With the Arab League’s monitoring mission continuing in Syria, Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani took the unprecedented step of urging the Arab League to organize a military attack against Syria.
Syria, a founding member of the Arab League, has run afoul of the rest of the league with its crackdown against pro-democracy protesters. Syria first agreed to an Arab League plan to end the violence and negotiate broad reforms in early November, but it took several weeks before the deal even started to be implemented.
Of course Syria is far from the only Arab League member struggling with pro-democracy protests, and many of the other nations have managed to brutally crackdown on dissent without any serious reaction from the league. The league’s position on Syria rather reflects long-standing rivalries with the Saudi-led bloc of Gulf states and the hope among those nations that they can exploit Assad’s behavior to replace him with a more pro-Saudi (though not necessarily any more democratic) regime.
Still, Arab League officials insisted that there are no current plans to send troops “for the time being.”
But former Arab League chief Amr Moussa appeared to endorse the Qatari Emir’s call to arms, saying he believes the league should “begin to study this possibility and begin consultations on this issue.” Moussa’s position is far from disinterested, however, as he is planning to run for President in Egypt and would surely like to use Syria to improve his revolutionary bonafides in post-revolution Egypt.
British officials downplayed the prospect of a foreign invasion of Syria, saying they didn’t believe that the UN Security Council would approve it. Though this is almost certainly true (Russia is virtually guaranteed to veto any resolution that might be interpreted as supporting any international action in the wake of the Libya fiasco), the Russian government has expressed concerns that NATO member nations, notably Turkey, might launch a unilateral invasion without any UN permission.
These are the true tyrants in the middle east.., what Hillary Clinton is going to do about them must be the question put forward by the US and EU media…, these are the neo mafiosi in middle east.., what Hillary Clinton, Obama, kozi/Markel and rest of the EU militarism regimes are going to do about them.., these are the people demanding wars with another Arab nation while western governments and the oil companies stealing people wealth in Africa and in Middle east, yet they are asking to remain as the true tyrants and be protected by USA and EU militarism regimes and their own terrorist groups whom helps USA and EU achieving their goal.
That interview with the Emiri dictator is almost two months old as reported by <Moon of Alabam</a>
Sort of puts a different spin on the whole report – he spoke BEFORE the Arab league observers were even a microbe in someones brain.
And what a same it would be indeed,if the international community were to grow a spine and abide by its charter and defend Syria from a ruthless Baathism.
Antiwar.Com should be ashamed of themselves.
It's called "antiwar.com." If it advocated meddling in someone elses affairs through war, it would be called something else.
Still should be ashamed of themselves.
Ashamed of being antiwar?
Moon of Alabama has pointed out that the al Thani CBS interview was recorded in mid-November: http://www.moonofalabama.org/2012/01/qatar-emir-c…
I think the story is being played up only now, because a real US/NATO attack on Syria is now imminent. Therefore, legitimation is required for it now.
"Qatari Emir Pushes for Attack on Syria"
He must have been reading all the phony atrocity stories on antiwar.com…
Qatari should be read Saudi Arabian.
I would like to see with what fat gluttonous arab army the fake qatari king wants to attack syria with? the gulf arabs dont know how to wipe their own bottoms let alone fight a serious war
You're 100% right baz. After those ols Arab-Israeli wars the Ziojists admitted that Syrian were the best fighter among all Arabs. It's funny that Saudis didn't take part in any of those wars. I have heaed that Ibne Sauds are actually Jewish.
“…with its crackdown against pro-democracy protesters.”
Come on Mr Jason Ditz, be fair and speak the truth. Those armed gangs are not prodemocracy protestors. They are mercenary thugs paid by petrodollars of Saudi king and the fat Qatari Amir to create death and mayhem, hoping to change President Assad.
Qatar talks more than its size. If Assad arranges a couple of explosions in Qatar, then the fat Amir may shut up.