Shabiha, the Syrian Mafia

Discussion in 'Latest US & World News' started by Margot2, Jan 10, 2018.

  1. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Here's some background on the Syrian gang lords which are mostly Alawite and above the law. This is what the Israelis were complaining about in the 1990s when they called for regime change in Syria.

    Shabiha
    (North Levantine Arabic: شبيحة šabbīḥa, pronounced [ʃabˈbiːħa]; also romanized Shabeeha or Shabbiha ; loosely translated "spirits", "ghosts", "shadows", or "apparitions") were mostly Alawite groups of armed militiain support of the Ba'ath Party government of Syria, led by the Al-Assad family.

    However, in the Aleppo Governorate, Shabiha was composed entirely from the local pro-Assad Sunni tribes such as al-Berri, al-Baggara, al-Hasasne and al-Zeido. In the city of Aleppo itself it was led by a powerful Sunni Arab al-Berri tribe.

    The Syrian opposition stated that the shabiha are a tool of the government for cracking down on dissent.] Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has stated that some of the shabiha are mercenaries.

    According to Shabiha privately interviewed by The Star in 2012, the Shabiha were established in the 1980s by Namir al-Assad, President Hafez al-Assad's cousin, and Rifaat al-Assad, the former president's brother.

    They were originally concentrated in the Mediterranean region of Syria around Latakia, Banias and Tartous, where they allegedly benefited from smuggling through the ports in the area.

    The shabiha, who were named for the Arabic word for ghost or for the Mercedes S600 that was popular for its smuggling sized trunk and was called the Shabah, were known by the Alawites in Syria as Alawi ganglords.

    During the late 1980s and early 1990s, they smuggled food, cigarettes and commodities, subsidized by the government, from Syria into Lebanon and sold them for a massive profit, while luxury cars, guns and drugs were smuggled in reverse from Lebanon up the Bekaa Valley and into Syria's state controlled economy.[9]

    The shabiha guards, who each had loyalty to different members of the extended Assad family, were untouchable and operated with impunity from the local authorities.[9] They gained notoriety in the 1990s for the brutal way they enforced their protection rackets in Latakia and were noted for their cruelty and blind devotion to their leaders.

    By the mid-1990s, they had gotten out of hand, and President Hafez Assad had his son Basil Assad clamp down on them, which he did successfully.

    In 2000, when Bashar Assad came to power, they were apparently disbanded, but following the uprising that began in March 2011, the shabiha gangs, which evolved into the shabiha militias, were again approved by Assad's government.

    continued

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabiha


    The Shabiha: Inside Assad's death squads - Telegraph

    www.telegraph.co.uk › News › World News › Middle East › Syria
    Jun 2, 2012 - Initially the Shabiha were a mafia clan, making money through racketeering. Selma, theAlawite with Shabiha family, said her cousins were "filthy rich" through smuggling in diesel, milk and electronics. "Anything to Lebanon that is cheaper in Syria, and whatever is needed in Syria from Lebanon," she said.


    Syria: Shabiha Militia Member Tells It Like It Is | PBS NewsHour

    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/world-jan-june12-syria_06-15
    Jun 15, 2012 - As a member of the mafia militia who grew up smuggling commodities, appliances, drugs and guns between Syria and Lebanon at the behest of ... Syria experts say members of the shabiha would be carefully selected for their physical strength, lack of education and blind loyalty to the Alawite sect and the ...
     
    Merwen likes this.
  2. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    In March 2011, activists reported that Shabiha drove through Latakia in cars armed with machine guns firing at protesters, and then later of taking up sniper position on rooftops and killing up to 21 people. It was reported by local activists that on 18 and 19 April that the shabiha and security forces killed 21 protesters in Homs.

    In May, Foreign Affairs reported that the shabiba joined the Fourth Division and attacked civilians in the cities of Banias, Jableh, and Latakia."

    A month later in June, witnesses and refugees from the northwestern region said that the shabiha have reemerged during the uprising and were being used by the Syrian government to carry out "a scorched earth campaign […] burning crops, ransacking houses and shooting randomly."

    The Washington Post reported a case in which four sisters were raped by shabiha members.

    They are described to wear civilian clothes, trainers and white running shoes and often are taking steroids. A physician explained that "many of the men were recruited from bodybuilding clubs and encouraged to take steroids. They are treated like animals, and manipulated by their bosses to carry out these murders"

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabiha
     
  3. scarlet witch

    scarlet witch Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2016
    Messages:
    11,951
    Likes Received:
    7,714
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Female
    Dictators and the Mafia goes hand in hand, Assad, Putin, Kim Jong Un...is this becoming the age of the Mafia state...

    Ironically that's also where Iran is heading with it's Hezbollah proxy and Quds Force involved in criminal activities

    :roflol: now that I think about it Donald Trump has strong ties with organised crime ..
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
  4. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Good point.. and evidently they are a ruthless bunch..

    Meet Captagon, the nightmare drug fuelling Syria's civil war - Home ...

    www.cbc.ca/.../meet-captagon-the-nightmare-drug-fuelling-syria-s-civil-war-1.4139601
    Jun 2, 2017 - Captagon is an amphetamine widely used by fighters in the Syrian civil war for its ability to make people alert, fearless and ready to kill with abandon.
     
    scarlet witch likes this.
  5. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Here's an except from the Captagon link.

    "The evidence was relatively clear that, at one point or another, someone from all sides has been involved in the use of Captagon and amphetamines."

    Kravitz's research concludes fighters from the Free Syrian Army to ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra all appear to have taken amphetamines.

    "It has been used by people on all sides of the conflict throughout the entire country."
     
  6. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Houla Massacre.

    excerpt:

    The village of Taldou, near the town of Houla in Syria's Homs province was the scene of one of the worst massacres in the country's 14-month-long uprising on Friday.

    United Nations observers on the ground have confirmed that at least 108 people were killed, including 49 children and 34 women. Some were killed by shell fire, but the majority appear to have been shot.

    Diplomatic sources in Damascus have told the BBC that most of the deaths were caused by rooms being sprayed with bullets rather than point-blank executions to the head, as earlier reports suggested. The sources also say no throats were cut as opposition activists have asserted, although one victim's eye was gouged out.

    But at whose hands they died remains a matter of contention. Activists, eyewitnesses and human rights groups - including the UN's high commissioner for human rights - point the finger at the Syrian army and the shabiha, a militia dominated by members of President Bashar al-Assad's heterodox Alawite sect.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-18233934
     
  7. E.VonDonagin

    E.VonDonagin Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    Messages:
    240
    Likes Received:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    28
    I'm not sure so-called "middle eastern mafia" was the central motivation of Israel's insatiable desire for the demise of the Syrian government.
    The term mafia can go from the Italians to the Russians. (although its cultural meaning is attenuated in this transmission)
    The term mafia cannot be applied to any Islamic entity and yet be meaningful in any way.
     
    AltLightPride likes this.
  8. Woogs

    Woogs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2011
    Messages:
    8,382
    Likes Received:
    2,556
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I first heard of this drug when the Saudi prince was caught with 2 tons of it in Lebanon.
     
  9. One Mind

    One Mind Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2014
    Messages:
    20,296
    Likes Received:
    7,744
    Trophy Points:
    113
    We have our own mafia kinda organization. CIA. They smuggled drugs into america to sell in our inner cities fueling the crack epidemic years ago, in order to finance operations congress would not finance. Operating outside of our constitution, with a complicit congress is about as mafia as you can get. I know people live in denial of it, for some reason. But why? Can't handle the truth? I suppose so. We have this good guy fantasy about our gov't and do not want to accept the reality of what it is.

    I only bring it up because of the concern for other mafias. I find it just a bit weird.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
    sharik likes this.
  10. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Its mostly the Assad family. Did you read the articles? I suppose you could call them ganglords instead.
     
  11. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    You really hate the US, don't you? Why is that?
     
  12. E.VonDonagin

    E.VonDonagin Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    Messages:
    240
    Likes Received:
    98
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Ya, just read the articles. (reacted to the header "Syrian Mafia")
    I can say that's information I was unaware of. Informative post.
     
    Margot2 likes this.
  13. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Raafic Assad was the godfather of drug smuggling to the tune of $6 billion a year.
     
    E.VonDonagin likes this.
  14. One Mind

    One Mind Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2014
    Messages:
    20,296
    Likes Received:
    7,744
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Not at all. I love my country. I just am sick and tired of what our gov't has become. It no longer represents the People as evidence by Princeton. A fact. Our CIA has operated outside of our constitution. Unacceptable. We meddle in the affairs of other nations, killing people in great numbers from sanctions and war. I just acknowledge reality, and being raised with a christian morality and conscience, I have to see it for what it is. And it ain't purty. I think you are far too naive to be as old as you are.

    I want america to be a moral force in this world, an example of high culture, honesty, integrity, and peace makers. Not war mongers. And that is not asking too much for it was the intent of our Founders that we follow such a path.
     
  15. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    So your sense of righteousness is what makes you accuse the US of initiating and controlling the Arab Spring.
     
  16. One Mind

    One Mind Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2014
    Messages:
    20,296
    Likes Received:
    7,744
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Not at all, my accusations are simply based upon facts and reality. That you ignore it, or do not see it is the problem. Your view of reality seems to be intentionally scrubbed clean of the dirt, the wrongness, the immorality and the idiocy, done in the name of the People.

    And FYI, I would not have been a good german in the 1930s either. My country, right or wrong? No ma'am.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
    Woogs likes this.
  17. scarlet witch

    scarlet witch Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2016
    Messages:
    11,951
    Likes Received:
    7,714
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Female
    pfft... I don't care what the CIA needs to do to stop organised crime and terrorism.. the gloves needed to come off yesterday. Considering who they are dealing with let them do their worst. I am pretty fed up with the drugs and rubbish organised crime send our way.

    I'm also not going to give you the "outrage" of "how can you say that!" because I'm pretty sure you're not a US citizen...
     
    Margot2 likes this.
  18. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Its childish magical thinking that the US can control the Arab Spring.. and if you knew anything about Libya or Syria, you wouldn't not make such ridiculous assumptions.
     
    scarlet witch likes this.
  19. Moi621

    Moi621 Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2013
    Messages:
    19,291
    Likes Received:
    7,606
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Is this like Margot2's,

    Free Alawite Army discredited on another thread?

    Or some new manure?

    :)
     
  20. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Why don't you read it? Assad's father also killed Alawites.
     
  21. One Mind

    One Mind Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2014
    Messages:
    20,296
    Likes Received:
    7,744
    Trophy Points:
    113
    When the CIA commits criminal acts how are they really different from the people they are fighting? They aren't. The actions of the CIA reflect upon our politicians who will allow such behavior as well as the CIA operating outside the constitution at times.

    I want the CIA to protect us from terrorism, but organized crime is not their or role. The FBI doesn't like the CIA in the way of them and organized crime. Their turf. Anyways the CIA is not supposed to be able to operate legally within the US. And the CIA began its life as intel and analysis, so another pearl harbor would not happen. They reported to the President. When it got an operations sector, indulging in military actions and other actions within other sovereign nations, this would inevitable get out of hand, and the common defense was no longer the sole reason for the CIA. They started taking down elected leaders in other nations. Many times based upon the economic interests of our elites who owned businesses in such places, like United Fruit. They used economic hit man, as layed out by an economic hit man, John Perkins. This is the reality of the CIA. I think it has turned into a most evil agency, given what it involves itself in, hidden from the american public, as they supposedly act in our names? We would not be happy if we found out how they have acted in our name, as well as what it involved, which was not national defense.

    Intel is essential. Covertly working to take down leaders we do not like but who are no threat to us, is not essential and is not something we should be indulging in. We should not do actions which make us an evil empire.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
  22. scarlet witch

    scarlet witch Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2016
    Messages:
    11,951
    Likes Received:
    7,714
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Female
    Well organised crime just have to become their forte as terrorism and organised crime merge. Not only that but we are facing multiple threats from states with their head of state closely tied to organised crime.

    You can take your most evil agency and shove it where the sun don't shine... I'm not buying into your propaganda.

    Not too long ago the Australian Navy seized 400 million in drugs in the Middle East... think it was the Arabian sea. This is what needs to be done and clearly they already know this and doing an outstanding job.

    Less bureaucracy and more action thank you.

    ps And another .....Australian navy frigate's $181m drug bust
    http://www.news.com.au/national/bre...t/news-story/c663ff1728c943b98ad5598c2fd7fb45
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
    Margot2 likes this.
  23. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    73,644
    Likes Received:
    13,766
    Trophy Points:
    113
    John Perkins was mostly a liar...... and conspiracy theorist.
     
  24. One Mind

    One Mind Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2014
    Messages:
    20,296
    Likes Received:
    7,744
    Trophy Points:
    113
    When facts become propaganda, and they are verifiable, then one of us is having a problem, and it isn't me. No logical way out of that. I have stated what is commonly known by those who have paid attention to our CIA, using sources like John Perkins who actually lived that life. Using gov't records, if they do not destroy them as they tried to destroy the plans for the operation where we would blow up a drone airliner and blame it on castro so we could invade and destroy him. They missed one copy and that is how we found out about something we were not supposed to know.

    So the problem is with your lack of knowledge about the CIA. It needs to be overhauled and cleaned out, so it serves only national defense. Instead of an offensive unit used for covert war mongering, with nations we have no business being involved with.
     
  25. Moi621

    Moi621 Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2013
    Messages:
    19,291
    Likes Received:
    7,606
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male

    Baathists killed anyone who opposed their national leadership.
    No surprise.
     

Share This Page