In comments today in Damascus, one of the highest profile leaders of the anti-Assad movement in Syria Michel Kilo told the media that activists within the country are broadly opposed to the notion of foreign military intervention.
Kilo pointed to the “Syrian National Council” (SNC) opposition faction, which set up shop in neighboring Turkey and has been calling for a “no-fly zone,” saying such groups don’t represent the people inside Syria.
The concern with the SNC is that they seem to be trying to recreate the Libyan model, which involved convincing NATO to start a massive war and then claiming to be the legitimate government when the war was over.
Even the aims for a “no-fly zone” are telling of the goal of getting Western military assets involved, as Syria has not been using its Air Force in attacks on protests, but rather has been using ground artillery and tanks. The aim seems to be at cross-purposes with the protesters inside Syria, who are hoping for free elections, not simply a new regime.
Lets leave Syria alone.
Suits me fine. But if the revolt is crushed I don’t want any whining about how we “let it happen.”