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MORAL DILEMMA? Obama & Cameron suggest “peaceful” transition in Syria instead of revolution
14-Mar-2012
David Cameron has said he wants to see peaceful transition of power in Syria, rather than revolution, ahead of talks with US President Barack Obama. ( See Related News)
INEWS - Obama Cameron present united front on Syria
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NOOSHEH JAN
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David Cameron and Barack Obama enjoy 'fast and furious' basketball game in Ohio:
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IN THE MEANTIME IN SYRIA
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Recommended Watching:
CNN's Arwa Damon reports on torture captured on video carried out allegedly by Syrian soldiers : Here
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EASIER SAID THAN DONE:
RISKS AND OPTIONS FOR A MILITARY INTERVENTION
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New tactics in Syria uprising suggest Al Queda Inflitration :
CNN's Nic Robertson reports on a suicide bombing in Syria that indicates a disturbing new trend in the unrest.
Analysis: Options for military intervention in Syria By Jonathan Marcus
Since the outset of the Syria crisis in March 2011 there has been little appetite for outside military intervention. This has been based on two assessments.
Firstly, that the situation on the ground in Syria is in many ways very different from that in Libya - the opposition is much more divided, the government's security forces are much stronger, and Syria's air defences are more effective.
Secondly, there has been a view that the implications of toppling President Bashar al-Assad could prompt a much wider wave of instability in the region.
Unlike Libya, Syria - both politically and geographically - is a central player in the Arab world, and sectarianism and instability there could threaten both Lebanon and Iraq.
Then, of course, there is the fundamental legal problem. Constrained by Russian and Chinese vetoes at the UN Security Council, there is no possibility of getting a resolution to authorise force.
That has not always mattered in the past. Nato troops went into Kosovo, after all, to halt systematic abuses by Serbian forces.
But the absence of legal authorisation certainly precludes action when there is little enthusiasm for it in the first place.
So what are we to make of calls from senior Republican politicians in the US, like Senator John McCain, urging air strikes against Syrian security forces?
Joshua Landis, director of the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, says: "Despite the growing chorus of politicians calling for US leadership in Syria, the Obama administration is adamant that Washington should not take the lead, but follow regional partners, Saudi Arabia and Turkey."
Mr Landis argues that the simple fact is that the Obama administration sees no strong reason to intervene.
"US officials are unanimous in arguing that the Assad regime is doomed and can only hang on for a limited time, with or without increased US support for the Syrian opposition. I think they are right in this analysis."
"This means that the US has no compelling national security interest in jumping into the Syrian civil war that is emerging. The regime's days are numbered."
Much of the debate on outside intervention is vague. It confuses and makes false distinctions between the different options and to a large extent glosses over many of the fundamental problems facing them all.
Assistance and relief
The main thrust of any external action would be essentially humanitarian in nature, a response to the growing plight of civilians in Syrian towns and cities who are under bombardment by government forces.
Efforts could also be made to bring assistance to displaced refugees who have moved towards Syria's frontiers with Turkey and Lebanon. Three related measures are being discussed.
Humanitarian corridors
Suggested first by the French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe last year, the idea would be to establish short corridors into Syrian territory through which humanitarian supplies could be delivered.
Safe zones
The establishment of safe areas within Syrian territory is an idea that has been broached by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu. Such safe havens would be in border areas, acting as a place of safety where refugees could gather, be fed and sheltered, and so on.
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Syria opposition divided in Cairo
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Jul 04, 2012 06:34 AM PDTSyrian opposition groups agree on a general plan for the way forward in the country at a meeting in Cairo that exposes their deep divisions.
At one point scuffles broke out when a Kurdish delegation walked out. Action Group for Syria agreementSyrian opposition groups have agreed on a general plan for the way forward in the country at a meeting in Cairo that exposed their deep divisions.
Delegates set out how a transitional period would work and what they would do if they managed to oust President Bashar al-Assad.But they failed to reach an agreement on forming a unified body to represent them in negotiations with world powers.
Assad 'regrets' downing of plane
by Darius Kadivar on Tue Jul 03, 2012 03:51 AM PDTAssad 'regrets' downing of plane (bbc)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regrets "100%" that a Turkish F-4 jet was shot down after entering Syrian airspace, he tells a Turkish newspaper.
Turkey scrambles 6 jets to Syria border
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jul 01, 2012 11:36 AM PDTTurkey scrambles jets to Syria border (bbc)
Turkey scrambles six fighters after Syrian helicopters fly near the border, the army says, further raising tensions after a Turkish jet was downed last month.
Kofi Annan warns talks of Syria risks
by Darius Kadivar on Sat Jun 30, 2012 07:37 AM PDTAnnan warns talks of Syria risks (bbc)
UN envoy Kofi Annan warns of an international crisis if talks on Syria fail, as Russia resists moves to sideline President Assad.
Key Geneva talks on Syria plan under way
by Darius Kadivar on Sat Jun 30, 2012 06:29 AM PDTKey talks on Syria plan under way (bbc)
An international conference aimed at salvaging a peace plan for Syria gets under way in Geneva, but differences between the US and Russia remain.
Turkey steps up Syria defences
by Darius Kadivar on Thu Jun 28, 2012 04:57 AM PDTTurkey steps up Syria defences (bbc)
Turkey deploys anti-aircraft guns along its border with Syria; meanwhile, explosions are reported outside court buildings in central Damascus.
Russia 'backs Annan's Syria plan'
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:43 PM PDTRussia 'backs Annan's Syria plan' (bbc)
Russia and other major powers say they will support UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's plan for a Syrian national unity cabinet, western diplomats say.
Meeting the threat: What options does Turkey have over Syria?
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Jun 27, 2012 02:52 AM PDTMeeting the threat (bbc)
What options does Turkey have over Syria?
Turkey's prime minister has told parliament that Syria is a "clear threat" to both its own people and to Turkey, days after a Turkish fighter jet was downed. But to what extent will Ankara's approach to its neighbour really change?
In today's Turkey the final word always belongs to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He stayed uncharacteristically silent in the days following the incident, but has now delivered a speech to his party in parliament, which will probably shape Turkish policy towards Syria from now on.Niall Ferguson: China Should Intervene in Syria Not America
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jun 24, 2012 04:23 PM PDTNiall Ferguson: China Should Intervene in Syria, Not Americ(Daily Beast)
The Arab Spring has plunged Syria into a bloody civil war. Now, with allegations flying that the Russians are supplying helicopters to the odious regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, a familiar debate is underway. Should we intervene?Turkey calls Nato meeting over Shot down warplane
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jun 24, 2012 04:43 AM PDTTurkey calls Nato meeting over warplane (bbc)
Turkey's government calls a meeting of Nato member states to discuss its response to the shooting down of one of its warplanes by Syria.
Turkish jet 'may have strayed'
by Darius Kadivar on Sat Jun 23, 2012 02:08 AM PDTTurkish jet 'may have strayed' (bbc)
Turkey's President, Abdullah Gul, says the Turkish fighter jet shot down by Syria's air defence forces on Friday may have violated Syrian airspace.
Annan: 'Time to raise pressure on Syria'
by Darius Kadivar on Fri Jun 22, 2012 01:43 PM PDTAnnan: 'Time to raise pressure on Syria' (bbc, VIDEO)
United Nations Arab League Special Envoy Kofi Annan has called on influential countries to raise the pressure on Syria to end the violence.
Speaking at news conference Mr Annan said he feared a point would be reached where the crisis in Syria would begin to spiral out if control.
Jonathan Head: Turkey watches as Syria's rebellion encroaches
by Darius Kadivar on Fri Jun 22, 2012 01:33 PM PDTSyria rebellion encroaches on Turkey (bbc) by Jonathan Head
You can hear gunfire cracking over the hills of Syria just across the border these days and, through binoculars, you can see soldiers stationed on the tops of buildings.
The Syrian civil war has moved very close to Turkey. Pro-Assad forces control all the big towns, many of the villages, and most of the roads in Idlib province, which borders Turkey.
Syria rebels accused of massacre
by Darius Kadivar on Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:04 AM PDTSyria rebels accused of massacre (bbc)
Twenty-five people have been killed and their bodies mutilated by "terrorists" in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo, state media report.
Obama and Putin seek Syria peace ... Really ? ...
by Darius Kadivar on Mon Jun 18, 2012 03:39 PM PDTObama and Putin seek Syria peace (bbc)
The US and Russian leaders call for an immediate end to violence in Syria, at their first meeting since Vladimir Putin became president again.
Russian warships 'ready to sail for Syria'
by Darius Kadivar on Mon Jun 18, 2012 08:39 AM PDTRussian ships 'ready for Syria' (bbc)
Two Russian navy ships and their crew of marines are ready to set sail to Syria if needed, according to an unconfirmed Russian media report.
France urges UN to enforce Syria plan
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Jun 13, 2012 07:46 AM PDTFrance urges UN to enforce Syria (bbc)
plan NEW
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says he will call on the UN Security Council to make mediator Kofi Annan's Syria peace plan obligatory.
'Angry crowds surrounded UN cars'
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Jun 13, 2012 03:12 AM PDT'Angry crowds surrounded UN cars' (bbc)
UN monitors were fired on and forced to turn back as they attempted to reach Haffa in northern Syria, a spokeswoman for the mission has said.
Sausan Ghosheh said stone-throwing crowds stopped the teams from reaching the town and that three cars were fired on as they left.
The UN has warned of an alarming escalation in violence in Haffa.
The fighting comes as the Syrian government stands accused of being behind two massacres in the past month.
Danahar: No easy way out
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Jun 13, 2012 03:11 AM PDTThe BBC's Middle East bureau editor Paul Danahar recently visited Syria, where he saw a population living in a state of fear and suspicion. Here he explains the dimensions to the conflict and why a solution is proving elusive.
Syria in civil war, says UN official Herve Ladsous
by Darius Kadivar on Tue Jun 12, 2012 03:25 PM PDTSyria in civil war - UN official (bbc)
Syria is now in a state of civil war and the government has lost control of "large chunks" of cities, the UN's head of peacekeeping has told reporters.
It is the first time a UN official has formally voiced that view.
His comments came as UN monitors in Syria were fired on as they tried to reach the besieged town of Haffa.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused Russia of supplying attack helicopters to the Syrian government.
Syria is in civil war, warns the UN's head of peacekeeping, as the US accuses Russia of supplying the Syrian government with attack helicopters.
UN monitors 'fired on' in Syria
by Darius Kadivar on Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:22 AM PDTUN monitors 'fired on' in Syria (bbc)
UN monitors in Syria say they have been fired on and driven back by a stone-throwing crowd as they try to reach the besieged town of Haffa.
Satellite evidence reveal Syria suffering
by Darius Kadivar on Mon Jun 11, 2012 03:57 PM PDTSatellite evidence (bbc)
As the conflict in Syria worsens, a growing number of civilians there are being forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Can new head of Syrian opposition group bind disparate factions?
by Darius Kadivar on Mon Jun 11, 2012 08:07 AM PDTCompromise candidate (bbc)
Can new head of Syrian opposition group bind disparate factions?
How much difference can a change of leader make to Syria's diverse opposition movement?
The Syrian National Council's former president, Burhan Ghalioun, faced almost constant criticism - that he took decisions without consulting the SNC's members, and that he was too easily swayed by the Muslim Brotherhood, the biggest and best organised group in the council.Syrian officials urged to defect
by Darius Kadivar on Mon Jun 11, 2012 08:06 AM PDTSyrian officials urged to defect (bbc)
The newly appointed head of the opposition Syrian National Council calls on officials in Damascus to defect, as violence across the country continues
Syrian National Council picks Kurdish activist as new leader
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Jun 10, 2012 07:25 AM PDTSyria opposition picks new leader (bbc)
Kurdish activist Abdelbaset Sayda, elected leader of the opposition Syrian National Council, promises reforms to the often divided organisation.
Struggle to save dying children in Syria
by Darius Kadivar on Sat Jun 09, 2012 04:23 AM PDTStruggle to save dying children in Syria (CNN, VIDEO) Robert King films the struggle to save Syrian children who have been wounded by intense fighting.
BAN: 'How many more times have we to condemn them?'
by Darius Kadivar on Fri Jun 08, 2012 01:58 PM PDTBan: Syrians are bleeding (bbc, VIDEO)
Ban Ki-moon has expressed his frustration at the continuing violence in Syria, blaming the government for failing to comply with envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan.
During a speech at the United Nations the secretary general spoke of his anger at the regime, asking "How many more times are we to condemn them, and how many ways must we say that we are outraged?"
Mr Ban told the news conference "The danger of a full-scale war is imminent and real".
"The Syrian people are bleeding. They are angry, they want peace and dignity, and above all they all want action", he added.
Ban Ki-moon was speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Annan and Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi.
Satellite images reveal suffering
by Darius Kadivar on Fri Jun 08, 2012 01:54 PM PDTSatellite images reveal suffering (bbc)
As the conflict in Syria worsens, a growing number of civilians there are being forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
LIVE BROADCAST: UN Security Council news conference
by Darius Kadivar on Thu Jun 07, 2012 02:54 PM PDTUN Security Council news conference (bbc LIVE BROADCAST)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Joint Special Envoy for Syria Kofi Annan are holding a news conference after a UN Security Council meeting.
Syria and the Rise of the
by vildemose on Thu Jun 07, 2012 09:26 AM PDTSyria and the Rise of the Death Squad
Posted on 06/07/2012 by Juan
The fresh Baath massacre of non-combatants, in Qubair on Wednesday, is being assiduously covered up by the government of dictator Bashar al-Assad, who is preventing UN observers from visiting the scene of the crime.
Observers trying to reach it have even been shot at.
Under the almost defunct Kofi Annan plan, the whole point of the observers was to ensure that a cease-fire between the Baath army and the Free Syrian Army held. But not only has it broken down on both sides, but the desperate regime in Damascus has ratcheted up its response to being challenged by its civilians, launching a new series of attacks involving mass casualties among non-combatants. When civilians are killed in the course of a military operation aimed at gunmen, they are collateral damage. But when they are systematically targeted, that is a crime against humanity. Obviously, the perpetrators don’t want UN eyes on the scene...."
//www.juancole.com/2012/06/syria-and-the-rise-of-the-death-squad.html
All Oppression Creates a State of War--Simone De Beauvoir