I cannot tell you the joy I feel this morning listening to the news not just of the fall of the monstrously cruel #Assad regime, but also the fact that for the moment things are calm, peaceful and joyful.
Trivial though it is, I think of the insults, slurs and threats that I endured (alongside others) for daring to suggest that the Assad regime, abetted by the Russians, had used chemical weapons on their own people. There are awful people out there, and plenty of cheerleaders.
Let's celebrate!
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from sellathechemist@mastodon.social
BBC World Service has been outstanding . Weekend invited Prof Joshua Landis from Oklahoma, an outstanding authority on the conflict – for three hours we had the benefit of his insight. The interview with 39 year old Rania K in which she described her trembling joy; ex-prisoner Ahmad Helmi who described being imprisoned by the regime.
Outstanding radio. Applause for the Weekend team. The last hour is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w172zcxbh4q5z7x
You don't get this on commercial radio, folks.
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from sellathechemist@mastodon.social
Coverage of #Syria uprising on BBC World Service is outstanding. Julian Marshall presenting and marshalling (!) the head of the ICRC, BBC correspondents and local people. A must listen. #joy #Assad has gone!
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from sellathechemist@mastodon.social
And BBCWS #Newshour continues into a second hour. They're rolling with superb, thoughtful coverage. Breaking news radio doesn't come much better than this! Some of it makes you feel like you're there.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from sellathechemist@mastodon.social
@sellathechemist I'm one of those others who came under attack for suggesting the same. That's how we became friends, in adversity.
I cannot fathom the mentality of those who would indulge the fiction of a benign, pacifist Assad regime in the face of all the evidence to the contrary. Assad Snr was brutal and capable. Assad Jnr merely brutal.
Let's just hope that other regional players keep out of it for now.
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from deadlyvices@toot.wales
@deadlyvices It was rough. Eventually it drove me off Twitter. But no one will remember the columnists (not real journos) and “academics” who spread lies and cavilled endlessly, playing Russia’s game. Dangerous fools.
I don’t expect contrition. They’re too far gone over the edge. And they’ll be back, constructing more bizarre scenarios to undermine trust.
The BBC has been brilliant, treading carefully through the maze/minefield of conspiracist claims in the face of ferocious abuse. #heroes
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from sellathechemist@mastodon.social
@deadlyvices When I visited #Syria on a cycling trip I remember passing the huge statues of Hafez at roundabouts at the entrance to towns. Every shop window had a picture of the Holy Trinity: Hafez in the middle, Maher, and on the left, wearing dark glasses, the Holy Ghost: the dead Bassel. It just gave me the creeps to see this over and over.
And the mukhabarat in plain clothes on big motorbikes who stopped us a few times asking us what we were doing on bikes in the middle of nowhere…
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from sellathechemist@mastodon.social
A comical call, to "celebrate". Not too much of a surprise from Europeans who often suffer from collective amnesia and myopia.
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from citc@zotum.net
@citc I agree that Western position over chemical weapons was pusillanimous. But that was in part caused by the disastrous adventure in Iraq along with the voices of disinformation, many of them western, who muddied the waters. Some were formerly distinguished journalists. Others ranty opinion writers. Others, attention seekers. All of them went over the conspiracy edge and then dug thmselves in and dog whistled their followers. Who knows how HTS will behave. But omens are positive for now.
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from sellathechemist@mastodon.social
@sellathechemist
I have zero sympathy for the Assad regime, I'm glad for Syria that their regime is gone, but knowing how these things go there's a high chance that religious fundementalists seize power and another identical dictator installed, the main difference being he'll just wear a magic hat and a beard.
It's yet to be seen if this really is an opportunity for the Syrian people to choose something different. I'm not holding my breath though.
=> More informations about this toot | More toots from contrasocial@mastodon.social This content has been proxied by September (3851b).Proxy Information
text/gemini