A standstill is
always a mixed bag of good news and bad news: Assad loyalists retake some
communities only but lose others, push forward only to be pushed back. But the
stasis is superficial. In reality, the state structure and infrastructure are
imploding. The Ancien Régime is coming apart at the seams, but at a very high
cost. Building a new one, a democratic one, will be the toughest challenge yet.
Even though victory might still be a while in coming and is not necessarily
assured, it’s not too early at all to begin articulating what the new regime
will be like, beyond the usual generalities.
Wednesday 01, 2012
Today’s death toll: 40. The Breakdown:
23 in Rural Damascus, 11 in Homs, 4 in Deraa, and 1 in each of Hama and Idlib.
Loyalist troops managed to reestablish their presence in the
suburbs of Arbeen and Zamalka in Eastern Ghoutah. To the west of Damascus,
loyalist troops pounded the towns of Bseemah and Deir Qanoun, while to the
North the pounding of the town of Rankous continued.
But the town of Rastan in Homs Province seems to have fallen completely
under the control of rebels affiliated with the Free Syrian Army.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that 11 more of its citizens
were kidnapped in Syria when their bus was attacked on the road to Damascus,
bringing the total of kidnapped Iranians to 16. Iranian authorities said the 11
were on a religious pilgrimage.
Links
An updated version of the op-ed I recently co-authored with Ken
Ballen. Main Point: “If Russia exercises its veto at the Security
Council on Thursday, the United States should call for an international
conference on Syria, with the Arab League, the Islamic Conference, NATO, Japan,
India, Brazil and all concerned states. This would be a viable path to
legitimate multilateral action while circumventing the Russian veto. In fact,
the United States should make clear to Russia immediately that in the event of
a Russian veto, it will convene an international conference, so that any
Russian veto will be a hollow gesture.”
A major new fighting
unit, named Lions of the Wilderness, is formed in Qalamoun Region north
of Damascus under the banner of the Free Syrian Army http://youtu.be/Vnsn_rgOANg
Homs
|
||||||
Homs City
|
||||||
Bab
Al-Sibaa:
The neighborhood gets pounded shortly after dawn http://youtu.be/k4NGCtZd4KY , http://youtu.be/h6TWITG7o8w Picking up
human remains from the streets as the pounding continues http://youtu.be/So0ybq7iRHU Treating
the wounded http://youtu.be/7WfYGge5hXI
Martyrs http://youtu.be/ssGMDf6LjYA
, http://youtu.be/c_eJGmEp044 , http://youtu.be/A05b7Vd99f4 , http://youtu.be/y8LoyDTJI4Q , http://youtu.be/Hs1Yq0W7xeQ , http://youtu.be/mCr85ivbUBY , http://youtu.be/JRMpC8-XghQ Martyr and
parents http://youtu.be/5xgdfPeqEU0
Saving people trapped in their homes http://youtu.be/vhlQoe3UvII
The remains of a martyr hit by a mortar round http://youtu.be/QyDQWhkd2vU Local
members of the FSA rise to defend the neighborhood and are joined by new
defectors equipped with a tank http://youtu.be/BUU0ImZl3P8
, http://youtu.be/Uy-fgMbdK28 , http://youtu.be/AX1-we6ufQ0 , http://youtu.be/29mvXNUyi88 , http://youtu.be/lTF6h9PyWdw Locals
celebrate their success in repelling the attack http://youtu.be/OLnL1dJBUWo Local
activist Omar Tellawi interviews the local FSA commander who led the operation
that liberated another neighborhood from Assad loyalists. He says “Bashar is
not a leader, but a traitor” http://youtu.be/Mob2bDcSeRc
A destroyed BMP loyalists left behind http://youtu.be/-9LPAMSJjb0
Boustan
Al-Diwan comes
under heavy pounding http://youtu.be/mXB0eMlSV-g
A house is hit by a mortar http://youtu.be/HzksB9JBqKM
Soldiers defect with their armored vehicle http://youtu.be/vcszFEtgO14 , http://youtu.be/0Q9Xjvf0nYg The local
church is hit by the pounding http://youtu.be/z3cA179uVYs
Al-Rifai: the neighborhood
gets pounded again http://youtu.be/CTPP16X7DME
Baba
Amr:
Two martyrs http://youtu.be/HC20hoZwuJc
The local mosque was shelled http://youtu.be/srmzs-f_Nq4
Kerosene shortages continue to plague the lives of locals http://youtu.be/sgpasDEHCEc Impact of
pounding http://youtu.be/EzmZuAHp8KQ
Bab
Dreib: impact
of pounding http://youtu.be/radEHRzaA3U
, http://youtu.be/956ZQEyZbpA , http://youtu.be/5Q1nnsSD5Jo , http://youtu.be/orFdCCIGpt0
Khkaldiyeh: locals organize a
blood drive http://youtu.be/s2YeDW0IDZQ
a martyr http://youtu.be/R12kNX_Ee2s
Adawiyeh: impact of
pounding http://youtu.be/umNGL1khuMo
Karm
Al-Zeitun:
a tour of the local makeshift hospital courtesy of local activist Abou Moaz http://youtu.be/DIyh8Xx9hO0 Another
tour even as the pounding continues http://youtu.be/HKjHBoCz8AE
A house catches fire http://youtu.be/4_aCz4dItV8
on account of the pounding http://youtu.be/LNl7iZk08io
Helping the wounded http://youtu.be/za5pGyfCMVw
a martyred girl http://youtu.be/aCtlbJx-SY8
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Shammas (funeral for 2) http://youtu.be/5JypGZMwnAM Wa’er
http://youtu.be/AERJG6-HuE0
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Qoussour http://youtu.be/b7TwXKOwjKw Insha’aat
http://youtu.be/mRDT6RvSYXo Wa’er
http://youtu.be/DZSR7jIBpKE Karm
Al-Shami http://youtu.be/seqEKQVfPCg
Khaldiyeh http://youtu.be/r3Qb7rFh45o
Bab Dreib http://youtu.be/KKa8GsdTjpI
, http://youtu.be/soIApmuLZkE Jub
Al-Jandali http://youtu.be/6K6A3FhAkFw
Deir Baalbah http://youtu.be/QvmD_siJ8iQ
Bab Houd http://youtu.be/-l70RQ1pis0
Ghoutah http://youtu.be/5XgbPQ30sN4
Jouret Al-Shayah http://youtu.be/Ujo3m03HeN4
Al-Rabei Al-Arabi http://youtu.be/pXylW9BaJNM
|
||||||
Homs Province
|
||||||
Rastan: The town comes
under pounding http://youtu.be/aoQwF1SoHDk
new defections take place http://youtu.be/7nL6MMX2nKI
local activist shows off a demolished home http://youtu.be/ls29jD93eI4 A truck
smuggles bread to the besieged town, local complains that it is not enough to
feed the inhabitants of one street for one day http://youtu.be/pnRZtjVaT-s The aid
has come from the rural communities surrounding the town http://youtu.be/rpJ12ouAOHo A martyr http://youtu.be/vMxeLn5fS2I Locals
give a warm welcome to members of the FSA who came to save their town http://youtu.be/3wotfU1_0vI Treating
the wounded in the local field hospital http://youtu.be/VW5JCzxML_s
, http://youtu.be/PspwasVdQQ0
Qseir: dead man in the
street, a victim of snipers http://youtu.be/4ivI9JDZuN0
Houleh: a martyr http://youtu.be/NBr3ntD6lwA
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Qseir (funeral) http://youtu.be/Is691Lt5qvU Houleh
http://youtu.be/tf8t6UJ7UZQ
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Tadmor http://youtu.be/XcVEedQX-mU Talbisseh
http://youtu.be/lxmBZ3IlbhE Houleh
http://youtu.be/kjz_nIcsIok
|
||||||
Damascus
|
||||||
Damascus City
|
||||||
Daraya: high school girls
continue to lead protest rallies: inside their school http://youtu.be/oqyvn17GgQs , http://youtu.be/vZw4dLgEIwY and
throughout the suburb http://youtu.be/gR8WrJOZnsU
, http://youtu.be/st4usCKeoPo , http://youtu.be/i4UNBt4Y1eU Elsewhere, the boys stage their own rally http://youtu.be/F5kmZQztBQQ
Qaboun: shortages of
bread continue to plague the restive neighborhood http://youtu.be/ry4t5zLcXOA
Moadamiyeh: Loyalist troops
patrol the neighborhood brandishing their machine guns http://youtu.be/ETCWEr-EgT4 , http://youtu.be/cVMppC2Y-Mw , http://youtu.be/7ABUQSoKntE Snipers
take up position http://youtu.be/qhXlE8A0SAM
Armored vehicles take part http://youtu.be/bT5YT_J1kCM
, http://youtu.be/huOhNOpUrPU A
martyr: killed in front of his kids by loyalists after he was released from
detention where he was subjected to torture http://youtu.be/_f31-wvgCNQ His
funeral http://youtu.be/eyCgqwRN5Iw
, http://youtu.be/MwtptnM2QJY His
mother http://youtu.be/tJGawh6weXk Local
women take part http://youtu.be/YEq2o98AD2M
At night, local women hold a major ally http://youtu.be/Bp_nmyVYrZs
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Sitti
Zeinab
http://youtu.be/nXAR1He52pk , http://youtu.be/vkWM_J3iycY Naher
Eisheh http://youtu.be/Z-gCryBTQ1Y
Barzeh (girls and boys rally) http://youtu.be/_ta-C29JVxQ
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Barzeh http://youtu.be/FGW7n6ZkJBE , http://youtu.be/UbM1uV_PTE8 Daraya
http://youtu.be/9rNpeAr8o88 , http://youtu.be/B7lotu4CueA Moadamiyeh
http://youtu.be/dEiF8sIeSIw Hijaz
(central Damascus) http://youtu.be/lYkSkASKvkM
Midan http://youtu.be/Ert29vbMpYU
, http://youtu.be/PHalR2U-hDY Al-Hajar
Al-Aswad http://youtu.be/NCjK6Ffty0s
|
||||||
Eastern Ghoutah
|
||||||
Saqba: loyalist troops
control the central parts of the neighborhood http://youtu.be/GyzwySnMIrQ , http://youtu.be/euy8-Mjc_eU Armored
vehicles patrol the streets http://youtu.be/UQbmp1Ic8KI
Helping the wounded is a dangerous undertaking http://youtu.be/ke9W-8emj9Y
Arbeen: the dome of the main
mosque was pounded http://youtu.be/aJYXDK0BrQc
Impact of pounding http://youtu.be/Zl2zay0nQZc
Tanks patrol the streets of the suburb at dawn http://youtu.be/sMkWMrmFoQs And
throughout the day http://youtu.be/h5Z0W5yhAYI
Hazzeh: impact of pounding http://youtu.be/IkzDHquD7mA , http://youtu.be/NYWjlWDL0ak
Hamouriyeh: burying local
martyrs in the courtyard of houses to avoid the treacherous trek to the local
cemetery http://youtu.be/1mHY7l3AYwE
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Harasta http://youtu.be/CK1DtjY7CT4 Douma
http://youtu.be/oqJxxZn-ZiQ
|
||||||
Damascus South
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Artouz http://youtu.be/2rzZXq5raUM Qatana
http://youtu.be/ug5Z8JBkCok Zakieyh
http://youtu.be/ssqUhRXfZRA
|
||||||
West (Zabadani and Wadi Barada)
|
||||||
The
small interlinked communities of Wadi Barada, especially, the towns of
Deir Qanoun and Bseemah, come under heavy pounding http://youtu.be/e8cK8xD0pmU An
unidentified martyr http://youtu.be/VrAzpkvhtOo
Martyrs of the pounding http://youtu.be/MeUUNiTWHVU
, http://youtu.be/76Xyx_H9G98 , http://youtu.be/mi051zfsC-Q , http://youtu.be/_j0spVN5s6w Impact of
pounding on Deir Qanoun http://youtu.be/gfc5CWKCeAc
, http://youtu.be/zhj3_ZcM8ss As
the pounding resumes, a gun battle between loyalists and local rebels takes
place http://youtu.be/XuDxWDW63us
Helping the wounded http://youtu.be/1s3ge-29D-A
, http://youtu.be/wbjvF6QJTRU Martyrs
from Bseemah http://youtu.be/seiWZ6ccHjc
Their funeral http://youtu.be/jUcVrEycu3U
Local FSA members manage to repel the attack and confiscate a vehicle
belonging to loyalist security http://youtu.be/9B_eh3fTXHI
The inhabitants of Zabadani and Madaya lend support to their
colleagues in Wadi by trying to open up the snow covered roads facilitating
their retreat http://youtu.be/jLD04u7yam4
Madaya: Russia has a
consulate in this restive town, and the Russian Ambassador in Damascus
claimed recently that the consulate was ransacked. Local activist shows here
that no sign of ransacking can be seen http://youtu.be/3qTwAet_OyM
Ain
Al-Fijeh:
local consign the Assads to the dustbin of history http://youtu.be/YsnIHax25sg
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Qudsaya http://youtu.be/TSMB1TkbiEo
|
||||||
North (The Qalamoun Region )
|
||||||
A
major new fighting unit, named Lions of the Wilderness, is formed in Qalamoun
Region north of Damascus under the banner of the Free Syrian Army http://youtu.be/Vnsn_rgOANg
Rankous: a local shows off
his ransacked house that was set on fire by loyalists. “We will keep
demanding our freedom, no matter what Bashar Al-Assad does.” http://youtu.be/fzAMbz9zJO4
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Hama
|
||||||
Hama City
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Qoussour http://youtu.be/ArmDqmnifEM Janoub
Al-Malab http://youtu.be/Fa03F8-F7dA
Aleppo Road http://youtu.be/6PjNRI2cTO0
|
||||||
Hama Province
|
||||||
Reinforcements
arrive into Sahel Al-Ghab Region http://youtu.be/aUf7vNnJ88k
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Kafrenboudeh http://youtu.be/Q4D-bvdY7KU Hilfaya
http://youtu.be/t6d7qiZ7CSg Karnaz
http://youtu.be/DSHbfNX24Qw Breidij
http://youtu.be/QWpjbvBOlQU Al-Hosn
(student rally) http://youtu.be/wSZEhawA41I
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Al-Hosn
citadel
http://youtu.be/ihH0lDuOtdI
|
||||||
Idlib
|
||||||
Idlib
City:
Locals say that this man is a paramedic who was injured as he was treating
the wounded in the streets http://youtu.be/p4Epj8hlDDQ
Martyr http://youtu.be/OFDMbsc9_14
Mass funeral for four martyrs http://youtu.be/eYuYt-Lzp_o
, http://youtu.be/rCotUrlY1dE , http://youtu.be/gnqcXuzMsPw
Ma’arrat
Al-Nouman:
unidentified bodies showing signs of torture were found by the wayside of the
highway leading to Aleppo http://youtu.be/hIRzaqUe9hM
Ariha: the pounding of
the town by loyalist troops continues http://youtu.be/YXaMb5P4-mE
A martyr http://youtu.be/Egrkjk1sya4
His funeral http://youtu.be/FCYLWZG5ydU
Taftanaz: Impact of
shelling by mortars http://youtu.be/ecme9urvPAs
Saraqib: a local boys high
school comes under fire http://youtu.be/4HYyHReH0-I
Impact of shelling http://youtu.be/w91B7xZ0r5E
, http://youtu.be/m4nNFsbeO_c
Treating the wounded http://youtu.be/nxG58ALrDso
Nighttime funeral for two local martyrs http://youtu.be/gCMtUgpan3Y
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Kafroumah http://youtu.be/vgMaT99fgp4 , http://youtu.be/ypgAYYaaBP0 Mhambel
http://youtu.be/P0kffCGusss Kafar
Takhreem http://youtu.be/ghp_6_wjlp0
Ferkaya http://youtu.be/wBBa4qBzSto
, http://youtu.be/iSND8l7GDWg Binnish
http://youtu.be/HeDPdmszpUQ Al-Dana
(funeral) http://youtu.be/Uzvlkjo2I1w
Ma’arrat Al-Nouman http://youtu.be/i_oCKEf_V1A
Kafrenbel (all women) Banner “To the First Lady, we promise to
make you the Last Widow” http://youtu.be/zZ2JVXaOSqQ
Elteh http://youtu.be/aFHdsx0nfLs
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Idlib
City
http://youtu.be/U2T54Sc-5Jg Hzano
http://youtu.be/NuNyGEwp2h8
|
||||||
Deraa/Hauran
|
||||||
Deraa City
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Mahatah http://youtu.be/QKGOEV1ne-o , http://youtu.be/FZBGlSxlUys Al-Balad
http://youtu.be/z6Qd9dmD4Ws Sadd
http://youtu.be/STuvqcAkepI
|
||||||
Deraa/Hauran Province
|
||||||
Ankhel: protesters come
under fire http://youtu.be/VPon4VYrfgY
Mseifrah: martyr http://youtu.be/L76w9eMR34U His
funeral http://youtu.be/KaF9-J9PzjY
Khirbet
Ghazaleh:
loyalists pour into town http://youtu.be/WkLp9U3cgko
Na’eemah: a martyr http://youtu.be/wzwfZPPeoB8
Karak
Sharqi:
Locals organize a mass funeral http://youtu.be/llCR32UirHU
, http://youtu.be/_wxo5sfqgKs for
this martyr http://youtu.be/SRLlWfGeoMI
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Kafar
Shams
http://youtu.be/mP_bDvll3V4 Sourah
http://youtu.be/kIW62NKl0rY Basr
Al-Harir http://youtu.be/fO5KepIj4mM
Ankhel (funeral) http://youtu.be/CCwzkdduqgw
Bosra Al-Sham http://youtu.be/QYborwpGU1A
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Sahem http://youtu.be/HVrJVH3TLyQ Na’eemah
http://youtu.be/jSP9ipXeqrY Da’el
http://youtu.be/MWkPBDx6wno Tseel
http://youtu.be/xdYL5BLi3vY Mleihet
Al-Atash http://youtu.be/carfpj5T5E0
|
||||||
Aleppo
|
||||||
Aleppo City
|
||||||
Firdoss: nighttime protesters
come under fire http://youtu.be/UK-fajNvE70
|
||||||
Aleppo Province
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Kafar
Nouran
http://youtu.be/m-j5jJQ07tM Anadan
http://youtu.be/REXpOeT3iVk Babkeh
http://youtu.be/wBcdRKU121U Qubtan
Al-Jabal http://youtu.be/npG3-Eo4EwQ
Managh http://youtu.be/9mNttUxcfDA
Tal Rif’aat http://youtu.be/18ZKqhUh-gg
Bza’ah http://youtu.be/tytGr8q-83Q
Bayanoun http://youtu.be/IgsmBNh-6zY
|
||||||
Deir Ezzor
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Bouqros http://youtu.be/krOOnAVGLPs
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Deri
Ezzor City
(Jbeileh) http://youtu.be/daGhsgroe9Y
(Takaya) http://youtu.be/SxXP3mJjW5g
Jarthi http://youtu.be/etFRZgwUB1s
Khareetah http://youtu.be/18bmvQMdUhs
|
||||||
Hassakeh
|
||||||
Daytime Rallies
|
||||||
Dirbassiyeh http://youtu.be/At8vEqi214k
|
||||||
Nighttime Rallies
|
||||||
Amoudeh
http://youtu.be/jnwZNHNMxKk Ghuweiran
http://youtu.be/eZZwIndOUUU
|
||||||
