read the newspapers of the first pre-gulf war and recommendations not to march into Bagdad in 91 because of what is happening now. I think the worst consequence of the Iraq war beside destroying the country and killing 100’s of thousands of lives and shattering homes and making Iraqis killing machines or living in a constant nightmare of death. It also made America look at its worst, a bunch of arrogant cowboys who don’t care about anyone opinion which is far from the truth since it is a very diverse and fluid country .

The worst consequence of invading Iraq was opening the door wide-open to religiously disguised Iran to control the region and impose its imperialistic plans. As far as I am concerned Iran does not offer us anything helpful except its rotten backward system and bearded men who know nothing but hypocrisy. Don’t get me wrong I have a lot of Iranian friends and I love them so much, they have the same middle eastern warm culture as the Turks, Kurds, Jews, Armenians, Lebanese, Syrians… but they are ruled and dominated by a bunch of military retarded thugs who are hiding behind a religious cover.

What kind of religion advocate death and militancy? what kind of religion does not accept the other? Saddam Hussein despite all his crimes and deficiencies was somehow a check against Iranians regional ambitions and an obstacle to their plan. Not only Iraq was destroyed but all the regimes who seemed to be allied to the US like Egypt and Saudi Arabia were weakened. They lost a lot of credibility in the eyes of the average Arabs who saw them as collaborators with the Americans and a big failure to protect Arab interests or security. Therefore the Iraq war has pushed the Arabs to be extremely anti west and anti Arab.

That is when Lebanon in 2005 was so helpful in changing that view, the US and Europe showed that could help advance little countries and help them prosper. The mistake that the Americans and the West made was listening too much to Israel. Israel affraid of the unknown alternative asked for the Syrian regime to stay in place. The Syrian regime was so weak (it still is) and so ready to crumble fall and nothing was protecting it not even its alliance with Iran. Not only Israel protected Bashar Assad and its security but the US and the West got nothing from Syria for all the pressure that was applied. So what was the point of weakening Syria? and why do it? no concessions were taken from Syria on anything…in fact their hand got stronger in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon (which means that these countries regressed further), not to mention they jailed Michel Kilo and many other Syrian conscience heroes despite little or no danger they present to their rule. It was shoved on us, the message was we control the destiny of Syria and the lives and freedom of everyone.

In addition to Iraq, On Syria, the Arab countries showed their irrelevance as well, they did not punish Bashar for any gaffes of insults made toward them. They did not have any power to stop his destructive plots. The more Syria attacked the pro-US regimes the more they became passive and let Syrian rulers feel they won’t be held accountable for anything. It is so confusing, all this money, prestige and political experience not to mention media control can’t do anything to put the Syrians in check. They let ignorant Syrian politicians, baathists and thugs blackmail them left and right and they seem to be not even there to defend themselves or help the Syrian opposition.

Anyway back to the US mistakes, why give Israel the green light in the summer to destroy Lebanon??? how did that help Israel? it made the Americans lose more credibility and pushed the people further toward Iran which wanted Lebanon to be destroyed. Hizballa’s kidnapping of the soldiers was planned and the Israeli response was predicted. Israel screwed up twice, the first time by attacking the whole country infrastructure instead of focusing on military Hizballa and Syrian targets and the second by fighting a war that they were not ready for hence exposing many weak points. It was like it was not their war!!! They also showed the US wanting to destroy Lebanon just like they destroyed Iraq. That alone weakened the Syrian anti regime forces, it was not anything that the rulers did nor the jailing and intimidation strategy applied. It is the feeling that the Syrian thugs are the only guarantee for Syrian security and that democracy and weak systems bring nothing but attacks and chaos.

I am not advocating Israel and I did not want them to win but I am saying that the war was not the one to fight and did not achieve anything except destroying Lebanon and strengthening Hizballa instead of weakening it. Militias strive on destruction, chaos and economical disasters not to mention Iranian money and weapons. That is why I am extra angry that in addition to all the destruction that they invited on Lebanon in the middle of last summer and how they shattered dreams of millions of people who were there or planning to visit. Hizballa and their masters are now continuing their malicious plan to bankrupt Lebanon and ruin its economy hence push its talent and money to leave. They are liquidating the country of its assets right when it started to show last year its potential of being an oasis in the rigid backward middle eastern region.

To add insult to injury, Michel Aoun who had won a lot of sympathy in the past by showing guts and patriotism had made a 180 degree turn and has become Syria’s tool bein played on their little finger. What does it matter to be a president of country dominated by Hizballa and Iran, surviving one deadly crisis after another. I understand his disdain and a lot of Lebanese disdain for Al Hariri which are seen as corrupt and extremely wealthy that they could buy Lebanon entirely. They are also seen by some as a Saudi tool to control Lebanese lands and sectors. But not liking the Hariris is one thing and destroying Lebanon and putting it back under the control of Syria and Iran is another.

As for the Arab nationalists and fans of Syria comments blog who see any American or Anti Syrian Lebanese forces being humiliated as a victory. They have a big smile anytime that Syria’s name is mentioned in the solutions of the middle East or the Golan is dangled in the news. What is the end game? do you think that the US or Israel will pack and leave the region? do you think that Damascus will become the capital of another glorious Arab and Islamic empire? what does Syria big regional role offer you? are you richer? better off? happier? less harassed when you visit or exit Syria? free to express your opinion? free to prosper? free to visit any country or trade with any country? what is the benefit of having Islamic Iran control the region? keep in mind that Iranians will create one crisis after another to secure their domination.

As for advising USA on Iraq, don’t negotiate with Syria, just topple the useless regime and make a new free Syria a beacon of hope in the region. Israel needs to change its regional role and become a helper instead of the enemy. Israel needs to integrate in the region which needs to prosper to eliminate extremism.

Time to change American strategy, American interests are served best by stability instead of wars. The current trend is not working for the US. Removing troublemakers and solving thorny issues is the way to go. Assad has expired and he needs to be stopped or punished for any real chance of stability. Allowing him [after so many easy to trace crimes and assassinations] to receive international visitors everyday and having Sharaa phantom reappear with the same outdated language symbolizes Syrian and Iranian dark forces victory and kills any hope we have in the future.

I invite Lebanese who care about Lebanon, I invite all the non-extremist forces in the region to join Syrians in their fight for freedom. Honest Syrians please don’t get offended by any Lebanese who have seen so much in the last 30 years specially from Syria. We should not bicker about small issues or expressions. The goal is not for any Sunni, Shia, Christian, Druze or Alawi to win or dominate the others.

We should unite for a brighter future and push the manipulating and sectarian forces out of business. For national Syrians and Arabs, I say it is enough, wake up, Assad or Baath regime does not stand for Syria or its interests, he is a ruthless dictator interested only in his power. If he does not work toward that goal of holding onto power then his brother will take over or his cousin or one of the inside circle. If you don’t like the fortune of Hariri or Jumblatt then think about the hidden fortune of Assad or Makhlouf in Secret European or Gulf banks. Syrians don’t even smell that money.

As for dreamers who tell us to check in 5 years to see whether he will relinquish power, I say you are just too pathetic. Iranian and Syrian power as currently shaped now needs to be stopped immediatly, otherwise it would be a very dark 20 years to come in an already gloomy region. Standing up to Israel should not make us blind to our own deterioration and our own slaughter with the cheerleading of non other than us the victims.

I got back home yesterday from a wonderful and exciting but very exhausting vacation…it was such an adventure… we saw some great nature, enjoyed the exposure to different cultures and learned so much history and how people flourished and built marvels during their peak days…The Andes mountains were a blast….I was in a totally different world, away from the bad news of the middle east. It was such a good feeling to be somewhere very very far; so many people did not know what Syria is or where it is…shocking but good, no need to talk about politics.

But the first 10 days of the trip coincided weirdly with political campaigns. They were in the heat of campaigning for elections and the whole drive was a joke. I was laughing and ridiculing their political fanaticism and campaigning. Cars were honking for different candidates even at 2 am (so annoying), candidates wasting the whole nights for empty speeches and promises. Crowds of people being drawn to listen by different bribes such as political fiestas, bingos, competitions, bike rallies, you name it.

So much money was paid out and it was so obvious. I could just look around dirty cities and poor people and laugh when candidates were promising to clean and modernize the place and find jobs…why wait till elections to promise, why laugh at the people. I talked to so many educated people and it seemed like the whole campaign was just pure entertainment, everyone agreed that it was all empty promises and politicians forget everything they promised after winning.

The irony is that everyone was forced to vote in their historic area, mainly where you are from (so you have to go back to your native area), otherwise you pay a huge fine. The taxi driver that we hired in Cusco came back that Sunday with purple fingers after rushing to vote since he is leaving the city for the rest of the day. If that is democracy in the 3rd world, then I don’t want it…people had choices between different parties and personalities but it was all the same. Reminded me of Syria before any fake elections…where all the festivities happen but nothing changes…people are enslaved to their poor conditions and change for the better is always a dream. Peru is a rich country but full of poverty, greed, ignorance and economical problems (kind of like Egypt). I hope Syria is a different situation although it is getting poorer and the enormous human population growth does not help…we are slowly approaching the status of being stuck in the mud.

There are so many similarities between South America and the Middle East, both in history of civilizations and modern political struggles…it seems like South America is on a much better path. Terrorism there is on the decline and foreign investment is happy to be there.

I was totally in a different world, being on vacation gives you a great feeling and take you away from your world of worries or problems. I gladly avoided the internet and news as much as I could. That is why last Saturday I was in extreme shock and very saddened when I found out that Pierre Gemayel (Allah Yirhamo) was assassinated. I became really angry; I mean what did the guy do to be killed??? And the assassins keep escaping justice!!! It was like having my heart being ripped off!!!!

Bush and USA screwed up big time by invading Iraq and it is now more obvious than ever. But what makes it worse is that Lebanon is paying the price for Iraq…the Palestinian people are paying heavy prices for the west indifference to them which makes them solicit the help of opportunistic regimes such as Iran and Syria. Iran and Syria powers are rising and so is extremism and terrorism. Anyone who thinks that Iran and Syria are standing up the west is really very naive. These regimes do not care about anything except staying in power. They are ready to starve the whole region and rob it from its wealth and resources. US dominance is a bad thing but Iran and Syria plus Islamic fundamentalism is even worse.

Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq and the whole region are paying with their blood and nothing will improve. There is no hope and may be I should stay away. I guess people are hostage to political conflicts and they will never have enough guts to follow logical people who want better human rights and more prosperity chances.

Just remember while enjoying my declaration of defeat, that Pierre Gemayel, Gibran Tueni, Rafic Harriri and everyone assassinated by the forces of darkness, Michel Kilo, Kamal Labwani, Aref Dalila, Anwar Al bunni and everyone jailed by the forces of slavery could be ANYONE OF US. Remember that if we don’t do anything to stand up and refuse this barbaric control that no one will stand up to help us. Remember that cheering on any injustice means that we will never become a civilized nation regardless of how glorious our past was. Remember that we control our destiny and we choose our end.

The US destroyed Iraq but extremism destroyed the region…so enjoy the chaos and laugh at wise people like us.