Some voices in the Syrian opposition have angrily rejected estimates by Kofi Annan, the UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, that international use of force against the Assad regime would worsen the situation and escalate the conflict.
One opposition leader, Burhan Ghalioun, told the Associated Press, “These kind of comments are disappointing and do not give a lot of hope for people in Syria being massacred every day.” He added that he hoped Mr. Annan has “a mechanism for ending the violence. My fear is that, like other international envoys before him, the aim is to waste a month or two of pointless mediation efforts.”
Annan, recently confirmed as a special envoy to Syria, said on Thursday, “I hope that no one is thinking very seriously of using force in this situation. I believe any further militarisation would make the situation worse. Ultimately the solution lies in a political settlement.”
This statement came just as the Obama administration retreated from its initial refusal to stay out of the conflict in Syria by agreeing this week to provide direct humanitarian and communications assistance to the Syrian opposition, increasing the potential for eventual military assistance as well.
But as Annan seemed to recognize, further militarizing the conflict in Syria could be to the detriment of Syrian civilians. The Syrian opposition is not cohesive, so getting aid to the intended people is nearly impossible. The opposition contains elements of extremists and perhaps al-Qaeda, which may indirectly end up aiding. Both sides have committed crimes and, as was seen in Libya, supporting an armed insurrection empowers disreputable fighting groups while marginalizing prospects for political peace.
Furthermore, intervention carries a high probability that the violence will consequently escalate, spread across the region, and embroil the United States in another deadly, protracted war in the Middle East. All of this is aside from the fact that the Obama administration has no authority to pick sides in a civil conflict which poses no threat to the United States. It is also likely that ulterior motives are at play: Washington wants to end the Assad regime and possibly replace it with a more obedient tyranny that will no longer align itself with Iran, the number one target among imperialists and foreign policy elites.
Elements of the Syrian opposition have been vying for an international military intervention on their behalf, so the response to Annan’s call for peace is unsurprising.
how dare Annan propose peace talks, we've got a regime change going on here!!!1!
How would you feel to have a dictator rule over you
Tell death do you apart?
Don't kid yourself. This opposition will most likely become the next dictator. Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan shows that military intervention doesn't bring freedom. Just new tyrants.
Off course they don't want to talk, they never wanted to talk to begin with, they been told by the Saudis and UEA and rest of the modernized militarism regimes from US to EU, shut a hell up. If there is any talking needs to be done is going to be us who would do the talking, not you. If there is any democracy even if its primary steeps are set by Syrian people, it is we (US – NATO) decision to talk about it not you.
These people are not only a puppet, they are delusional believing in their fantasy that one day people of Syria will give up their freedom for these bandits and feudalist, then they are dreaming, no matter what McCain or any other senators says they are dreaming.
Next thing you know we'll hear tales of babies being pulled off life support in their incubators a-la Kuwait. It wouldn't surprise me anymore seeing as just about every other cliched excuse in the book has been used lately.
And the sheeple will buy all of it – hook, line, and sinker. The Amerikan "people" have distinguished themselves by becoming the biggest laughing stock of morons in the history of humanity.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NC09Ak03…
Expecting The Susan Rice Viagra Express any moment now
And yet, like what Orwell said about the nationalist, is that our country has the amazing ability to not hear or comprehend when it does exactly the same thing. It is indeed a tragedy yet one they foment and fuel. My heart goes out to anyone losing a loved one because of the madness of others.
They already have tried that story again:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2098208/S…
What baffles me is the so called Arab League's stance particulary that from Qatar.
Some organization aligned with Israel is driving the Arab unrest from Qatar via the media. Could it possibly be that the Clintons billionaire backer Haim Saban one of Israels most zealous supporters did actually buy into Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera's editorial policy has completely changed these last few years and certainly was instrumental in Gadaffi's demise.
A good investigation topic for some enterprising journalist.
The Russians and Chinese have already proposed such negotiations.
But that will end the violence.
The US/Israel does not care about the violence. They want regime change. Period.
The entire "human rights" of the West is no more than a fig leaf and it should be treated that way.
p.s. At least the opposition is now called the opposition. NPR still calls them "activists." I would call them marksmen.
Or snipers. 😉