Splitting The UN
The Arab League has finally called in the United Nations Security Council to settle a rather vexing problem of an Arab dictator slaughtering his own. And they, despite their purported collective authority, have been unable to persuade President al-Assad of Syria to cease and desist. They're divided but united. Like the United Nations Security Council itself; united in their concern, divided by Russia and China holding back."Syria rejects the decisions taken which are outside an Arab working plan, and considers them an attack on its national sovereignty and a flagrant interference in internal affairs", huffed a Syrian official for television broadcast. Explaining succinctly enough why the Arab League peace plan cut no ice with the Syrian Alawite regime.
The Arab League had, a mere two days earlier, reached a grudging consensus to extend their observers' presence for another month. Despite the weight of the criticism that it has done absolutely nothing to halt the violence. And Sudanese General Mohammed Ahmed al-Dabi, the head of the observer mission is quick to assure that both the Syrian security forces and armed opposition groups are guilty of violence.
And lest any question the veracity of his observations and the positive impact of the observer mission in Syria, "...When the delegation arrived, there was clear and obvious violence. But after the delegation arrived, the violence started to lessen gradually." That's his rosy take on the situation, absolutely rejected by the Syrian opposition forces, of course, and questioned by the Arab League.
So much so that the Gulf Cooperation Council, comprised of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates have announced they are pulling their observers out of Syria. Leaving a rift between the Arab states about how best to manoeuvre President Assad toward stepping down and halting the bloodshed. And now, the Arab League has called upon the United Nations to step forward and mount an operation to relieve the situation.
Russia, in defence of its long-time alliance with Syria, has rejected any interference by NATO or the UN Security Council. It has sent an aircraft carrier to its base on the Mediterranean at Tartous, to demonstrate its solidarity with embattled Syria. And it has decided to sell to Syria for its airforce, Yak-130 warplanes capable of deploying air-to-air and air-to-surface missile arsenals.
Syria has used ground forces and armoured equipment in its ongoing battles with Syrian military defectors and rebel cities with their revolting demonstrators up until now. It has not used aircraft in attacking the defences of the protesters. Russia is offering Syria the opportunity to bring these neat little deadly aircraft into the picture. Where previously there would have been no need nor reason for a NATO-imposed air embargo, this move introduces another dimension.
On the other hand, with the Arab League having determined that they could no longer anticipate any kind of authority over President al-Assad, having called in the United Nations to deal with the intransigent, dangerously implacable dictator, where does this leave Russia? Willing to poke its metal-clad finger in the unblinking eyes of the Arab League?
Labels: Arab League, Russia, Syria, United Nations
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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