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'Syrian soldiers backed by Hezbollah fighters recaptured the town of Maaloula, north of Damascus, on Monday, military sources and state television said, further squeezing rebels' supply routes through the Qalamoun mountains into Lebanon.
Islamist fighters, some from the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, had taken over part of the ancient Christian town in December and held several nuns captive until releasing them in March in a prisoner-exchange deal.
"They are inside Maaloula now. It is under their complete control, including the monastery of Mar Thecla," said a military source in contact with government fighters on the ground.
At another ancient Christian site, Mar Sarkis - a Greek Orthodox monastery dating back to the fourth century and located on a hilltop above Maaloula - a Reuters witness saw crosses and pictures of saints smashed and covered with dust on the floor.'
Is this the one time Christians say thanks Hezbollah?
I'll admit it's hard to pick a side between the warring Muslim factions, but I always side with the group that the Christians the best, because that group will be the most tolerant of the rights of minorities, women, etc.
I'll admit it's hard to pick a side between the warring Muslim factions, but I always side with the group that the Christians the best, because that group will be the most tolerant of the rights of minorities, women, etc.
Assad is one of the few secular leaders in the Middle East, I give him props for that
Neocons in both parties are lauding the rebels, which is as good a reason as any to back Assad.
It seems to me that our foreign policy in the Middle East is to create as much instability as possible. The recent Rachel Maddow show about why we went to war (spelled O-I-L), didn't really shed much light.
Sure, the necons, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bush, etc were already drawing up plans to invade, replete with maps of all the oilfields, before 9-11, which provided a convenient pretext.
But Sadaam was always willing to trade oil with the West, and Rumsfeld applauded him for using the WMD against Iran. Sadaam also kept the peace in Iraq, albeit with an iron fist. No, something made us turn against him, and it wasn't Kuwait - which we waved him into.
The Iraq invasion - so what did we get for all the lives lost and billions spent - ongoing chaos and bloodshed in a country that still stuggles to provide water and electricity. We didn't conquer their oil fields, which at least I could understand, if not condone.
So what was the intent? We all know that the neocons invented the mushroom cloud lies, and the WMD under Bush's desk, but what did it all accomplish? Chaos.
Gadaffi was a stabilizing force in Libya - disposed with help from the West. What's left is a void, with attendant chaos. So another instance of 'Mission Accomplished'?
Syria has so far avoided the fate of Iraq and Libya, but was on the original neocon 'hit' list.
AQ are basically bullies and tyrants. I guess that is why democrats always defend them though........
Except that's never happened. Got any more strawmen to share with the class?
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