Hundreds attended Sunday night’s concert to raise funds for victims of the Syrian regime’s brutal crack down on protesters that started fourteen months ago. The concert, held at the Grove of Anaheim, featured performances by two Syrian artists who spoke out publicly against the Assad regime: singer Asala Nasri and pianist/composer Malek Jandali. Jandali’s parents were beaten at their home in the besieged city of Homs by Syrian dictator Assad’s ‘shabiha’ militias last year after he performed at a rally in support of the Syrian revolution in front of the White House.
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait and California Assemblyman Chris Norby presented proclamations honoring both artists.
The fundraising concert was organized by the Syrian American Council, Los Angeles chapter and the Southern California Syrian Coordination Committee.
As the Assad regime continues its violence despite the UN peace plan, Syrian-American organizations have been calling for an immediate establishment of safe zones to protect civilians and stop the atrocities committed by the Assad’s security forces and ‘shabiha’ militias. The call for safe zones has recently gained support from Republicans and Democrats alike as both Rep. Keith Ellison and Sen. John Kerry called for following Senators Marco Rubio, John McCain and Joe Lieberman’s earlier endorsements of establishing safe zones in Syria.
I support safe zones. They are direly needed. But who shall establish them?
Not NATO. Human Rights Watch just released a report on Libya and NATO (an intervention Ellison speaks of in supportive terms) that delves into airstrikes by the latter resulting in the deaths of scores of civilians (women and children, too)
NATO refuses to acknowledge or review the possibility that they acted unlawfully.
And I might add ‘and how?’ to the question. Reading some of Kerry’s comments concern me.
Although he supported safe zones, these questions were also raised by Rep. Keith Ellison. Turkey should lead this effort specially after Syrian forces entered Turkish territory and killed a number of Syrian refugees inside Turkey. There are many reasons why they are reluctant to act, such the Kurdish issue and a the US’ unwillingness to support.
While Russia is providing military support and Iran is sending fighters, Obama promised non-lethal equipments, which haven’t been delivered yet, and the creation of an “atrocities prevention board” -yes, board.
Since when is anything presented by Norby an honor? These politiians present their reather meaningless proclamations in order to legally justify accepting free seating and free meals, like LA Mayor Villagarosa, that’s all.
The West should stay out of the Muslim fight. If they get involved they will only, help the crazy side get elected. Syria’s people need to fight their own fight, and if they really want freedom then let them earn it. America, can not save all the crazies of this world and need to worry about educating and feeding their own idiots! The truth is most muslim countries are a mess because the culture of the countries are a mess, let them figure it out! NATO is nothing but actors and pimps! wise up if you think, those idiots are going to do anything to fix people who hate each other! America needs to leave the cave men alone!