We need to stare this man’s loss & grief straight in the face to understand the enormity of Assad’s crimes at Khan Sheikhoun. Abdel Hameed Alyousef lost his 9-month-old twins Aya & Ahmed, who he’s holding here before burial, his wife, two brothers, nephews–altogether over 20 members of his family who were buried together in a mass grave.

Assadists, including Eva Bartlett, have the psychotic gaul to say this is a hoax: “If dead children are paraded in front of cameras, it does not show a chemical weapons attack. It is proof of murder, someone massacred these children & their families.” Beeley calls them “alleged attacks” & blithers on about fake news & the White Helmets. Tim Anderson said “bearded jihadis” kidnapped hundreds of Syrian children & murdered them. These propagandists are falling apart before our very eyes, coming up with competing “alternative facts” because even Syria & Russia can’t get their lies coordinated.

Leave the counter-revolutionary dirt-balls in the Hands Off Syria Coalition to scurry around like vermin looking for a story to whitewash Syrian war crimes. Our historic mission is to rebuild the international antiwar movement on a principled program demanding Syria, Russia, the US stop the bombing of civilians in Syria. US, Russia, & all foreign military operatives out of Syria.

We cannot bring back this man’s family nor allay his grief–nor make up for the epic failure to build international solidarity with the Syrian revolution against dictatorship. The only thing we can do is commit to rebuilding the antiwar movement so the Syrian people can finish off the Assad regime without impediment.

Our deepest condolences to Abdel Hameed Alyousef & to all who have paid such a horrific price for freedom.

(Photo by AP)