New Syria Resolution: Better but Still Flawed
New draft leaves wiggle room for Western intervention.
by Stephen Lendman
Its sponsors include America, Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Colombia, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, UAE, Oman, Lybia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Togo.
Notably, Russia and China aren't included. Nonetheless, Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said:
"We have the text which we shall send to our capital cities and will wait for the result." He added that doing so "does not predetermine its fate in any way."
More on its text below.
On February 3, Itar-Tass headlined, "UN Security Council agrees on Syria resolution," saying:
On February 2, tentative agreement was reached. Key Russia/China concerns were addressed. Some perhaps but not all. Resolution sponsors "urged all countries to launch an open political process headed by the Syrians in the atmosphere free of violence, fear, intimidation and extremism."
Earlier drafts were one-sided ultimatums. Though softer, the new version "still contains some veiled threat of sanctions" or worse if Syria fails to comply within 21 days. "In this case, the (SC) may consider some additional measures."
Therein lies one of several flaws. Saying passage is far from sure, The New York Times called the measure "wobbly," adding that SC members fully support the Arab League plan.
In fact, it's Observer Mission report acknowledged what Western media reports suppress. Mission head General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi said:
"The mission was witness to acts of violence against government forces and citizens leading to death and injury of many. A case in point was the attack against a civilian bus which killed eight persons and injured others, including women and children."
Heavily "armed opposition groups" are involved. In Homs and Daraa, for example, they used externally supplied "thermal bombs and anti-armor missiles."
"In Homs, Idlib and Hama, (observers) witnessed acts of violence being committed against Government forces and civilians that resulted in several deaths and injuries."Various incidents "include the bombing of buildings, trains carrying fuel, vehicles carrying diesel oil and explosions targeting the police, members of the media and fuel pipelines. Some of those attacks have been carried out by the Free Syrian Army and some by other armed opposition groups." However, naming them was unaddressed.
