Posted on 06/10/2012 1:12:21 PM PDT by bayouranger
The message sent out by the military chief of the armed opposition has spread panic and lead to a Christian exodus
An exodus of Christians is taking place in Western Syria: the Christian population has fled the city of Qusayr, near Homs, following an ultimatum issued by the military chief of the armed opposition, Abdel Salam Harba.
This is what local sources told Vatican news agency Fides, pointing out that since the conflict broke out, only a thousand of the city’s ten thousand faithful, were left and they are now being forced to flee immediately. Some of the city’s mosques have issued the message again, announcing from the minarets: “Christians must leave Qusayr within six days, ending Friday.” The ultimatum therefore expired on 8 June and spread fear among the Christian population which had started to regain hope as a result of the presence of the Jesuit Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio, who stopped off in Qusayr for a week to “pray and fast in the name of peace, right in the midst of conflict.”
The reasons for this ultimatum remain a mystery. Some say it is necessary in order to protect faithful from further suffering; other sources reveal “a continuity in discrimination and selective repression.” Others still claim that Christians have openly expressed their loyalty to the state and this is why the opposition army is chasing them away. Now Christian families in Qusayr have begun their exodus as displaced persons, towards the surrounding valleys and rural areas. Some have taken refuge in parents’ and friends’ homes in Damascus. Very few families have courageously decided to stay behind in their birth city but who knows what fate will meet. Fides sources have reiterated that groups of Salafi Islamic extremists within the armed opposition consider Christians as “infidels”; they confiscate their belongings, carry out mass executions and are ready to declare a “denominational war”.
All things considered, it should be taken as helpful advice, as when you are in a war zone, being told to evacuate should always be taken seriously. For these people, the best bet is to go and keep going. Leave the country if it all possible, taking your valuables and especially your paperwork with you.
What gets you killed takes some effort. First of all, not taking such advice. Second, not going far enough away. And third, returning too quickly.
Well, the Syrian government isn’t nice, and they have frequently been our enemy. But, as with the rest of the Arab Spring, the opposition seems to be even worse.
The explanation seems simple enough. They are Muslim terrorists, and they hate Christians.
Someone tell John McCain!
Ah, a little “pre-ethnic cleansing.”
Better yet, someone tell our ‘Christian’ senate and house critters to save their brothers and sisters in faith.
Sorry, I forgot — we can’t mix religion and politics unless the ROP is insulted.
Does anybody else see a pattern in the consequences of US interventions in Muslim countries? It seems like every time the US government intervenes - either directly or by covert support of government opponents - indigenous Christians get persecuted more vigorously by old regime’s opponents and, then, the new regime. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, and now Syria.
What’s up with that?
Sorry, who’s side are we on. (snicker)
“When two Moslem factions are fighting each other, support the losing side. When that side starts to win, support the other side”
- the Blado Doctrine
But it isn’t advice. It’s a prelude to genocide on a city level by the “revolutionaries/rebels” that barry & the State Dept are attempting to give aid to, as in Kosovo, at the behest of the Sowdis.
A couple of created “massacres” to swing the public’s opinion & then the islamic green light turns on to benefit the Sowdis once again at the expense of the Christians.
Enough already.
Genocide only happens if they ignore the warning. While “ethnic”, or in this case, religious cleansing stinks, it beats the heck out of being massacred, *if* those are your only options. Which it sounds like, in this case.
Sadly, the approach to Syria has to be pragmatic. Under Assad, it is an aggressive regime armed to the teeth with Iranian and Russian weapons. It is more than happy to be the proxy of Iran to conquer Lebanon with Hezbollah, the Syrian’s proxy, or attack Israel.
So it would be a very good thing if Assad’s regime is dismantled.
But what about the chaos and mess that would take over in his stead? Still a nuisance, but on a different, and less technological level. If run by the Sunni majority, yes backed by Soddi. But that is sort of better than being backed by Iran.
And no more resources going to Hezbollah, which means an eventually better outcome in Lebanon. And far less likely to attack Israel.
Would it be better to have someone else run Syria? Absolutely. But there is no one waiting in the wings. So the best we can hope for is a lesser of evils. Still evil, but less dangerous.
Sorry Christians. You had to bug out of Lebanon and then Iraq. But the best advice is to bug out of Syria as well.
Yes, but the question again becomes, “And then what happens?”
If Syria is MB controlled, it cripples Iran’s operations against Israel, and likely reduces the chances for nuclear war. In Jordan’s case, if the government is overthrown, Israel declares Jordan to be Palestine, and deports many of its Arabs to Jordan. Probably kicking the Gazans out into Egypt at the same time.
The Saudis are a rotten melon getting ready to burst anyway, but I suspect when it does, it will be the Wahhabis getting the short end of the stick. The government will cull that herd and good riddance. I think it would be hilarious if they turned management of Mecca over to the Sufis.
In Jordan’s case, if the government is overthrown, Israel declares Jordan to be Palestine, and deports many of its Arabs to Jordan. Probably kicking the Gazans out into Egypt at the same time.
Before of after the next general Arab-Israeli war?
The Saudis are a rotten melon getting ready to burst anyway, but I suspect when it does, it will be the Wahhabis getting the short end of the stick. The government will cull that herd and good riddance. I think it would be hilarious if they turned management of Mecca over to the Sufis.
What magical group of moderates will do this?
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