RefBan

Referral Banners

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Cheat Sheet - Syrian Soldier: I Was Tortured for Refusing to Shoot Civilians

Today: Obama Arrives in Russia , Announcing The Daily Beast's Second Annual Hero Summit , Syrian Rebels Use Brutal Tactics
Cheat Sheet: Morning

September 05, 2013
COURAGE UNDER FIRE

Imprisoned for refusing to shoot civilian protesters, 'Heen,' a Syrian soldier in Assad's army, was tortured for months—before his escape to Iraq, he tells Andrew Slater in the second part of a riveting interview. Plus, Mike Giglio on the surge of defectors fleeing the Syrian Army.

Welcome

Tensions were high as President Obama landed in Russia Thursday for the G20 summit amid controversy over the impending U.S. intervention in Syria and Russia's anti-gay laws. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry a liar, saying he watched a congressional debate where Kerry denied al Qaeda was operating in Syria with the opposition groups. "This was very unpleasant and surprising for me. We talk to them [the Americans] and we assume they are decent people, but he is lying and he knows that he is lying," Putin said. French President François Hollande is also hoping to convince Putin to participate in a military intervention in Syria.

Coming Soon!

For the second year, The Daily Beast is convening the Hero Summit: An Exploration of Courage, Character & Our National Security. The October 10 Washington, D.C., event—which will be live-streamed online—is an influential gathering of some of the brightest and bravest individuals from America and abroad. Speakers include Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno, retired U.S. Marine Corps four-star General John Allen, former CIA director General Michael Hayden, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, New York Times Columnist David Brooks, author and former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, Lone Survivor writer/director Peter Berg, and two of the film's stars, Taylor Kitsch and Ben Foster. Follow the Hero Summit to see what else is on tap for the event.

Allies?

As the U.S. debates whether to intervene on behalf of the rebels fighting against Bashar al-Assad in Syria, evidence continues to mount that the resistance has adopted many of Assad's brutal tactics. A new video leaked by a disaffected rebel shows his comrades performing a ritual execution of captured Syrian soldiers, teasing them before killing them with point-blank gunfire to the head. Across Syria, guerrilla fighter groups and criminal gangs have joined the rough rebel coalition. Secretary of State John Kerry has downplayed the role of Islamic extremists and other "bad guys" in the opposition, but U.S. representatives say their briefings on the war showed the opposition's dark side more clearly.

please, mr. president?

Whaddya say, Obama? Chelsea née Bradley Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison last month for leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, is asking for a presidential pardon. "I urge you to consider this matter closely and to take a positive step towards protecting whistleblowers who release information to the media for the public good by either reducing Private Manning's sentence to time served, or by granting him a full pardon," Manning's attorney wrote in the request, which was filed on Tuesday, according to a statement on the website "Pardon Private Manning." The White House previously said a pardon request would be considered "like any other application."


Warning
U.N. to U.K.: Stop Harassing the Press
Demand info on detention of Greenwald's partner.
Strike
Walmart Workers Plan Walkout
To protest illegal firings, other abuses.
CONTEXT
Weiner Fight Started by Racist Comment
Anti-Arab remark about Huma.
Cool
Bat, Dolphins Share Genetic Evolution
Went through similar changes to develop echolocation.
no doubt queen
Gwen Stefani Reportedly Pregnant
With baby number three.

From Our Partners
Sign Up and Share

Invite Friends Sign Up
GET The Cheat Sheet
A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors.


GET Culture Beast
Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast.



BeastTV
play

NSFW: We'll Never Let Go, Jack!

With rumors flying that Jack Nicholson will be retiring from his career of almost 60 years, we got a little nostalgic for some of his best moments. There's a lot of innuendo, even more cursing, a whole lot of yelling, and we appreciate every bit of it.



More from The Daily Beast

Mega Fall Books Preview
by Lucas Wittmann , Jimmy So
Liz Cheney Train Wreck
by Michelle Cottle
This Interview Has Everything
by Kevin Fallon


Around the Web

Facebook Twitter
Visit The Daily Beast


If you are on a mobile device or cannot view the images in this message, click here to view this email in your Web browser.

To ensure delivery of these emails, please add thedailybeast@e2.thedailybeast.com to your address book.

If you have changed your mind and no longer wish to receive these emails, or think you have received this message in error,
you can safely unsubscribe here.

No comments: