SYRIA: A FIGHT TO THE END

After almost two months of unrest, Syrian government officials have been unable to open lines of communication with, mostly young, protesters. Talks with more veteran opposition groups have been unsuccessful in getting the core protesters, the students, to stop insisting that Syrian leadership, including Assad, be removed.

It is estimated that over 800 people, almost all civilians, have been killed. Several towns have been locked down. Thousands of people have been arrested, protesters and members of their families. Unconfirmed reports say that sport stadiums have been used as detention facilities. Reports of physical beatings with whips and chains are heard. Some of those arrested and subsequently released report being blindfolded and forced to stand for days at a time. They were instructed, upon release, to tell others who protest, what will happen to them if they continue their resistance.

Rami Makhoulf, Syria’s richest man, and cousin to the president, has stated the regime will fight to the end, if need be. It seems that, of the two options available, the stick is being used much more than the carrot.

THE FRONTLINES OF AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan’s former intelligence chief said he knew that Usama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan 4 years ago, but that Afghan intelligence believed tat he was hiding in Mansehra, a town 12 miles away from Abbottabad. Pakistan denied the claim. Insurgents attacked U.S. forces in Kandahar province with small arms fire. The attack killed SGT. Amaru Aguilar of 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. Other attacks included IEDs throughout the country and the use of a 9-year old wearing a suicide vest in eastern Afghanistan. Since our last report 2 more American have died in Operation Enduring Freedom. The war in Afghanistan has claimed 127 American lives thus far in 2011, and the total for the war is now 1,573 (www.icasualties.org).

To read the full update check out: The Frontlines Weekly Update Brief (May 9-15, 2011). If you have a different opinion or comment please post it here, or email me at askthewarrant@thefrontlines.com. Thank you.

very respectfully,

The “Warrant”

References

The Economist. (2011). May 14-20th Issue.

iCasualties. (2011). Coalition Casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Retrieved from www.icasualties.org.