Is Syria now about to blow?

[Ramzi Nohra]

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[/QUOTE]I think it'll take more than that though. Assad is still personally popular with most Syrians (who, rightly or wrongly, blame the 'old guard' for many of the regime's excesses) but how long that can remain if the army are shooting civilians, remains to be seen. Thus far, protests have been confined to Dara'a and the major cities are quiet. Tomorrow will tell if that is about to change.[/QUOTE]

yeah would agree with you there - after all Mubarak axed his entire cabinet and it didnt save him.

[Watch The Break]

People are being killed in Syria now, and all some posters care about is Israel feeling 'threatened'. Typical.

Indeed. But then Israel has shown its through colours already with Mubarak.

[Andy4571]

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Agree. Arab leaders respond to the disgust with Israel felt by their people, not vice versa. I would say the Israelis would be fairly happy to see the Assad regime continue, unless of course they could install some client regime (unlikely). Israel's 'border' with Syria has been quiet for decades.

Syria plays a behind the scene's role in helping and arming Hezbollah in cooperation with Iran. I think that would stop under a Sunni leadership, but the Sunni leadership would help Hamas, but they are not a threat really to Israel. I think Israel would be happy to see Assad gone.

His father really was a brutal dictator, the Hama masacre killed thousands. I would like Assad to be overthrown, the more democracies in the ME the better, as more will then push for it, rather than thinking its the status quo.

[Interista]

Syria plays a behind the scene's role in helping and arming Hezbollah in cooperation with Iran. I think that would stop under a Sunni leadership, but the Sunni leadership would help Hamas, but they are not a threat really to Israel. I think Israel would be happy to see Assad gone.

Disagree. Assad is an Alawite, not a Shia, and his regime (which has many Sunnis in high positions) cooperation with Iran has nothing to do with religion. And I think the Israelis, as I said, aren't that bothered about Assad and would rather see him remain in power than an unknown entity who might actually do something about the illegally annexed Golan Heights.

[Andy4571]

Disagree. Assad is an Alawite, not a Shia, and his regime (which has many Sunnis in high positions) cooperation with Iran has nothing to do with religion. And I think the Israelis, as I said, aren't that bothered about Assad and would rather see him remain in power than an unknown entity who might actually do something about the illegally annexed Golan Heights.

Alawites are a sect of Shia's, but are stilll considered Shia's. Strange that Syria seems to be Iran's only real friend in the ME ( except Gaza, and Lebanon ( Shia ) both of which gets help of Iran ), and Syria which is Shia controlled.

If a Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, who were slaughtered in Assad's dad, and who are still attacked under Assad, with no complaints or comments from Iran or Nazirallah ( both only interested in Bahrain ), then I doubt Sunni Muslim Brotherhood will be friendly with Iran or Lebanon. Iranians seem to be crapping themselves that Assad might be overthrown!!

[Interista]

Alawites are a sect of Shia's, but are stilll considered Shia's.

Not really.

Strange that Syria seems to be Iran's only real friend in the ME ( except Gaza, and Lebanon ( Shia ) both of which gets help of Iran ), and Syria which is Shia controlled.

Syria is NOT 'shia controlled'. That is nonsense. The head of state is an Alawite, married to a Sunni, and with many Sunnis in high positions. And Lebanon can't simply be called 'shia' - again that is nonsense. They are the largest sect, but have the least power, thanks to the sectarian set-up which gives disproportionate power to the Maronites. The President must be a Maronite, and the PM a Sunni. So to call Lebanon 'shia' is silly.

If a Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, who were slaughtered in Assad's dad, and who are still attacked under Assad, with no complaints or comments from Iran or Nazirallah ( both only interested in Bahrain ),

Nasrallah? How old was he then?

I doubt Sunni Muslim Brotherhood will be friendly with Iran or Lebanon.

Why? Hamas - basically an offshoot of the MB - has excellent relations with Iran and Syria. This whole sectarian thing is way overblown, and encouraged by the US and Saudi Arabia as a 'devide and conquer' strategy.

Iranians seem to be crapping themselves that Assad might be overthrown!!

Really? Any links?

[Andy4571]

Not really.

Err... Yeah really. Are you denying Alawites are sect of SHIA Islam?

Syria is NOT 'shia controlled'. That is nonsense. The head of state is an Alawite, married to a Sunni, and with many Sunnis in high positions. And Lebanon can't simply be called 'shia' - again that is nonsense. They are the largest sect, but have the least power, thanks to the sectarian set-up which gives disproportionate power to the Maronites. The President must be a Maronite, and the PM a Sunni. So to call Lebanon 'shia' is silly.

The power Security positions in the Ruling Ba'ath Party are all held by Alawites, and even Assads brothers and cousins hold strong positions. Hezbollah holds the power in Lebanon, even if it not totally reflected politically. We seen how they brought down the government only recently.

Nasrallah? How old was he then?

I was referring to his speeches in the last few days about the poor Shia's in Bahrain being killed by Sunni dictators, but not comments on Syria!!

Why? Hamas - basically an offshoot of the MB - has excellent relations with Iran and Syria. This whole sectarian thing is way overblown, and encouraged by the US and Saudi Arabia as a 'devide and conquer' strategy.

Hamas is different in that it will take help from anyone, as it needs all help it can get. MB in Syria would not need to go cap in hand to Iran like Hamas does.

Really? Any links?

Watch Press TV ( State TV ) lately. The propaganda is blaming Saudi and Zionists for the problems in Syria.

[Interista]

Err... Yeah really. Are you denying Alawites are sect of SHIA Islam?

Yes. They have much in common with Shias but are distinct.

The power Security positions in the Ruling Ba'ath Party are all held by Alawites, and even Assads brothers and cousins hold strong positions

Yes, but there are many Sunnis in high positions in Syria. The country is not 'shia led'.

Hezbollah holds the power in Lebanon, even if it not totally reflected politically. We seen how they brought down the government only recently

Well... they are the government, or a part thereof. But just because one mainly shia (and hizballah has support from people of many sects) are influential right now, does not change the fact that the Lebanese state is designed to disenfranchise the shia, not empower them.

Hamas is different in that it will take help from anyone, as it needs all help it can get. MB in Syria would not need to go cap in hand to Iran like Hamas does.

So what? Why do the MB matter? They are unlikely ever to be in power in Syria. And they will seek allies where they can find them. Since that won't be the 'moderate' Arabs like KSA, they may well look to Iran for an alliance. Assuming that all ME politics is based on religion, rather than the pragmatic concerns typical of politics the world over, is a common mistake.

Watch Press TV ( State TV ) lately.

No thank you.

[anewbeginning]

Err... Yeah really. Are you denying Alawites are sect of SHIA Islam?


The power Security positions in the Ruling Ba'ath Party are all held by Alawites, and even Assads brothers and cousins hold strong positions. Hezbollah holds the power in Lebanon, even if it not totally reflected politically. We seen how they brought down the government only recently.


I was referring to his speeches in the last few days about the poor Shia's in Bahrain being killed by Sunni dictators, but not comments on Syria!!


Hamas is different in that it will take help from anyone, as it needs all help it can get. MB in Syria would not need to go cap in hand to Iran like Hamas does.


Watch Press TV ( State TV ) lately. The propaganda is blaming Saudi and Zionists for the problems in Syria.

Press TV? Lol...come off it...they are nearly as bad as Russia TV..

I do find it interesting the role TV companies such as Al Jazeera have played in the latest uprisings in the Middle East.

Finally the people of the Arab World are being exposed to TV that isn't state run, and tightly controlled, with propaganda telling them how great their leader is and how evil Israel, USA, etc are...

The younger generation are no longer willing to swallow the same bullsh*t as their parents generation from the same dictators.

Gadaffi by the way is not the exception in the Arab World. He's the rule.

[Interista]

Finally the people of the Arab World are being exposed to TV that isn't state run, and tightly controlled, and probaganda telling them how great their leader is and how evil Israel, USA, etc are...

So many errors in one sentence.....

Al Jazeera has been broadcasting for 15 years, so there's no 'finally' about it. It is also very much 'state controlled', which can be seen from the lack of coverage it has given to events in Bahrain (a bit too close to home for the Emir). As for the 'probaganda', Al J is far harsher on Israel and the US than the Saudi-controlled media which dominates the Arab world, and obviously, goes very easy on the Qatari leadership.