Syria: Assad celebrates ‘history’ as Aleppo is ‘liberated’

[webfact]

Syria: Assad celebrates ‘history’ as Aleppo is ‘liberated’

 

 

DAMASCUS: -- Until very recently parts of eastern Aleppo had been controlled by rebels – despite the pounding from government forces and their Russian allies.

 

Now the Syrian flag is flying again, marking an end of years of fighting for the city.

 

It’s not the end of the country’s civil war – but it’s a triumph for its president who not so long ago was being written off.

 

Bashar al-Assad recorded a video message on Thursday saying:

“After liberating Aleppo we can say not only the Syrian situation, but also the regional and international situation is different. Here time became history. Aleppo converted time into history.”

 

Residents in Aleppo have been seen waiting to return to their homes. For months the area had been bombarded by pro-government forces. Rebels in some districts have also been accused of atrocities and ill-treatment of civilians.

 

“We are waiting for the rats to get out from inside there and to go to hell, and to get back to our homes,” said one man.

 

“We want to get back to our houses which we left four years ago,” another added.

 

Meanwhile Syrian state TV broadcast pictures showing what it said were people celebrating the military success in Aleppo, chanting as they held posters of Assad and waving Syrian flags.

 

The images were reportedly filmed on Monday.

 

Although rebel-held eastern Aleppo has been destroyed by the war, life in some parts of government-controlled areas in the west of the city has been relatively normal.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-12-16

[craigt3365]

Quote

“We want to get back to our houses which we left four years ago,” another added.

 

Hopefully they still have a home left to go back to.  What a disaster.  Time to rebuild.

[geriatrickid]

Soon, things will be back to "normal" in the middle east. Assad will be hailed as a hero, as a champion of arab rights and embraced at international conferences.

Edited December 16, 2016 by geriatrickid
spelling

[craigt3365]

Just now, geriatrickid said:

Soon, thinks will be back to "normal" in the middle east. Assad will be hailed as a hero, as a champion of arab rights and embraced at international conferences.

I don't think we've seen the final chapter in Syria yet.  More drama to come.  Unfortunately.

[craigt3365]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38289313

Quote

 

Over the weekend a force of some 4,000 fighters retook the city centre despite significant efforts by Russian air power to forestall their advance.

 

This represents something of an embarrassment for Moscow - Palmyra's recapture earlier this year was heralded as a major victory and proof positive that Russia's intervention could turn the tide of battle for President Assad's forces.

 

Palmyra's recapture was followed by a carefully staged propaganda event. The Russians flew in a symphony orchestra and put on a major show, presenting their victory as a triumph of the forces of culture over those of barbarism.

 

 

[sup3r1or]

I wouldn't believe much of what BBC says these days. They didn't even report on the protest against them in thousands outside of their office. 

[craigt3365]

5 minutes ago, sup3r1or said:

I wouldn't believe much of what BBC says these days. They didn't even report on the protest against them in thousands outside of their office. 

Did another media site report this?  Do you have a link?

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Residents in Aleppo have been seen waiting to return to their homes.

From the pictures I have seen on TV there is not much to come back to. It truly sickens me to watch Assad and others like him sit in their ivory towers eating the best of food and booze and brag about his country finally being "free" Its the men that gave up their lives fighting block to block that are the heroes not you by any stretch of the imagination. If you had been a decent leader from the getgo there would have been no "rebels"

[billd766]

27 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Did another media site report this?  Do you have a link?

 

Here is the BBC News online link.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38336928

 

And another link from inside that one.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38303222

 

Srebrenica survivors on Aleppo 'No lessons learned'

[elgordo38]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

 

Hopefully they still have a home left to go back to.  What a disaster.  Time to rebuild.

Get out the checkbook Donald. Tell them to add it to "the 20 trillion dollar tab"

[craigt3365]

27 minutes ago, billd766 said:

 

Here is the BBC News online link.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38336928

 

And another link from inside that one.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38303222

 

Srebrenica survivors on Aleppo 'No lessons learned'

Good links, but my question was why did the BBC not report that thousands were outside their offices protesting.  Methinks the poster is just pulling our leg. LOL

[craigt3365]

29 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

Get out the checkbook Donald. Tell them to add it to "the 20 trillion dollar tab"

I'll try to find the post, but supposedly Russia and Lebanon are already going after the reconstruction with gusto.  Big money there.

[Ralf61]

What are those quotation marks for in the headline?

[RuamRudy]

4 hours ago, Ralf61 said:

What are those quotation marks for in the headline?

 

To indicate that the words are opinion and not fact.

[connda]

6 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

From the pictures I have seen on TV there is not much to come back to. It truly sickens me to watch Assad and others like him sit in their ivory towers eating the best of food and booze and brag about his country finally being "free" Its the men that gave up their lives fighting block to block that are the heroes not you by any stretch of the imagination. If you had been a decent leader from the getgo there would have been no "rebels"

I guess it all depends were you get your information from.  It's easy to tell where your news originates from. 

[RuamRudy]

28 minutes ago, connda said:

I guess it all depends were you get your information from.  It's easy to tell where your news originates from. 

 

Do you think that Assad is the victim of a smear campaign?

Edited December 16, 2016 by RuamRudy
edited for clarity

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, connda said:

I guess it all depends were you get your information from.  It's easy to tell where your news originates from. 

enlighten me oh wise one. I guess the news reels on TV are faked?? Assad hanging onto power is an illusion. Give me an "easy" answer.

[craigt3365]

11 hours ago, connda said:

I guess it all depends were you get your information from.  It's easy to tell where your news originates from. 

Seems he lives a pretty nice life.  Maybe if he spent a week in Aleppo things would be different.  Please read the article.  Assad and his family have lived the life of luxury.  Just like other despots in the region.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2013/sep/11/assad-presidential-palace-syria-kenzo-tange

 

 

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Seems he lives a pretty nice life.  Maybe if he spent a week in Aleppo things would be different.  Please read the article.  Assad and his family have lived the life of luxury.  Just like other despots in the region.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2013/sep/11/assad-presidential-palace-syria-kenzo-tange

 

 

The article is a real eye opener. It is a template for people in power. Power corrupts and total power corrupts totally. Another example was all the young Pilippinoes laughing and waiting in line for hours in Singapore to meet their "hero" Youth is definitely wasted on most of the young. Retirement is a time for reflection. Sometimes the reflections I see are muddied. 

[Morch]

On 12/16/2016 at 1:29 PM, craigt3365 said:

I'll try to find the post, but supposedly Russia and Lebanon are already going after the reconstruction with gusto.  Big money there.

 

Lebanon, as a country, probably not. Enough trouble of their own, even without the Syrian refugees. Certain Lebanese businessmen, perhaps. This could relate to the latest leadership agreement between factions.

[craigt3365]

14 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Lebanon, as a country, probably not. Enough trouble of their own, even without the Syrian refugees. Certain Lebanese businessmen, perhaps. This could relate to the latest leadership agreement between factions.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/who-will-fund-the-dream-of-rebuilding-syria-a7076436.html

 

Quote

 

Who will fund the dream of rebuilding Syria back to its former glory?

Lebanese banks are the only institutions who know how to open enough letters of credit to fund Syria’s reconstruction materials: so rebuilding Syria means big profits for them. 

 

 

Though it does seem they have issues to resolve!

 

http://www.thearabweekly.com/Special-Focus/6401/Syria’s-reconstruction-offers-opportunities-for-Lebanon

 

Quote

 

Syria’s reconstruction offers opportunities for Lebanon

Lost in their own never-ending political disputes, Lebanese offi­cials are simply not preparing to benefit from Syria’s reconstruction.