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The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

bbc.com

21–30 of 41 posts

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#21
post #7

Is anyone just overwhelmed by the propaganda and partisanship as you read this? I have no great opinion on this Syrian regime or the previous - like basically everyone on HN when it comes to geopolitical topics, I do not know much about it - but the bias in the article is almost comically ham-fisted.

I’m actually not overwhelmed or see it as partisan

> There are widespread calls across Syrian society on social media for former senior officials to be held accountable

> Syria's Attorney General, Hassan al-Turba, told the BBC the government had launched a lawsuit against Luka, accusing him of "premeditated murder, torture, and death resulting from torture".

Syrian administration is using the court system and these aren’t leanings of BBC

I understand your general sentiment regarding being involved in other countries, I just don’t think it applies here

Regarding the term “partisan”, Syria is under a single party system, for now… ostensibly. They have grievances with the prior regime and are seeking information which is now irrelevant and has no possibility of being restored. I don't think it is possible for that to be considered partisan

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is distressing to hear someone on hacker news describe this, and the history of Syria over the last couple decades, as something that might be "propaganda" and "partisanship." My god, man - do you even slightly follow the news? Are you really that unaware such that you feel there is some degree of question over just how horrific the Assad regime was for Syrians?

Why do you care? It's their country, let them mess it up as much as they want. That's the problem with you Westerners, you stole and genocided people around the entire world, and when you were finally thrown out, you come back to pass judgement and impose your own dubious morals on other people.

Was reading book by Sue Black on forensic anthropology , Written in Bone, and she recalled incident where she was an expert witness for commission in Qatar, she confirmed the veracity of eyewitness and photo evidence of Assad Syrian regime of torture - for Arab instigated investigation. Not just Western values.

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#23
post #7

Is anyone just overwhelmed by the propaganda and partisanship as you read this? I have no great opinion on this Syrian regime or the previous - like basically everyone on HN when it comes to geopolitical topics, I do not know much about it - but the bias in the article is almost comically ham-fisted.

I’m actually not overwhelmed or see it as partisan > There are widespread calls across Syrian society on social media for former senior officials to be held accountable > Syria's Attorney General, Hassan al-Turba, told the BBC the government had launched a lawsuit against Luka, accusing him of "premeditated murder, torture, and death resulting from torture". Syrian administration is using the court system and these a…

Partisan in the sense of - there is a clear bias for the new regime, and against the old one. Not the literal sense. Note the weasel words from the first few paragraphs:

- "dictator"

- "henchmen"

- "conducted from the shadows"

- "regime"

- "brutal crushing"

- "pro-democracy uprising"

- "rebels"

One paragraph is almost entirely weasel words:

"But his most egregious action in the city, many argue, was his alleged involvement in the so-called Eid Massacre, known by some as the Children's Massacre, which the US noted when sanctioning him."

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you care? It's their country, let them mess it up as much as they want. That's the problem with you Westerners, you stole and genocided people around the entire world, and when you were finally thrown out, you come back to pass judgement and impose your own dubious morals on other people.

Was reading book by Sue Black on forensic anthropology , Written in Bone, and she recalled incident where she was an expert witness for commission in Qatar, she confirmed the veracity of eyewitness and photo evidence of Assad Syrian regime of torture - for Arab instigated investigation. Not just Western values.

Again: why do you care? Mind your own business, let them prosper or decline. Not my concern, nor yours.

You can point and laugh, as I do, when I watch the invasion of Europe and the zombie fentanyl apocalypse in the US.

We call it karma, and it's well deserved.

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m actually not overwhelmed or see it as partisan > There are widespread calls across Syrian society on social media for former senior officials to be held accountable > Syria's Attorney General, Hassan al-Turba, told the BBC the government had launched a lawsuit against Luka, accusing him of "premeditated murder, torture, and death resulting from torture". Syrian administration is using the court system and these a…

Partisan in the sense of - there is a clear bias for the new regime, and against the old one. Not the literal sense. Note the weasel words from the first few paragraphs: - "dictator" - "henchmen" - "conducted from the shadows" - "regime" - "brutal crushing" - "pro-democracy uprising" - "rebels" One paragraph is almost entirely weasel words: "But his most egregious action in the city, many argue, was his alleged invol…

Okay, sure, maybe I’m blind to it, what is the other perspective in favor of the old regime

I don’t see the new one as being exalted, just present and on a fact finding mission.

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Was reading book by Sue Black on forensic anthropology , Written in Bone, and she recalled incident where she was an expert witness for commission in Qatar, she confirmed the veracity of eyewitness and photo evidence of Assad Syrian regime of torture - for Arab instigated investigation. Not just Western values.

Again: why do you care? Mind your own business, let them prosper or decline. Not my concern, nor yours. You can point and laugh, as I do, when I watch the invasion of Europe and the zombie fentanyl apocalypse in the US. We call it karma, and it's well deserved.

[dead]

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Partisan in the sense of - there is a clear bias for the new regime, and against the old one. Not the literal sense. Note the weasel words from the first few paragraphs: - "dictator" - "henchmen" - "conducted from the shadows" - "regime" - "brutal crushing" - "pro-democracy uprising" - "rebels" One paragraph is almost entirely weasel words: "But his most egregious action in the city, many argue, was his alleged invol…

Okay, sure, maybe I’m blind to it, what is the other perspective in favor of the old regime I don’t see the new one as being exalted, just present and on a fact finding mission.

I don't know. I would have to compare the regimes side by side. But I am so incredibly skeptical about western interference in the middle east (and I say this as a proud westerner). Gadaffi was overthrown and the end result was too civil wars and open air slave markets. Syria is a different country of course, but my meta point is just because a new government is supported by the west does not mean it's better, as a general rule.

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay, sure, maybe I’m blind to it, what is the other perspective in favor of the old regime I don’t see the new one as being exalted, just present and on a fact finding mission.

I don't know. I would have to compare the regimes side by side. But I am so incredibly skeptical about western interference in the middle east (and I say this as a proud westerner). Gadaffi was overthrown and the end result was too civil wars and open air slave markets. Syria is a different country of course, but my meta point is just because a new government is supported by the west does not mean it's better, as a g…

I see

The provisional government is not supported by the west, they are experiencing self determination

Specifically because it is not seen as better, just present

Re: The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is distressing to hear someone on hacker news describe this, and the history of Syria over the last couple decades, as something that might be "propaganda" and "partisanship." My god, man - do you even slightly follow the news? Are you really that unaware such that you feel there is some degree of question over just how horrific the Assad regime was for Syrians?

This is a quintessential HN response. Condescending, emotional, and completely missed the point of what I was saying .

What were you saying?

What about that story is propaganda?

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