Syrian VP: Neither Side Can Win Militarily
Urges 'Historic Settlement' to End Civil War
In an interview today with a Lebanese newspaper, Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Sharaa said he believes neither rebels nor regime can win the ongoing civil war militarily, and says he believes a settlement is necessary.
Sharaa, the top ranking Sunni in the Alawite-dominated Syrian government, says that the virtual stalemate in the civil war necessitates an “historic settlement” that would include an end to fighting and a unity government.
Though some reports presented this as the regime giving up on the idea of winning the civil war, Sharaa has remained quiet for months at a time, and it isn’t clear if his comments reflect the sentiment of the rest of the Assad regime’s leadership.
Such a settlement would likely benefit Sharaa significantly, as he has often been presented by pro-rebel governments, including Turkey, as a possible interim successor within the regime who would be tolerable until the eventual elections for a new government. It isn’t clear how rebels will react to the statement, however, as many continue to insist their own military victory is inevitable.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- Russia Adds Troops, Ukraine Insists They Won't Give Up Crimea - March 8th, 2014
- US Sends Special Forces Troops to Jordan for Iraq Training - March 7th, 2014
- US Sends Destroyer to Black Sea Amid Crimea Tensions - March 7th, 2014
- Russia Warns Sanctions Could Backfire on US, EU - March 7th, 2014
- Conflicting Stories, But No Clashes at Ukraine Base in Crimea - March 7th, 2014
viewsfromafar
December 16th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Look. The opposition just made major attacks against the Syrian Republic and failed across the board over several weeks. they even tried hostages/kidnapping and ended up killing citizens. it's just a matter of time for it to break –again. Several oppositional leaders were recently killed off. Al-Nusra leader is dead.
What the Syrian Republic is doing is reaching across the table (again) from a position of power. They defeat the opposition, then come out and say, again, as they said in the summer after the beat back attacks…, "…no one can win militarily, let us come to a peaceful negotiation. …"
that's the clear message here. It's not that the Syrian Republic CANT continue, they can, it's that they are making an attempt at a strategic negotiation. Perhaps Obama will come to his senses and drop the bullish demand to topple Assad. He clearly can't even this far in the game…he is checkmated. has been for a year.
Ben_C
December 16th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Poor, poor Ditz and his simple mind…
I "found out" some 'interesting' things today:
1. The Vice President in the "Assad 'regime'" is, in fact, a "Sunni"…. Interesting…
2. Apperently the Sunni Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Sharaa can make statements such as: "The solution has to be Syrian, but through a historic settlement, which would include the main regional countries, and the members of the U.N. Security Council," without fear of reprisals…
Some "evil, brutal, Sectarian, Dictatorship"….
LOL!!!!!!!!
http://youtu.be/Pt13OAYXhPU
Marcy B
December 16th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
As Patrick Cockburn reported, the governmental forces are winning on the ground and has just secured major parts of the country and has temporarily left indefensible small outposts . Western propaganda outlets as well as NATO Kriegsfuherer, Anders Foggy Ratmussen jumps on just anything, desperate to prove the contrary but to no avail really. What al-Sharaa reflects is the sentiment on any friendly partner of Syria including Moscow, The Syrians can hold their country together and push back the NATO mercenaries but since the supply of al-Qaida "freedom fighters" from the monarchies in the Persian Gulf seems endless, nobody will "win". In the meantime, what the western regimes are sowing here will eventually jump back and bite them….
Ball
December 17th, 2012 at 12:01 am
What ‘sides’ are we talking about here? Saudi Arabia and Iran?
James Cole
December 17th, 2012 at 12:03 am
It is hard to really grasp what NATO is playing at here, other than to destroy Syria as a state. A broken and torn apart Syria benefits the USA's number one world concern, that is Israel. But as you just said, this will eventually jump back and bite them. Al-Qaeda will have a permanent base in Syria under a Syrian break up. Does the chosen nation of Israel really want the biggest Al-Qaeda base camp on earth right on their borders?
sherban
December 17th, 2012 at 2:19 am
look how the liberal Israeli paper Haaretz published the commentary:"Syrian VP admits:Assad's army can't win civil war".So,what VP said that Assad army can't win or neither army can't win?
mojo
December 17th, 2012 at 9:23 am
There is no any other way…, we said that from the beginning… " let's make Syria the other democracy" in Middle East…, that was in response to west implying that " Israel is the only democracy in the regions" .., although facts shown that is not the case, but "hypothetically" believing the nation and if west is after democracy then the political ground in Syria is prepared for such moment. Otherwise no matter if is Obama or Clinton or the Neo fascism in Europe they all talking nothing but gibberish about democracy…., stop the Islamization of the world.., Islam nor any other religious is about nor will be a democracy. Now having said that.., Syria is a Republic, so is Iranian or for that matter Russia and Etc. unlike U.S where the daily politics is based on who can steal more from Republic and who can lie more and who can implement more of the falsified democracy, or for that matter in Europe and the growth of Neo Fascism and Neo militarism regimes from Sweden to Spain and other part of continent.
davidgrayling
December 17th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Is this to be another U.S. disaster? Whatever the U.S. touches turns to dross.
I wish Russia or China would become the new world leader. Perhaps they might get something right for a change.
The U.S. has already killed 20-30 million people since WW2 as part of its plan for global domination. How many more people will it kill?