Christmas In Liberated Aleppo | Zero Hedge
Description: After being liberated from jihadists, today's street scenes in Aleppo and throughout many major Syrian cities look pretty much like images straight out any other place on the globe where Christmas is celebrated.
Keywords: Zero Hedge,Zerohedge,Finance,Economics,Markets,Politics,Analysis,Saudi Arabia,Twitter
Date: 2017-12-25T00:00:00Z

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# Christmas In Liberated Aleppo

by Tyler Durden
Dec 25, 2017 7:57 AM
0
SHARES

It's been just over one year since the liberation of Aleppo from radical Islamist insurgent groups which were backed by the West as well as Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. And this Christmas has witnessed huge public celebrations, tree lightings, concerts, and dances in a city which only a short while ago was associated with death, mortars, airstrikes, assassinations, and suicide bombings.

Though occasional mortar fire and explosions still enter the city environs, Christmas 2017 has been marked by carefree exuberance and and a sense of relief as the city rebuilds, and as some 600,000 displaced residents return to reclaim properties and possessions, ready to resume their normal lives again.

Christmas tree in Aziziya square on the first anniversary of Aleppo's liberation, via Syrian social media.

But one wonders: should the al-Qaeda linked fighters who once occupied the eastern part of Aleppo have been victorious and imposed their 'revolution' on the whole of the city... would Aleppines be celebrating Christmas this year? The answer to this question is of course an obvious no.

> Merry Christmas ???? to all of you ????
> Pics from #Aleppo ???? pic.twitter.com/58ZQhGpqp6

> — Majd Fahd ???????? (@Syria_Protector) December 24, 2017

Looking back to the time of the most intense phase of fighting in Aleppo as it unfolded in 2016, veteran journalist Stephen Kinzer took to the editorial pages of the Boston Globe to remind Americans that the media had created a fantasy land concerning Syria. Kinzer painted a picture quite opposite the common perception:

Coverage of the Syrian war will be remembered as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the American press... For three years, violent militants have run Aleppo. Their rule began with a wave of repression. They posted notices warning residents: “Don’t send your children to school. If you do, we will get the backpack and you will get the coffin.” Then they destroyed factories, hoping that unemployed workers would have no recourse other than to become fighters. They trucked looted machinery to Turkey and sold it...

The United States has the power to decree the death of nations. It can do so with popular support because many Americans — and many journalists — are content with the official story.

Now, during the first full Christmas season of relative peace and calm, Aleppo residents are showing the world that they've rejected a future of Saudi-style Wahhabi Islamist rebel rule imposed from outside, instead proudly displaying their pluralistic culture and toleration through mass public Christmas displays in the heart of the Middle East.

Aleppo has for many centuries going back through the middle ages been home to one of the largest Christian populations in the Middle East - a religious demographic which was under direct threat from the armed opposition groups which attacked the city starting in July of 2012. Beyond the Christian community, Syrians of all backgrounds have also traditionally participated in public festivities connected with Christmas - something long encouraged by the ruling secular nationalist Baathist government.

Indeed, Syrian urban centers have for decades been marked by a quasi-secular culture and public life of pluralist co-existence. Aleppo itself was always a thriving merchant center where a typical street scene would involve women without head-coverings walking side by side with women wearing veils (hijab), cinemas and liquor stores, late night hookah smoke filled cafés, and large churches and mosques neighboring each other with various communities living in peaceful co-existence.

> Christmas in Aleppo!!! do you really think if Aleppo had fallen to the NATO backed jihadis, this would have been possible?????? #Syria #Christmas pic.twitter.com/DXvBn2tot0

> — Edward Dark (@edwardedark) December 24, 2017

And by many accounts, the once vibrant secular and pluralist Aleppo is now coming back to life - today's street scenes in Aleppo and throughout many major Syrian cities recently liberated from ISIS and the scourge of al-Qaeda insurgents look pretty much like scenes straight out any other place on the globe where Christmas is celebrated.

And like many places in the West, Syrians just want to be left alone to celebrate Christmas without jihadists or foreign nations occupying territory within their borders.

Below are images and video clips of Christmas displays and parties throughout other cities and villages in Syria. Merry Christmas from liberated Syria!...

> Christmas in Homs. The city has one of the largest Christian communities in Syria. The war has destroyed large parts of the city, but despite the destruction people haven't lost their Christmas spirit. pic.twitter.com/8Do6WsaxJI

> — Brenda Stoter Boscolo (@BrendaStoter) December 23, 2017

> Children in Mhardeh celebrate Christmas. Mhardeh is the largest Christian city in Syria and hosts a very large population of displaced Syrians from all religions. pic.twitter.com/G9o8wdThDY

> — Leith Abou Fadel (@leithfadel) December 24, 2017

> Christmas in #Damascus. #Syria pic.twitter.com/J3VqzLKNqB

> — vanessa beeley (@VanessaBeeley) December 22, 2017

> #MerryChristmas from #Tartus #Syria pic.twitter.com/5KiqXsssBE

> — maytham (@maytham956) December 19, 2017

> ??? ??? #???_???? #?????_???? #????? #????_????? #MerryChristmas pic.twitter.com/0QrBCJDsXc

> — ???????? ??????? (@TheSyrianTweet) December 19, 2017

> The Lighting of #Christmas_Tree in #Blat village - #Wadi Alnasara. #Syria comes alive with Christmas lights & love everywhere that international terrorism has been defeated. No trees in #Idlib that UK FCO calls "Free Syria". #Proud_To_Be_British? Happy Christmas everyone! pic.twitter.com/S1QJJlQb6g

> — vanessa beeley (@VanessaBeeley) December 22, 2017

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Twatter Dec 25, 2017 8:01 AM

Brings a new meaning to Merry Christmas.

Mementoil Twatter Dec 25, 2017 8:09 AM

It's true that religious minorities fare better under the rule of Assad (who is himself an Alawite, a sect which is considered as apostates in the eyes of the Sunni Muslims). However, one must not be fooled to believe that Assad is some benevolent democratic ruler. He is a dictator, and his family has ruthlessly imposed its reign in Syria for decades and decades.

cookies anyone Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:15 AM

oh yes, we should let the nice ISIS and other west created atrocities to rule over syria, because he is a dictator and shit. and yes all the people are better off with asad, but lets not forget grmbrhmrgh dictator, barrle bombs, nerve gas, gmrghmbrgh

Mementoil cookies anyone Dec 25, 2017 8:18 AM

I didn't say that ISIS is a better alternative.
But here is a suggestion - why don't we have a REAL democratic elections (you know, the kind in which people who do not vote for Assad are not taken to jail...), and see who the Syrian people want to have as their leader?

squid Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:20 AM

You mean like the kind they had in crimes to rejoin Russia?

Why not? Let's have them!!

Assad would win hands down.

Squid

BennyBoy squid Dec 25, 2017 8:24 AM

"Aleppo residents are showing the world that they've rejected a future of Saudi-style Wahhabi Islamist rebel rule imposed from outside"

Aleppo residents are showing the world that they've rejected a future of Saudi-style Wahhabi Islamist rebel rule imposed from the USA.

Fixed their misspelling.

strannick BennyBoy Dec 25, 2017 8:33 AM

God bless Putin

cookies anyone Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:22 AM

How about we let Syrian people do what the fuck they want? And start looking into your own country, put your finger onto your head and ask yourself: do I really live in democracy or am I a gullible serf?

BlindMonkey Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:27 AM

Show me a country in the middle east that can rule with a gentle hand. Oh? You can't think of one either. How shocking.

Beowulf55 Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:32 AM

Wow, "REAL democratic elections"..........just like in Alabama....

strannick Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:37 AM

Why dont you hand deliver your suggestion to MBS in Riyahd?

Why dont you had out pamphlets for some democracy thwarting "charity"? of Soros? Or is that what your doing here?

ISEEIT Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:16 AM

VS. The 'demockracy' of we blessed souls in the West are so fortunate to enjoy eh?

Try again....

Merry Christmas!

squid Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:19 AM

Aaaand the difference between that and jewmerica is?

Squid

Laughing Sawfish Mementoil Dec 25, 2017 8:20 AM

You mean like the Clintons and the Bushs?

nmewn Twatter Dec 25, 2017 8:12 AM

Yes...and the US has cut 285 million out of the UN budget, its going to be a good year!

Merry Christmas ;-)

curbjob nmewn Dec 25, 2017 8:26 AM

The UN should pack up and fuck off out of NYC taking those elevated real estate prices with them ...

perhaps trump tower could go sec 8 ?

Nightjar Dec 25, 2017 8:07 AM

liberated from the yankee supported occupiers, hail assad. deus vult

Son of Captain Nemo Dec 25, 2017 8:16 AM

Isn't it nice to have a "snapshot" of one clean and well lit corner with a Christmas Tree and flag covering the wounds of a city of rubble that will take decades to rebuild courtesy of "Yankee Jewdle" and the hundreds of thousands that have perished in that Country since the U.S. declared it's illegal war on in 5 years ago? -rinse and repeat for Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan... And I won't even bother to mention Eastern Europe post-Cold War starting with the "Balkans"!...

What truth this read and how bankrupt we've been morally, spiritually and of course financially (https://southfront.org/the-saker-when-sanity-fails-the-mindset-of-the-id...) FOR FAR... FAR... TOO LONG... It says it all!

Merry Christmas!

buzzsaw99 Dec 25, 2017 8:15 AM

you know it's a fucked up world when uncle sam starts bombing santa claus.

cherry picker buzzsaw99 Dec 25, 2017 8:18 AM

You got that right.

2banana Dec 25, 2017 8:17 AM

For unto the world a savior is born...

A. Boaty 2banana Dec 25, 2017 8:27 AM

And the government shall be upon his shoulders...

overmedicatedun... Dec 25, 2017 8:17 AM

they can thank PUTIN..and assad ...USA not so much..shame on us.

If trump is looking for someone to partner in ME beside BIBI..and SA, I hope he can work his magic with Assad. who has outlasted an assault by the western world.

2banana overmedicatedundersexed Dec 25, 2017 8:23 AM

Pretty amazing when you think about it.

KimAsa Dec 25, 2017 8:18 AM

Wishing all Armenians in Aleppo peace and happiness this Christmas season.

A. Boaty Dec 25, 2017 8:25 AM

"Though occasional mortar fire and explosions still enter the city environs..."

Merry Christmass, Alpeppo!

Sandmann Dec 25, 2017 8:26 AM

Not just Christians. Syria is run by Alawite Shia Muslims regarded as Apostates by Sunni hardliners. Alawites celebrate Christmas

Sandmann Dec 25, 2017 8:26 AM

Not just Christians. Syria is run by Alawite Shia Muslims regarded as Apostates by Sunni hardliners. Alawites celebrate Christmas

anonymike Dec 25, 2017 8:37 AM

The reason that large scale death and destruction happens in places like Aleppo is the existence of the state (central governments at any level beyond the most local level). Psychopaths and sociopaths seek leadership in these organizations to exert power over others. The larger the state, the more of these sick people there are to strive for control of these levers of power over others to abuse. The larger the state, the more death and destruction can be perpetrated by the most evil in a society.

That is the root cause of conflicts large enough to be called a war, by whatever definition, beyond a neighborhood feud. Therefore, the solution is to not allow any form of governance beyond the most local level. People can then control it and limit its actions to only securing the natural rights of ownership of person, property and freedom of voluntary interaction. Anything government does beyond securing these 3 rights, inherently violates them.

All that the state does was appropriated from voluntary associations to strengthen itself and weaken the society it predates upon. The process begins with little things when the state is small, and grows with the state and its evil. Looking back at history, there is NOTHING that the state is needed for.

The world can only begin to become a better place when states everywhere diminish significantly. Mankind will only be able to reach its maximum potential when there is no state all.

Fortunately, states ultimately self-destruct. Beyond a certain size, that is the only way to be rid of the state, in one form or another. So, we are left with helping expedite its demise. We can do this by starving it of funds and respect in any way possible. The more people there are who understand and participate in denying the beast these two things it needs to survive, the sooner we will be rid of it.

After the state collapses, it will immediately attempt continuation of government to restore itself. It will point to all the misery associated with its demise any say that this is what the world will be like without it. However, the massive human suffering will be because of the state's almost complete predation and its appropriation of all societies means of self-support. It is essential that people understand the state will have caused all the misery, and it will happen again to future generations if the state is allowed to return.

Join me this holiday season in spreading this message of hope for mankind to experience its fullest prosperity, which can only happen when we are all rid of the state.

Kina Dec 25, 2017 8:37 AM

Don't show Antifa Snowflakes this.....they will say its racist.

How dare a Muslim country allow CHRISTmas trees.... send Antifa and Snowflakes to Aleppo to protest.

And take Soros there too.

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12-25 8:37: Maybe they could graps it if (ILIKEMITTENS)
12-25 8:37: The reason that large scale (anonymike)
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