tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8598439232445095125.post924883891811264477..comments2023-11-02T03:18:33.729-07:00Comments on 6 Stories from the 7 Continents: Deathtoll in Syria mounts, words fly ...Teatreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05092443425505293658noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8598439232445095125.post-49370204223493741292012-02-29T18:05:41.842-08:002012-02-29T18:05:41.842-08:00Last week's New Yorker magazine details variou...Last week's New Yorker magazine details various voices "on the ground" in Hom and other cities ("Implosion" by Jon Lee Anderson: http://nyr.kr/A01l7R)<br /><br />It reveals an interesting mix of competing narratives (from rebels, pro-government officials and citizens, and those "regular folk" just trying to survive). Interestingly, there are a number of conspiracy theories among Assad supporters regarding the rebels - that they are the Muslim Brotherhood or Al Qaeda, propped up by Israel. <br /><br />Anderson's assessment: "The Syrian opposition seems to reflect a cross-section of citizens who feel victimized by forty-two years in a security state. Some have been abused by the secret police and are seeking revenge; others are inspired by sectarian hatred; and some are genuine patriots, who simply couldn't continue to serve a repressive regime."Bennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8598439232445095125.post-7134892750187671172012-02-28T17:06:46.616-08:002012-02-28T17:06:46.616-08:00Hmmm, even the UN today has come out with a civili...Hmmm, even the UN today has come out with a civilian death toll in Syria of over 7500. From Reuters, "There are credible reports that the death toll now often exceeds 100 civilians a day, including many women and children," U.N. Under-Secretary-General for political affairs Lynn Pascoe told the U.N. Security Council. "The total killed so far is certainly well over 7,500 people."Teatreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05092443425505293658noreply@blogger.com