Syria updates

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

A lot has happened since the last posting in the two Syrian threads about the Western journalists that have died there. The UN formally declared that an estimated 7,500 Syrians have died. Government forces returned the bodied of the two western journalist. The other injured western journalists have all escaped Syria. Reports are coming out about Assad's regime slaughtering men and male children as old as 12 execution style. The regime called it a "cleansing". They have since declared Homs secure and have begun a clean up process. Intense fighting is increasing in Hirak where the revolution began.

In the last three days 3,000 Syrian refugees have crossed the Syrian-Lebanese borders. Lebanon has seen 10,000 Syrian refugees. Turkey has seen 11,000 Syrian refugees and Jordan has 80,000 Syrian refugees. Many civilians remain trapped in the fighting. Assad's government forces blocked the Red Cross from bringing humanitarian aid to some war-torn areas. China is now trying to intervene by sending an envoy to broker a cease fire. Obama still believes diplomacy will end the violence while Sen. McCain called for military action led through an air strike. However, the same republican leaders who led the charge in Libya are stepping back from leading the charge in Syria. House Speaker John Boehner says the situation is complicated and they need a clearer picture before involving the US militarily.

McCain questioned Gen. James Mattis (CENTCOM Commander) as he testified before the "Senate Armed Service Committee". The General believes Assad will remain in power for some time. That he will use heavier weapons on his people and if he is to leave it will be slowly. The situation will get worse before it gets better. He advised that before we take on the policy of providing arms to the Syrian people that we determine who they are arming exactly. He also said the longer this situation goes on then the more opportunity there is for al Qaeda and full scale civil war.

At the UN level the US is proposing a new Security Council resolution demanding an end to violence in Syria first by government forces and then by opposition fighters. The resolutions prior to this did not include the opposition. Russia and China have vetoed two prior resolutions saying they were unbalanced because it demanded that the government stop attacks and not the opposition. This resolution also condemns Assad for continued human rights violations. The resolution will be discussed today behind closed doors by the five permanent council members the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and also Morocco, the Arab representative of the council.

NATO, the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and the White House Press Secretary Jay Carney have all made prior statements that there is no interest in military intervention in Syria. However, it would seem that arming the opposition is currently being looked at and that Congress is debating and considering military intervention in Syria.

I've seen the incoming images for weeks now. You can take a look at any of the stories linked here. You'll see the testimony from the western journalists that Syrian forces targeted them. You'll also see the bodies lined up from mass execution and you'll have even more gory images of bloody children caught in the cross fire. It's real life gory horror them everyday for nearly a year now.

Is there any feedback from MENA members who have family in Syria or in the surrounding countries that are taking in refugees and seeing the armed conflict spill over their borders?

Edited March 6, 2012 by ॐ

[together4evr 360]

Omg I had no idea. Thanks for sharing. I will have to ask about my Auntie-in-law...

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Let us know what your AIL says.

I watched more of the testimony today of the Senate Armed Service Committee. The Pentagon says all options in Syria are difficult. Full story on what was said and what went down here.

The hearings are all public and available online if you want to watch the discussion on Syria here. It's 166 minutes but interesting to listen to their questions and assessments.

Edited March 8, 2012 by ॐ

[karalynn1971 26]

My husband lives in Lattakia, Syria. It seems ok where he is. All of his family is in the same town. I have requested expedites based on the tragedy, but was denied. He can't and won't talk about anything going on there, but I know he is safe. I was there in September, and Lattakia is safe.

[together4evr 360]

My husband lives in Lattakia, Syria. It seems ok where he is. All of his family is in the same town. I have requested expedites based on the tragedy, but was denied. He can't and won't talk about anything going on there, but I know he is safe. I was there in September, and Lattakia is safe.

Thank God for his safety! and sorry about the denied expedite. seems like a very valid reason to me.

By the way, my husband laughed at me and said his aunt is NOT in syria.....she is in Libya and she is safe. Guess I had better study my countries better!!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

My husband lives in Lattakia, Syria. It seems ok where he is. All of his family is in the same town. I have requested expedites based on the tragedy, but was denied. He can't and won't talk about anything going on there, but I know he is safe. I was there in September, and Lattakia is safe.

I am glad to hear that your husband and his family is safe for now. Sorry to hear the expedites were denied. I know that several embassies are closed there because of what is going on including US, Britain, France, Canada, Tunisia, Libya and the Swiss embassy. Also countries are expelling Syrian diplomats and closing Syrian embassies. More top officials in Syria are defecting from the regime saying they do not what to be part of leadership that slaughters its own people in the last days.

Thank God for his safety! and sorry about the denied expedite. seems like a very valid reason to me.

By the way, my husband laughed at me and said his aunt is NOT in syria.....she is in Libya and she is safe. Guess I had better study my countries better!!

Happy to hear your AIL is safe in Libya. Their PM recently thanked the US this week for helping them get to where they are today with their own revolution.

[karalynn1971 26]

Thank God for his safety! and sorry about the denied expedite. seems like a very valid reason to me.

By the way, my husband laughed at me and said his aunt is NOT in syria.....she is in Libya and she is safe. Guess I had better study my countries better!!

lol...not in syria! In Libya.....wow! I hope all middle east finds peace soon! I'm glad she is safe though.....oh, and they denied my expedites, but today, they approved his I-130! Maybe they had a change of heart? I am so excited....was jumping, and my one daughter said, "ew, mom, really?" ha ha ha

I am glad to hear that your husband and his family is safe for now. Sorry to hear the expedites were denied. I know that several embassies are closed there because of what is going on including US, Britain, France, Canada, Tunisia, Libya and the Swiss embassy. Also countries are expelling Syrian diplomats and closing Syrian embassies. More top officials in Syria are defecting from the regime saying they do not what to be part of leadership that slaughters its own people in the last days.

Happy to hear your AIL is safe in Libya. Their PM recently thanked the US this week for helping them get to where they are today with their own revolution.

I do watch syria news daily....it is not getting any better.....I appreciate your caring...thank you

Edited March 10, 2012 by karalynn1971

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

lol...not in syria! In Libya.....wow! I hope all middle east finds peace soon! I'm glad she is safe though.....oh, and they denied my expedites, but today, they approved his I-130! Maybe they had a change of heart? I am so excited....was jumping, and my one daughter said, "ew, mom, really?" ha ha ha

I do watch syria news daily....it is not getting any better.....I appreciate your caring...thank you

Congrats on your NOA2! The process centers vary for different parts of the process. The part your done with has to do with the petitioner. The next part you're about to go through will have to do with the beneficiary. Now the application goes on to NVC and then onto the Embassy, which is closed. Do you happen to know what they are doing for that? Is there a backlog like with what happened during the Egyptian revolution? Do the applications pile up or are they being sent to another embassy in the region to be processed and he'll have to have his interview there? Please let us know what happens with that and keep us updated on him and his families safety.

I'll be thinking about you. I've been wondering what will happen in a situation like yours. If you get stuck in a long wait because of it there may be options for the petition such as others have had to deal with in conflict zones where the embassy is closed. You may be able to request the petition be transferred and processed in a different Embassy in another country if the wait gets too long because of the closure. It looks like Turkey or Lebanon may be the closest Embassy to where he lives.

I'm sorry I edited to add that I just checked the Embassy's website and it appears some of the petitions are being routed to Amman, Jordan. Link

Edited March 10, 2012 by ॐ

[karalynn1971 26]

Congrats on your NOA2! The process centers vary for different parts of the process. The part your done with has to do with the petitioner. The next part you're about to go through will have to do with the beneficiary. Now the application goes on to NVC and then onto the Embassy, which is closed. Do you happen to know what they are doing for that? Is there a backlog like with what happened during the Egyptian revolution? Do the applications pile up or are they being sent to another embassy in the region to be processed and he'll have to have his interview there? Please let us know what happens with that and keep us updated on him and his families safety.

I'll be thinking about you. I've been wondering what will happen in a situation like yours. If you get stuck in a long wait because of it there may be options for the petition such as others have had to deal with in conflict zones where the embassy is closed. You may be able to request the petition be transferred and processed in a different Embassy in another country if the wait gets too long because of the closure. It looks like Turkey or Lebanon may be the closest Embassy to where he lives.

I'm sorry I edited to add that I just checked the Embassy's website and it appears some of the petitions are being routed to Amman, Jordan. Link

Yes, I've seen where they are being sent elsewhere. He has family in Beirut, so I'm hoping it goes to Lebanon. But I don't know how to request that. Crossing the border is what scares me. There seems to be problems at the Turkey and Lebanon borders. And Jordan is just so far for him. But I will keep you posted on the journey. Thank You!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Yes, I've seen where they are being sent elsewhere. He has family in Beirut, so I'm hoping it goes to Lebanon. But I don't know how to request that. Crossing the border is what scares me. There seems to be problems at the Turkey and Lebanon borders. And Jordan is just so far for him. But I will keep you posted on the journey. Thank You!

I've seen several members in MENA have requested their petitions be transferred to Saudi Arabia before when their spouses were working in other countries. I can't recall who though. Maybe they will see this or someone who remembers who that is will see this and nudge them to contact you.

This part on the Embassy website I believe pertains to your process.

Please contact the Immigrant Visa (IV) Unit at Embassy Amman, the designated processing post for Syrian visa cases, at Amman-IV@state.gov for inquiries concerning immigrant visas that were scheduled to be processed in Damascus.

They might not answer your questions if the petition is not at the Embassy level. Right now it's in transit and you may have to wait till they give you a number, but I'd direct your questions to the NVC. If you follow that link it has their email and phone number and how to go about contacting them. They may direct you in how to go about requesting the petition be sent to a certain place or inform you where they are sending Syria petitions.

Jordan is the safest route right now with 80,000 Syrian refugees taking it. You are right there are problems at the Lebanon and Turkish border. Reports are that fighting and killing is happening there and refugees are crossing those borders under the cloak of darkness with not all of them are making it. If he can fly to Lebanon for the visa process that may be a possibility.

[karalynn1971 26]

I've seen several members in MENA have requested their petitions be transferred to Saudi Arabia before when their spouses were working in other countries. I can't recall who though. Maybe they will see this or someone who remembers who that is will see this and nudge them to contact you.

This part on the Embassy website I believe pertains to your process.

They might not answer your questions if the petition is not at the Embassy level. Right now it's in transit and you may have to wait till they give you a number, but I'd direct your questions to the NVC. If you follow that link it has their email and phone number and how to go about contacting them. They may direct you in how to go about requesting the petition be sent to a certain place or inform you where they are sending Syria petitions.

Jordan is the safest route right now with 80,000 Syrian refugees taking it. You are right there are problems at the Lebanon and Turkish border. Reports are that fighting and killing is happening there and refugees are crossing those borders under the cloak of darkness with not all of them are making it. If he can fly to Lebanon for the visa process that may be a possibility.

Thank you. I asked him where he wanted to be interviewed. He said Lebanon. Because he can be with family. I did call NVC today, even tho I don't have the visa number, and I was told that we can request Lebanon, we just have to send it in writing. So I'm sure an email will be fine. But I will call them, and speak with a supervisor. And as far as Jordan, based on where he lives....he would have to travel through much worse areas in Syria, with a longer drive to Amman.

I would love for him to pack all his stuff, go to Lebanon, interview, and just stay there until he can come here. But I know he wont do that. He will want to say goodbye to his mom, brother, sister, etc.

Flying.... Lattakia has an airport, but it only flies to Damascus. ugh.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Thank you. I asked him where he wanted to be interviewed. He said Lebanon. Because he can be with family. I did call NVC today, even tho I don't have the visa number, and I was told that we can request Lebanon, we just have to send it in writing. So I'm sure an email will be fine. But I will call them, and speak with a supervisor. And as far as Jordan, based on where he lives....he would have to travel through much worse areas in Syria, with a longer drive to Amman.

I would love for him to pack all his stuff, go to Lebanon, interview, and just stay there until he can come here. But I know he wont do that. He will want to say goodbye to his mom, brother, sister, etc.

Flying.... Lattakia has an airport, but it only flies to Damascus. ugh.

I'm really sorry for your situation. I don't think there are any good options right now. I've been following the news from Syria. Here's a recent radio story done by the BBC where they interview the PM of Lebanon on the crisis and discuss the refugee situation and it's really intense. Link They have a lot of good updates on the story in Syria. It even seems like more coverage than we're getting in the States on it with their journalist going into the country at times and surrounding countries right now.

There are over 200,000 Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. The Red Cross is projecting it will reach 500,000 as the fighting is continuing and starting in different parts of the country. Over 15,000 refugees have crossed into Turkey and they are considering making a military buffer zone into Syria, once the situation reached the 500,000 mark, in order to protect the refugees from the Syrian army and give them safe passage. This will be huge if they decide to do it. Lebanon is particularly complicated because of their history with Syria and they are being pressured by the Assad regime not to help any refugees. From the interview with the PM it sounds as if the violence may spill over the border there. So far Jordan offers the safest route with 80,000 Syrian refugees taking it but as you said some of them have to travel through dangerous places. I can't say what would be the best route for your husband to take from where he is, and staying in a refugee camp in another country for several months like some have done doesn't seem too great either. Again I am so sorry.

Edited March 16, 2012 by ॐ

[Shoot Em Straight 385]

I am very grateful live in the U.S. and post this not as a Religious or Political Statemnet. But on humanitarian information.

Visiting Morocco I have the ability to watch the satellite channels of MENA first hand...and Yesterday on English AlJezerra I watched an interesting program. An undercover journalist risked his life to follow demonstrators and video phone the way it is on the streets in Syria.

The young people sang defiant patriotic songs, some took up arms, and the Syrian Army showed how they handled demonstrators.

It is a short programme under People and Power Syria:Songs of Defiance. I share this because I love my country and dont wish to forget others in this world that dont have the same allowance to voice their opinion about their own.

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/

Edited March 22, 2012 by inluvnwaiting

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I am very grateful live in the U.S. and post this not as a Religious or Political Statemnet. But on humanitarian information.

Visiting Morocco I have the ability to watch the satellite channels of MENA first hand...and Yesterday on English AlJezerra I watched an interesting program. An undercover journalist risked his life to follow demonstrators and video phone the way it is on the streets in Syria.

The young people sang defiant patriotic songs, some took up arms, and the Syrian Army showed how they handled demonstrators.

It is a short programme under People and Power Syria:Songs of Defiance. I share this because I love my country and dont wish to forget others in this world that dont have the same allowance to voice their opinion about their own.

http://www.aljazeera...peopleandpower/

Thank you for your contribution to this thread. I haven't looked at the link yet but I will later when I get home.

The latest updates are that the latest statement drafted by the UN security council was approved by Russia and China. Kofi Annan submitted it as a five part plan to peace. A statement does not carry as much weight as a resolution but it is the step before that and is a crushing blow to the Assad regime. However, the clashes and gun fighting continue into today in Syria depsite the latest development by the UN.