Reform party of Syria
www.reformsyria.net
Syria Implicated in Iraqi Arms Heist
Washington DC, October 28, 2004 /RPS News/ - The Washington Times reported this morning that Russian special forces have moved the cache of arms that has disappeared in April 2003 to Syria.
John A. Shaw, the deputy undersecretary of defense for international technology security, said in an interview that he believes the Russian troops, working with Iraqi intelligence, "almost certainly" removed the material from the Al-Qaqaa facility.
"The Russians brought in, just before the war got started, a whole series of military units," Mr. Shaw said. "Their main job was to shred all evidence of any of the contractual arrangements they had with the Iraqis. The others were transportation units."
The source of this information comes from two reliable European intelligence services who had first hand knowledge of the Iraqi-Russian collaborative efforts. According to Mr. Shaw, most of Saddam's most powerful arms were systematically separated from other arms like mortars, bombs and rockets, and sent to Syria and Lebanon, and possibly to Iran.
The investigation is on-going as to the extent of the operation and the materials moved.
Reform Party of Syria
Syria Worst in Freedom of the Press
Washington DC, October 27, 2004 /RPS News/ - Reporters without Frontiers (RWF), an association to defend the freedom of the press, issued its annual report for 2004 in which it cites amongst the worst countries in the Middle East are Syria (155th), Iran (158th), and Saudi Arabia (159th) from 167 total surveyed countries.
In Syria, reporters have no freedom to independently verify or write about the government or any of the looming social, economic, or geo-political issues. Journalists who step beyond the government induced propaganda are either exiled or in some cases imprisoned.
According to the report published on RWF web site "In Syria, the information ministers have been changed, but the vice-like grip on the media has not loosened. The only kind of news report that is permitted is the ruling Baath party's propaganda. Journalists who refuse to censor themselves are quickly forced into exile"
The report comes as no surprise to many journalists who cover Syria on a constant basis.
In Lebanon, the report says: "On the other hand, despite a few cases of intimidation, Lebanon (87th) has recovered its position as the leading Arab country as regards respect for press freedoms". This is mainly due to a Lebanese community who steadfastly has refused to abide by the same rules governing the media inside Syria.
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