IN DENIAL: Barbara Walters' Interview with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad

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IN DENIAL: Barbara Walters' Interview with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad
by Darius Kadivar
07-Dec-2011
 

In Interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad say’s 'There Was No Command to Kill'. (For More on this Story including Walter’s Views on Interview Go to ABC’s Here)

Barbara Walters discusses brutal crackdown of protests with Syria's président :

(NOTE : TO WATCH DOUBLE CLICK HERE)

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THE ASSAD ENIGMA :

From Respectable Surgeon to ‘bloodthirsty’ dictator

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Barbara from "The View" program went to Syria ( few years ago):

Asma Elassad Syria's first lady on Gaza by CNN (Jan 14, 2009):

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NO REMORSE , NO GUILT

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Syria's Bashar al-Assad 'feels no guilt' over crackdown (bbc)

Syria's president has said that he feels no guilt about his crackdown on a 10-month uprising, despite reports of brutality by security forces.

In an interview with the US network ABC, Bashar al-Assad said he had given no orders for violence to be used against protesters but admitted "mistakes"were made.

He said he did not own the security forces or the country.

At least 4,000 people have been killed since the uprising began, the UN says.

However, Mr Assad said the UN was not credible.

Syria blames the violence on "armed criminal gangs".

The US later rejected President Assad's assertions that he did not order the killing of protesters.

"It is just not credible," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

"The United States and many, many other nations around the world who have come together to condemn the atrocious violence in Syria perpetrated by the Assad regime know exactly what's happening and who is responsible."

Mr Assad's interview comes a day after the US announced that its ambassador in Syria, Robert Ford, would return to Damascus after he was withdrawn in October because of security concerns.

France's ambassador returned on Monday.

'Big difference'

Responding to questions from veteran presenter Barbara Walters about the brutality of the crackdown, Mr Assad said he did not feel any guilt.

"I did my best to protect the people, so I cannot feel guilty," he said. "You feel sorry for the lives that has [sic] been lost. But you don't feel guilty - when you don't kill people."

"We don't kill our people… no government in the world kills its people, unless it's led by a crazy person," he added.

The security forces were not his, nor did he command them, the Syrian president said.

"There was no command, to kill or to be brutal," he said.

"I don't own them, I am president, I don't own the country so they are not my forces."

Instead he blamed the violence on criminals, religious extremists and terrorists sympathetic to al-Qaeda, who he said were mingling with peaceful protesters.

He said most ofthose killed were from government supporters, with 1,100 soldiers and police among the dead.

Those members of the security forces who had exceeded their powers had been punished, he said.

"Every 'brute reaction' was by an individual, not by an institution, that's what you have to know," he said.

"There is a difference between having a policy to crack down and between having some mistakes committed by some officials. There is a big difference."

When challenged about reports of house-to-house arrests, including of children, Mr Assad said the sources could not be relied upon.

"We have to be here to see. We don't see this. So we cannot depend on what you hear,"he said.

The United Nations, which has said the Syrian government committed crimes against humanity, was not credible, Mr Assad said.

He described Syria's membership of the UN as "a game we play".

Asked if he feared sharing the fate of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi or ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Mr Assad said the only thing he was afraid of was losing the support of his own people.

Recommended Reading:

Bashar al-Assad: Syria's unintended president (CNN, Wire Staff)

U.N.puts death toll at 4,000 in Syria as pressures rise by Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, (CNN)

Related Blogs on Syria and ME Crisis:

Jordan's King Abdullah Calls On Syria's President Assad to Step Down

Jordan's King Warns: 'No one has any idea what to do about Syria'

Jordan King in talks with Mahmoud Abbas on Palestinian statehood bid

STUBBORN WALLS: Ben Gurion, Hussein, Nasser interviews on ME Peace Process

Related Blogs on ‘Barbara Walter’s Interviews’ :

Barbara Walters On Interviewing Muammar Gaddafi in 1989

pictory: Shah Interview with Barbara Walters and US Networks (1974-77)

A QUEEN's LOYALTY: Barbara Walters Shares Shahbanou Farah's concerns for President Mobarak's Family

WOMEN KNOW YOUR LIMITS: The Shah's Post Mortem Apologies to Barbara Walters and Oriana Fallaci

PRINCE OF PERSIA: Barbara Walters Interview with Crown Prince Reza (2002)

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Libya expels Syrian diplomatic mission

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ibya is expelling Syria's diplomats because of the escalation of the government's crackdown on its people, Libya's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.

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(CNN) -- Germany is expelling four members of the Syrian Embassy, citing the arrest this week of two men suspected of spying on Syrian opposition groups in Germany, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement released Thursday.

"After the arrest of two persons suspected of spying for Syria, I have ordered the expulsion of four members of the Syrian Embassy in Berlin," Westerwelle said.

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Deadly shelling hits Syrian city (bbc)

 

 

 


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Iqbal Latif

EtTu, Allah...

by Iqbal Latif on

Et Tu, Allah? Articles Et Tu, Allah? Iqbal Latif Oct 10, 2004, 19:22

Islam has become a hostage to insane lunatics, out for revenge on their losing battles through the blood of innocent people. In the name of "Allah" all kinds of inhuman atrocities are being carried out. How come "Muslim blood" is being targeted, becoming collateral damage in the jihad against infidels? The present set of attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan are aimed at maiming terrorists own ideological next of kin; Muslims, killed by their own Muslim brothers in name of Jihad! What kind of Jihad is this? The moderate Islamists lament with pain, " Et Tu Allah?."


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Carnage continues in Syria, despite 'commitment' to peace

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Carnage continues in Syria, despite 'commitment' to peace (CNN, video)

 

Not long after Russia's foreign minister touted the Syrian president's "commitment" to ending violence, at least 47 people were killed in bloodshed Wednesday, an opposition activist group said.

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'Every house a target'Listen (BBC, Video)

 

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After Syria is Iran's turn!

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Syrian government's atrocities are exactly what IR will do in case of uprisings in Iran. These atrocities are architected and lead by IR. Syrian opposition groups have started working closely with western governments in order to plan a stronger resistance, i.e military trainings and other measurements. British government has formaly announced today that they are going to train syrian resistance groups.

Iranian oppositions should closely observe the syrian Oppositions's next move and learn from it as this may be repeated soon in Iran itself.


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Syrian opposition groups say the city of Homs has come under the heaviest shelling in days, despite the president's pledge to engage in dialogue.

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Your welcome Anahid Jan

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Let's Hope so ...


Anahid Hojjati

Darius jan, thanks for updates on Syria

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it is getting close to judgement day for bashar or otherwise known as  rat hole day.


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Persian Gulf Arab states expel Syrian ambassadors

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Gulf Arab states say they are expelling Syrian ambassadors in their countries and recalling their envoys from Syria.

The Gulf Cooperation Council said Syria had rejected Arab attempts to solve the crisis and end 11 months of bloodshed.

The US closed its embassy in Syria on Monday, and several European countries have recalled their ambassadors.

The moves came as Syrian government forces continued their fierce assault on the restive city of Homs, and Russian officials visited Damascus.

 


 

Gulf states fuel Syria isolation (bbc)

 

 

 

 

 


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'Syria spies' arrested in Berlin

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'Syria spies' arrested in Berlin  (bbc)

A Syrian and a German-Lebanese man have been arrested in Berlin on suspicion of spying on opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The pair, identified as 34-year-old Syrian Akram O. and dual national Mahmoud El A., 47, are to appear before a federal judge on Wednesday.

Their homes were searched by 70 officers who were also investigating six other suspects.

They are suspected of spying in Germany "for several years," a statement said.

The federal prosecutor's office said the arrests had come after "an extensive investigation", adding that the other six suspects "are also believed to have been involved in spying".

Unconfirmed reports suggested the other suspects were linked to the Syrian embassy in Berlin.

Last Friday, 20 demonstrators entered the Berlin embassy and, according to police, damaged offices there.


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Russia 'wants Arab role in Syria'

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Russia 'wants Arab role in Syria' (bbc)   

  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for a solution to the crisis in Syria based on initiatives put forward by the Arab League. Visiting Syria, Mr Lavrov said Damascus was ready for a larger Arab mission to monitor peace efforts, and would set a date for a constitutional referendum. His visit comes after Russia and China vetoed a UN resolution. Gulf states say they are expelling Syria's ambassadors. Government forces are continuing a fierce assault on rebels in Homs.


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Indeed Faramaz Jan

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Although I am not sure the Russians will be giving up on Assad anytime soon.

A European Foreign intervention as in Libya is off the table for the time being due to the geo strategic importance of Syria as opposed to Libya but also the Landscape and urban guerrilla characteristic of an eventual prolonged conflict in Syria is a discouraging prospect for most European and American observors.

Libya is essentially a desert where as Syria on the otherhand very much like Lebanon is largely urbanized.

It makes intervention including surgical strikes very difficult.

What some predict as a possible outcome on the long term is a Palace Coup conducted by those close to Assad but who don't want to be sacrificed if the situation becomes uncontrolable and will try to find a way out of the mess by putting the blame on their boss.

Assad probably knows by now that If caught he and even his entire family will be slaughtered in vengeance.

Eitherway in Assad Shoes I would keep a box of cyanide at arms reach ...

For He and his otherwise beautiful and likeable wife may well end up like Hitler and Eva Braun in the Bunker ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bHFO19dVbE

 

The Countdown has already started ...


Faramarz

روسهای بی غیرت

Faramarz


DK Jann, Thanks for your updates.

Lavarov is in Damascus telling Assad that he should finish the job quickly because they cannot support him much longer. And if Yugoslavia is an example, Russians can huff and puff as much as they want, but at the end they will quietly watch as Assad get his butt kicked.

What is going on in Syria should be a lesson for those Iranians who think that the international community should sit on the sideline and watch people getting slaughtered by a brutal regime.

We are "Bani Aadam" after all. 


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Syria army renews assault on Homs (bbc)

 

 


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U.S. closes embassy in Syria over security concerns

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Officials said 17 employees, including Ambassador Robert Ford, left the country. Two employees flew out of Syria last week by commercial air, with the rest of them, including Ford, traveling by convoy Monday morning to Jordan. Most of the staff was evacuated earlier in the year. The diplomatic team already had been reduced in December.