The sight of Syrians Mamoun Jandali (77) and his wife Lina (74), who were subjected to savage torture in their home in Homs, in a video posted by Syrian opposition websites and Arab and international television stations, was horrific in its brutality. They were beaten and tortured because, as they were told, they "didn't do a good job raising their son, Malek." Their son is a young musician who resides in the United States. His crime was that he composed a song about freedom in Syria. The frightening attack on his parents appeared on the world's television screens, along with the killing of Zeina Husni and her brother, Mohammed, a Syrian activist. Meanwhile, Syria's top diplomat, Walid Moallem, was giving a speech at the United Nations, where he told us that reforms were underway in Syria, and that armed gangs were trying to create pretexts for foreign intervention, to strike at the model of policy of which the Syrian people are proud. In other words, a model of horrific terrorizing of a great and brave people who were being discussed by the master of rigid rhetoric, Walid Moallem. In the age of the internet, satellite stations and the globalization of frightening images of the brutality of murder and oppression, can one imagine seeing Moallem claim that armed gangs that have no connection to the regime are targeting innocent people? What is this model that makes the head of Syrian diplomacy so proud? A model that involves killing, torture and the imprisonment of brave, innocent Syrians? It is painful to see the killing and torture continue in this way, on the part of a regime about which the entire Arab world is silent. The oppression and torture that are taking place in Syria are unacceptable and intolerable. There are tales and scenes of killing by the regime's gangs (the so-called Shabbiha), which are engaging in brutal acts. These acts are evoking feelings of profound hatred of a bloody model that has nothing to do with the pride and bravery of a people confronting such a violent attack from the authorities of their own country. Sanctions on this regime will not halt the torture or the crack-down. There is another country aiding the brutal oppression, which is Iran. This country, despite its economic problems, is sending some of its oil revenues to support the Syrian regime and its ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah. It is said that the safes of some banks in Lebanon contain the cash liquidity that has arrived from Iran, to support its Syrian ally, which is suffering from sanctions. Unfortunately for the Syrian people, the Syrian regime has many friends in Lebanon. The entire Lebanese government is at the disposal of the Syrian regime, and even the head of the Maronite church has become a defender of this regime, which is oppressing and killing its people. Several weeks ago, the Lebanese government decided to give a gift to the Iranian regime, Syria's ally, by deciding to lift visa restrictions on the entry of Iranians to Beirut airport, to facilitate their tasks in supporting the government and regime in Syria. The Arab League should wake up and take a tougher stance on the killing of innocents, and the liquidation of every opponent of the bloody model of power in Syria. The triangle of Syria, Iran and Hezbollah, with Iranian control over the Maliki government in Iraq, is spreading a model of repression throughout the region and boosting the influence of the allied Iranian regime in oppressing and torturing its people. There is no deterrent to this triangle except force and the will of peoples, since external powers are still hesitant about intervening. Russia is unconcerned with freedom and democracy, while the White House is not pressuring Moscow enough; the result satisfies Israel, which is itself satisfied with the Syrian regime. It is a duty today to direct a powerful call, to the entire world, for the protection of the innocent Syrian people.
