The video itself is far too grisly for us to post here without warning, as it appears to contain a horrifying instance of cannibalism by a commander within the Syrian opposition, the removal and eating of a dead opponent’s heart, while espousing sectarian insults towards Bashar al-Assad. Said Nadim Houry, the Middle East deputy director for Human Rights Watch: “It is not enough for Syria’s opposition to condemn such behavior or blame it on violence by the government,” Houry said. “The opposition forces need to act firmly to stop such abuses.”
sturmpony said: Not exactly secret though, is it?
jasonstiff said: Doesn’t appear very secret right now…
bobbycaputo said: Not so secret anymore is it. Thanks for letting the cat of of the bag ;)
» SFB says: Reuters’ words, not ours. (It was reported as an exclusive.) That said, good to see that three people made the same joke on that post. :) — Ernie @ SFB
Obama’s order, approved earlier this year and known as an intelligence “finding,” broadly permits the CIA and other U.S. agencies to provide support that could help the rebels oust Assad.
This and other developments signal a shift toward growing, albeit still circumscribed, support for Assad’s armed opponents - a shift that intensified following last month’s failure of the U.N. Security Council to agree on tougher sanctions against the Damascus government.
The order stops just short of having the U.S. give rebels weapons.
There is no council, it’s an illusion. … They are trying to build an autocratic rule inside the council. There is no group work. Everyone is working by himself and the whole council has not met once.Syrian dissident Kamal al-Labwani • Discussing why he and another man left the Syrian National Council, the lead opposition group against the Assad regime. The council has long been fraught with infighting, of which this is yet another example. By the way, al-Labwani is a lifer at this: He was jailed in 2005 for his fight against the Assad regime and joined the council in November.
Syraian opposition leaders hold public meeting in Damascus: This is a big deal; even as Assad’s grip remains tight on the country, the fact that a meeting like this can even take place is a major sign of progress in a country that banned public gatherings for decades. It was not without strife, though, as some groups — like the Muslim Brotherhood — weren’t invited, leading to criticism that it was a “publicity stunt.”
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