Syria Lashes Out, Accuses U.S. of Inciting Citizen Defiance, Unrest
- Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:02am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
BEIRUT (The Blaze/AP) — Syria accused the United States of inciting unrest on Friday, saying the U.S. ambassador’s unauthorized trip to the flashpoint city of Hama proved Washington has a hand in a four-month uprising seeking to topple the country’s autocratic regime.
The Blaze has repeatedly covered the ongoing unrest in the Middle Eastern nation, as clashes between Syrian security forces and the general public have often turned bloody.
The strong statement comes as Syrians are expected to take to the streets across the country in a weekly show of defiance against the 40-year-old family dynasty of President Bashar Assad.
Security forces killed three protesters overnight outside the capital, Damascus, activists said.
Hama, the site of a 1982 massacre by Assad’s later father and predecessor, has become a focal point of the uprising and has drawn the largest crowds since the revolt began in mid-March.
“The presence of the U.S. ambassador in Hama without obtaining prior permission from the Foreign Ministry as stipulated by instructions distributed repeatedly to all the embassies is clear evidence of the U.S. involvement in the ongoing events in Syria,” the state-run news agency reported Friday, citing an unnamed “official source” at the Foreign Ministry.
The U.S. is trying to “aggravate the situations which destabilize Syria,” the statement said.
Hama poses a potential dilemma for the Syrian regime because of its place as a symbol of opposition to the rule of the Assad family. In 1982, the late Hafez Assad ordered troops to crush a rebellion by Islamist forces, killing between 10,000 and 25,000 people, rights activists say.
A major offensive could make the city a fresh rallying cry for the opposition, but Assad‘s regime also does not want a repeat of last Friday’s stunning rally, when an estimated 300,000 people protested.
In bold defiance since, Hama residents have shut down the city, going on strike and trying to prevent security forces from entering by setting up checkpoints of tires and concrete blocks.
Still, security forces killed 21 Hama residents this week while trying to quell more demonstrations, according to a count by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Ambassador Robert Ford traveled independently Thursday to Hama to show solidarity with residents protesting against Assad’s regime, according to the State Department.
He participated in a government-organized excursion to northern Syria last month.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Ford “spent the day expressing our deep support for the right of the Syrian people to assemble peacefully and to express themselves.”
Ford reached the city after passing checkpoints run by the military and Hama residents. Nuland said he met nervous residents and saw many shops closed. He also visited a hospital treating the wounded.
Nuland said Ford hoped to remain in Hama on Friday, with many people worried about a potential crackdown, but it was not immediately clear if he was still there.
Calls Friday to the U.S. Embassy in Damascus were not immediately returned.
The Syrian regime has used a mix of fierce violence and promises of imminent reform to try to quell the uprising, which was inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. Some 1,400 people and 350 members of security forces have been killed since demonstrations began, activists say.
The regime blames “armed thugs” and foreign conspirators for the unrest, not true reform-seekers.
Overnight, Syrian forces killed three people in a demonstration in the Damascus suburb of Harasta, activists said. Many protesters have recently been opting for nighttime demonstrations and candlelight vigils, aiming for a time when the security presence thins out.
Three activists confirmed the Damascus death toll to The Associated Press.
A Syria-based activist said residents told him that security forces used live bullets and smoke bombs to quell the demonstration. He spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing for his own safety.
Syria has banned nearly all foreign media and restricted media coverage, making it nearly impossible to independently verify events on the ground.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 586 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (50)
USACommoner
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 10:42amAmbassador Ford does not speak for me. America should stay out of other countries’ internal business. We have enough to worry about already with our own government, or lack thereof. It’s funny, though, that all these crises happened after this new regime took over in America. Kinda makes one wonder who is actually running the show over there and what their true agenda is…hmmm.
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 10:10amI have relatives who are from Syria; – they have relatives living there still. Their relatives claim that the claims and evidence of mass demonstrations are staged, with props being built and all. These are Christians;- hardly a favored group with the current government. But they and the current government have a shared enemy: Radical Islam, intent on Sharia Law.
Those radicals have a shared interest with our president; – domination through chaos and demogogery. Bottom up; – Top down! They all just think their going to grab the last chair when the music stops!
Just sayin’…Connect the dots.
May they all go the way of all past damnable despots!
Report Post »dissentnow
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 10:04amSome of you people still have the neocon mentality i.e. “oh, they hate us for our freedoms….They blame us for everything”.
Report Post »Ladies and gentlemen, this is our fault. Our president is sticking his nose ( and our tax dollars ) into every single tribal dispute in the middle east in an attempt to manufacture as much dissent and unrest as possible.
SamIamTwo
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 10:03amI betcha Obama is like all confused over this. LOL
Report Post »TRILO
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:56amThe Syrian government is correct. Just like Tunisa, Egypt and Libya our government is working with opposition groups to overthrow muslim governments and create chaos. For what end game I can not say. Facebook and Google have also been assisting these uprisings. Hillary Clinton and the State Department have been “assisting” muslim youth on how to “community organize” through the Alliance for Youth Movement and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (started by George Bush) which is also helping fund the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt as disclosed by Wikileaks. Our government has a heavy hand in all of the mess in the Middle East whether or not anyone wants to believe it or not. Do a little research and you will be amazed.
Report Post »Tyr
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:34amDo you people really think that if the citizens of the USA took to the streets, comandeered military weapons and tried to take our government back that we wouldn’t be killed in the streets? Get a clue! And what country do you suppose would come to the aid of the citizens of this country? Right, no one!
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:41amYep…it’s best to stay clear of this one and focus on putting it back together once it fails…and it will fail.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:15amCorrections : It is the President and his Alinsky Czars.. Read the manual. And THEY do NOT represent America. They represent Themselves and the Muslim Brotherhood. They WANT you to blame America – but it would be a grave miscalculation failing too correctly identify your enemy. Know thy enemy.. They are inciting across the Globe under auspices claims of ‘freedoms’.
Report Post »America: When the middle east falls to the radicals – The PEOPLE will blame America for their plight! This is what the Alinsky inciters want most of all.
ThoreauHD
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:12amJust another day in Obama’s islamic caliphate.
Report Post »jihadazzkicker
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:54amSO what rag man….so what. How about some 2 thousand pounders happen fall out of the sky. These people will never like us…I for one at this point do not care nor do I want them to. However you can control any animal to a degree by using force. That is all these people understand or respect….force.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:44amIt`s all in the Obamas plan ,set the middle east on fire ,check.Supply fire arms to Mexican drug gangs ,check .Incure classwarfare roits ,check.Cansel 2012 elections, coming soon,
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:39amSend in Kucinich to fix this. He’ll be looking for work soon, since we re-wrote him out of his congressional district here
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:36amYeah, the U.S. would be blamed for global warming in these countries too, if any of our troops or ambassadors farted in the wind heading in their general direction.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:22pmI blame “ISLAM for inciting citizen defiance and unrest!” Now those of you in Syria, go to he!!
Report Post »Grandmadar
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:36am@Watch yes, 2012 cannot come fast enough! When this current regime is voted out (if we get to vote) it will be a dangerous time between Election Day and Inaugaration Day. Wonder how many criminals will be released/ pardoned??
Report Post »tomloy
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:35amThe assad regime is living on borrowed time. They are grasping at straws trying to stay in power. The only question is who will take over after the assad regime?
Report Post »watchmany2k
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:31amObama’s voice is like a Dog whistle to the violent.
Report Post »Syria, Egypt, Libya, Chicago, inner cities across America.
He has polarized the world and the country, the lines are drawn in the sand literally,
They wait for a signal, and the innocent are caught in the crossfire.
2012 cannot come fast enough.
nysparkie
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:29amAhhhhh, poor little Syria. Let me see what I have here…no over here. no this pocket. Hmmmm I guess I don’t have any “I Really care about you” on me.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:22amObama reeally wants to stir the pot doesn’t he? This was wrong on a diplomatic level that scares me-looking for more “boots on the ground”? Stretch our guy‘s really thin so they can’t be home if they are really needed here, especially on our borders? Wish I knew what Obama is up to next.
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 3:14pm“SYRIA LASHES OUT” !! Oh, does Assad’s press usually have a subdued approach to criticism of the West or is lashing out something new?
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:20amThe people of the United States and the Obama regime posses entirely different views. Any and all evidenc Syria gathers in their complaint should also apply to Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi’s complaint as well. Obama and his Muslim Brothers are providin the ground work for a world government.
The United States of America should not be responsible for the creation of the One World Government.
Report Post »Marci
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 1:50pmWell, can’t argue with them on that point. Obama has been urging the youth all over to “rise up”, and we are now working with the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya. Our president is going to be the death of us all. For all the moonbats who thought Bush made the world hate us, time to see round 2 and this one is more brazen, and more blatant.
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:17amObamas that is
Report Post »RayOne
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 1:13pmWhat you mean is,
Report Post »It Is Good To Be The King
bew0576
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:14amWhat’s new, America is blamed for everything wrong in this world. How ridiculous!
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:28amNo, on this one they are actually correct. Our country’s government IS doing it and until election day 2012 we can do nothing about it…our representation is worthless.
Report Post »Tyr
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:45am“…..and until election day 2012 we can do nothing about it” Spoken like a true sheeple!
” If you want a vision of the future, Winston, imagine a boot stomping on a human face forever.”
Report Post »O’Brien, George Orwell’s 1984
yougottabekidding
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:14amIt fits his agenda
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:09am.
Report Post »Obama’s Fault, that has a nice ring to it………..
RepubliCorp
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:54amSPANKDAMONKEY
Report Post ».
(Obama’s Fault, that has a nice ring to it) I was thinking the same and we are hear this for many years to come
Scrubpuppy
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:07amYeah, because we really want to watch another country tear itself apart. How hard is it for the ruling party to listen to their people or, barring that, at least not slaughter them in the streets.
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:11amThat was a bonehead move by the U.S. Ambassador. He should know that Syria is looking for any excuse to blame the U.S. for it problems.
Just keep your azz in your embassy and shut up, Ambassador.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 9:16amSyria, don‘t blame us for your cult’s insanity.
Report Post »butler180
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:06amIs it a surprise to anyone that our Muslim educated Prez wants to destabilize the middle east so Sharia Law can be imposed?
Report Post »GodBlessAmericaandIsrael
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 12:10pmYep, that’s all there is to it really.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 12:20pmWe can‘t complain about terrorism if we’re supporting brutal regimes who torture and murder their people who protest against dictatorship.if we support such regimes then we are hypocrites who do not believe in human rights for arabs .Hence hiding behind dictators is legitimate cause for the people to resist our tyrany over them[by proxy] for our own interests which violate their human rights.We can’t complain if they fight back.Obama should be helping these people ovrthrow this evil regime[the people have risen up ,unlike iraq where they never asked for help ]We’re liers if we overthrow tyrany in iraq[though the people never asked to be liliberated] but support tyrany of syrians.Looks more like a desire for genocide of arabs.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:03amClassic move out of the dictators playbook:
When the repression of your own people fails, then blame an external force – make up an enemy if you need to.
Report Post »