Analysis: The UN Fails Syria

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By Marc Lynch

The veto cast by Russia and China on Saturday blocked action by the United Nations Security Council to back the Arab League’s initiative to stop the killing and facilitate a political transition in Syria. The vetos came despite a concerted effort by the resolution’s backers to meet the most significant objections, in particular their consistently repeated assurance that there would be no military intervention. It was not the “revenge of the BRICS” as some have suggested, since both India and South Africa backed the 13-2 majority (and Brazil would have done so had it still been on the Council). US Ambassador Susan Rice called the vetos “shameful.” I agree.

The failed UN resolution was not perfect, but for all the reasons I outlined last week it offered the best hope for mobilizing sustained international pressure on the Asad regime. It would have sent a powerful signal to Syrians on all sides of international consensus, held out at least some hope for a political path, and required observation of the mandated ceasefire and regular reporting to the Security Council. Many sympathetic with the Syrian opposition had blasted the resolution as worse than nothing since it did not authorize military intervention or, in its final version, explicitly call for Asad to step down. They were mistaken, as I think many now realize.

The veto will diminish the relevance of the United Nations and increase the odds that Syria will descend even further into a civil war fueled by a flood of weapons and aid to all parties. Before the vote, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton warned that “the endgame, in the absence of us acting together as the international community, is civil war.” She was right. The UN’s failure won’t end regional and international efforts to deal with the escalating brutality, but it will now force those efforts into other, less effective and less internationally legitimate channels. The already slim prospects for a “soft landing” in Syria, with a political transition deal ending the violence, are now closer to complete collapse.

I do not believe that we are heading for the direct American military intervention for which a vocal, if small, band of liberal hawks yearn, however. Nor should there be one. No advocate of American military intervention has yet offered any suggestions of how specific actions might actually produce the desired goals given the nature of the fighting. Air strikes and no-fly zones can not tip the balance in a civil war environment fought in densely populated urban areas where the U.S. lacks reliable human intelligence; recall that an air campaign took six months to succeed in Libya under much more favorable conditions. Safe area and humanitarian corridor proposals remain impractical. Advocates of military action should not be allowed to dodge the question of the likely escalation to ground forces — which virtually everyone agrees would be disastrous — after the alternatives fail. And there is zero political appetite for a military intervention: it is difficult to miss that every single speaker at the United Nations, including the Arab League and Qatar, explicitly ruled one out.

I expect calls to mount for the provision of weapons to the Free Syrian Army, or for that to simply happen without fanfare. But nobody should be fooled into thinking that this is a panacaea. Arming the weaker side in a fully-fledged, internationalized civil war is much more likely to produce a painful stalemate than a quick, decisive outcome. Asad’s allies will reciprocate with their own support. That support, along with a military which evidently remains loyal and willing to kill and intensifying sectarian dynamics which could keep fence-sitters with the regime, could keep a civil war going a long time. Syria would become a regional vortex, 1980s Lebanon on steroids: a protracted and violent civil war, fueled by arms shipments and covert, proxy interventions by all parties. Does anyone really think this is a good path?

Whatever the outcome of that battle on the ground, Syria under the Asad regime will never be rehabilitated in the region or the international community. In a statement shortly before the Council vote, President Obama declared: “The Syrian regime’s policy of maintaining power by terrorizing its people only indicates its inherent weakness and inevitable collapse. Assad has no right to lead Syria, and has lost all legitimacy with his people and the international community.” His strong statement, while more than justified, might have been better held until after the vote since it may have fueled suspicions about the objectives of the Arab League initiative. Indeed, Russia’s U.N. envoy Vitaly Churkin blamed the resolution’s backers for promoting a strategy aimed at “regime change” But if the goal of the veto was to keep the goals of international action limited, the result will be the opposite. The end of the UN option will now make the goal of regime change in Damascus more explicit.

It isn’t only the UN which will become less relevant. The Arab League is also about to become less effective, as the gavel moves from Doha to Baghdad at the end of March. It isn’t just that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is sympathetic to Asad, on the Shi’a side of a new Arab cold war, or deferential to Tehran. It’s that Iraqi politics are themselves an ongoing muddle, leaving little bandwidth for any kind of foreign policy activism. What’s more, Iraq remains something of a pariah in the Arab world, particularly in the Shi’a-phobic quarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain (which has already announced that it will boycott the Arab Summit scheduled for Baghdad at the end of March). Arab divisions will likely become more evident than Arab unity as the crisis escalates, as the GCC pushes its own agenda and the Arab League reverts to its traditional impotence.

Part of my personal frustration lies in the effect that this will have beyond Syria. The U.S. and its allies will continue to find other ways to try to deal with the Syrian crisis, even without the UN. But the failure of the UN to act, as Secretary General Ban Ki Moon suggested, harms the institution itself by revealing its inability to act in defense of the Charter’s promise. The next stages, whether military or not (and I expect not), will more resemble the Kosovo and Iraq campaigns which were launched without international legitimacy. This will significantly undermine the prospects that such actions will contribute to the positive development of international norms of atrocity prevention or the more controversial “responsibility to protect.” That is tragic for an administration which has prioritized the UN and, with the exception of its hopeless diplomacy on the Israeli-Palestinian file, has done well with it.

I will have a report coming out soon which lays out some positive policy proposals for how to build more effective international action without war after the UN failure. Stay tuned.

Marc Lynch is associate professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, where he is the director of the Institute for Middle East Studies and of the Project on Middle East Political Science. He is also a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

Foreign Policy

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  1. prophettt Avatar

    I agree that the veto cast by Russia and China has blocked the security council from taking action against the Syrian regime,and I also agree that  the veto might diminish the relevance of the United nation and that of the security council,bu tthe most important question is; How much relevance does the UN (and its security council) have after the sixty veto casts by the united states over the years ,in which those veto casts blocked any action against the Israelis and prevented the Palestinians from receiving  any fairness .
     Sixty some veto casts by the united states  didn’t diminish(in the writers opinion) the relevance the united nations,but One veto by the Russians and the Chinese did diminish the relevance of the UN????? What a joke .The entire establishment of the United nation has had no relevance for the past sixty years.Who are you kidding? This is an insult to people’s intelligence.Some objectivity might serve the writer of this article,and a different approach to the duel veto by Russia and China might serve the Syrian people much better ,and definitively with less hypocrisy. The UN has become a tool for the powerful countries to justify , and enhance their plans in the  name of humanitarian , democracy and freedom .

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Definitely have a point there on UN inabilities, Prophettt … look at Darfur or Somalia … although I think that blocking racist/hate measures against one little country is not quite the same thing as blocking measures against an outright medieval  mass-killing spree by a country against it’s own citizens.
      And don’t give me the tired old ‘Israel does the same thing’ when it retaliates against the ‘foreign’ attacks – even if it sometimes goes over the top in frustration because the ‘opposition’ never wants to make a deal that works.

      1. wargame1 Avatar

        I am not in favor of Nuke war or any other unjust war. The Arabs are repeatedly facing this war due to the oil and gas reserve and Israel kept invading land after land in Palestine. I am not in favor of wiping off Israel from the map either. All they have to do is stop those illegal settlement.Israel is waging war , then USA waging war against Iraq , Afghanistan , NATO and Iran in Libya , Syrian regime waging war against Syrian. So any resistance against this illegal war is legitimate. Some call it terrorism ! its resistance. 

        A nuke can destroy plant, animal , human and it is against the code of war in Islam.Few Muslim leaders covet the weapon but Muslims are forbidden to do any collateral damage, forbidden to kill civilians. I am sure some Muslims think its good to have nuke but I do like that Idea. The best way is to defend when we are attacked and the best way to fight is the Afghans way. Now afghan have IED, small arms and these arms naturally reduce the collateral damage and civilian killing. Thanks to Allah that they dont have the access to nuke. We can have a pre emtive thinking like ” if they have they would use it too” yes there is a possibility among those Iranian mullahs. Well in any case the Muslims do not posses the weapon and thats a good news for me.  

        We should study the mentality of those people who manufacture Nukes and dropped it on Japan. These are  pure psychopath killers. In Iraq ,Kosovo and Afghanistan a 400 000 equivalent of Nagasaki nuke were dropped according to US scientist dough Rokke.  It was dropped in a different way which is called depleted Uranium.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Well wargame … there must be a lot of non-muslim Muslims out there, because every little bomb on a motorcycle or wrapped around a delivery-body or in a turban or buried under a street causes collateral damage.
          Enhancing explosive force with depleted uranium is just as sadistic as the little bomblets designed to maim children and anti-personelle mines which blow off legs. In the history of ‘war’ humans have been ever-efficient in making it as gruesome as possible – especially for non-combatents. Women and children always suffer the most – and even losing a husband/father is collateral damage.
          But humans don’t seem capable yet of listening to 100 years of ‘dialogue’ – so they still do ‘war’.
          Get on the side of those who don’t want it any more. Maybe we’ll win in a thousand years.

        2. dabshaleem Avatar
          dabshaleem

          nuk is the answre to mossadies lik yu

      2. prophettt Avatar

        5th, I was not comparing the actions of the Syrian regime with anything because that was not the point I was making ,and we have no disagreement on the Syrian regime. I was simply discussing the  “over the top” and the hypocritical reaction of the author and the international community to the duel veto cast  by Russia and china.
        That being said, it is also fair to recognize and speak out against what the outside opposition,and the extremists who are being brought from Libya and other countries are doing as far as the killings,kidnappings,and mass murder they are committing.Fairness , objectivity ,and even handed are required when discussing critical situation. You can’t over simplify things to suit your own views.
        We need to distinguish between reality and propaganda.As for Israel, you seem to know how to draw  my reaction to the  the state that is a category in itself when it comes to racism and atrocities.I don’t know what “foreign ” attacks you are referring to, but what I know is that Israel has always been the aggressor whether against Palestinians and Lebanese. The existence of Israel(as a Jewish state on a land ” promised” by God) is a continuous aggression.
        Having been born within eyesight from the border,and having lived my early childhood,and teenage years there, I don’t need any convincing from the UN  or anyone else who the aggressor was.As for “going over the top” as you put it, Ethnic cleaning , mass murder,collective punishment,destruction of entire society , erasing entire towns and cities are not just “going over the top”,but rather well designed measures that goes beyond anything any other country ever committed.Israel is a country based on mid evil lies .

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Ah yes Prophettt … the promise of God. They argue over that too.
          Hannibal recently quoted the first two commandments – the only thing apparently written by God on stones conveniently broken by Moses in a typical human fit of rage, so not preserved for all mankind to see. Travesty on travesty of those two commandments. The tribal wars enhanced by science for you to ‘witness’ – the Greek word martur having taken new meanings as well.
          If I over-simplify it is only to save space … I have no desire to re-write all the histories of small and large battles between tribes. Yet if I felt like being religious I might quote those 2 commandments only.
          We can now watch with interest the NEW (and first) city being built on ‘palestinian land’ in the ‘West Bank’ by Palestinians with Palestinian money on a hill which is a figurative ‘stone’s throw’ from an Israeli city (settlement) on the next hill. Idiot Israelis are not making it easy for them to access the site, but they are doing it – with the permissions ‘in the hope’ which other Israelis have, that when it is finished, the two cities might listen to the commandments and not start throwing stones at each other’s hills. Even when some idiots will probably say ‘My hill is better than your hill.’ and want to start another battle in the valley between.
          I am sure by that time all of us can safely watch events from whichever side we choose through the ‘security cameras’ to witness which ideaology started it … before twits begin to twitter their own versions of it. 🙂

        2. “Israel, … the  the state that is a category in itself when it comes to racism and atrocities.”  Do you even believe what you write?  How long will Arabs think it is OK to live in lies because facts do not suit their narratives?  If Israel is in its own category as you say it is precisely because it is by far the LEAST racist, most inclusive, most tolerant, most moral and definitely LEAST violent state in the Middle East.  This is not propaganda, it is a fact verifiable in law and social realities on the ground.  Israel has Arab Justices, Ministers, Officers, Professors, celebrities etc etc and among the freest presses in the world.  Israeli-Palestinians have all the rights which even you in Lebanon do not.  Meanwhile, Palestinians can barely go to university in Lebanon.  Jordan has anti-Semitic laws and honor killing ones.  Syria, Egypt, Saudi, Iran, Iraq… Christians are being eliminated everywhere in this region EXCEPT Israel where they thrive.  do I really need to say more?   Get a grip. Arabs will only begin to exit their utter and embarrassing social decay when they start to learn from Israel instead of blaming it for their own deep pathologies.

      3. prophettt Avatar

        5th, I was not comparing the actions of the Syrian regime with anything because that was not the point I was making ,and we have no disagreement on the Syrian regime. I was simply discussing the  “over the top” and the hypocritical reaction of the author and the international community to the duel veto cast  by Russia and china.
        That being said, it is also fair to recognize and speak out against what the outside opposition,and the extremists who are being brought from Libya and other countries are doing as far as the killings,kidnappings,and mass murder they are committing.Fairness , objectivity ,and even handed are required when discussing critical situation. You can’t over simplify things to suit your own views.
        We need to distinguish between reality and propaganda.As for Israel, you seem to know how to draw  my reaction to the  the state that is a category in itself when it comes to racism and atrocities.I don’t know what “foreign ” attacks you are referring to, but what I know is that Israel has always been the aggressor whether against Palestinians and Lebanese. The existence of Israel(as a Jewish state on a land ” promised” by God) is a continuous aggression.
        Having been born within eyesight from the border,and having lived my early childhood,and teenage years there, I don’t need any convincing from the UN  or anyone else who the aggressor was.As for “going over the top” as you put it, Ethnic cleaning , mass murder,collective punishment,destruction of entire society , erasing entire towns and cities are not just “going over the top”,but rather well designed measures that goes beyond anything any other country ever committed.Israel is a country based on mid evil lies .

    2. Sebouh80 Avatar

      I think Marc Lynch could be one of those Neocon policy advocates. Also I totally agree with your viewpoint that the UN has become a tool for powerful nations to settle their accounts. Remember what Lenin had said during the days of league of nations that it is nothing more then a “den of thieves”

      Ya Profettt, I have said this before and I will repeat one more time to clarify any misunderstandings. The  goal has nothing to do with the humanitarian posturing of the US, France, the UK and the various despots that make up the Arab League. The aim is to install a pro-Western government dominated by Sunni forces close to the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, thus further isolating Iran, the main ally of the current Syrian regime.
      Iran is seen as the only regional obstacle to total US hegemony over the oil-rich Middle East and Caspian Basin. Eliminating the Assad regime and weakening Tehran would also serve to push Russia and China out of their remaining bases of influence.
      The US, Britain and France sought to use a demand from the Arab League, supposedly based upon the report of its observer mission to Syria, to condemn the crackdown by the Assad regime and call for Assad to hand over power to his deputy in preparation for a new government that would include the opposition. According to the proposed resolution, this would be followed by new elections.
      The invocation of the League’s mission was thoroughly dishonest. The observers had found that the violence was abating and that the Syrian government was complying with most of the Arab League’s requirements. They had called for an extension of their mission in Syria. The response of Saudi Arabia was to end its participation while the Emir of Qatar went on CNN to call for Arab military intervention.
      Qatar assumed the role of Arab League chair by paying off the Palestinian Authority, whose turn it was to hold the post, with $400 million in aid. It used its position to suppress the observers’ report, demand that Assad quit, and call off the mission. It then forwarded the “recommendation” that Assad step aside to the UN.
      Finally,The task of dealing with the Assad regime belongs to the Syrian working class, not a right-wing armed opposition acting as a proxy for Washington and its European allies, who are preparing to unleash a bloodbath in the country. Assad must be overthrown as part of a struggle of the entire Arab and international working class the initial stages of which were signaled by last year’s mass uprisings against US-backed dictators in Egypt and Tunisia directed first and foremost against imperialism

      1. prophettt Avatar

        Good day Sebouh, I totally agree with your analysis.This is no longer (never was to many people) about freedom or democracy for the Syrian people. I ‘m just tired of people branding any objectivity to the Syrian situation as regime apology.

  2. prophettt Avatar

    I agree that the veto cast by Russia and China has blocked the security council from taking action against the Syrian regime,and I also agree that  the veto might diminish the relevance of the United nation and that of the security council,bu tthe most important question is; How much relevance does the UN (and its security council) have after the sixty veto casts by the united states over the years ,in which those veto casts blocked any action against the Israelis and prevented the Palestinians from receiving  any fairness .
     Sixty some veto casts by the united states  didn’t diminish(in the writers opinion) the relevance the united nations,but One veto by the Russians and the Chinese did diminish the relevance of the UN????? What a joke .The entire establishment of the United nation has had no relevance for the past sixty years.Who are you kidding? This is an insult to people’s intelligence.Some objectivity might serve the writer of this article,and a different approach to the duel veto by Russia and China might serve the Syrian people much better ,and definitively with less hypocrisy. The UN has become a tool for the powerful countries to justify , and enhance their plans in the  name of humanitarian , democracy and freedom .

  3.  Avatar

    I agree that the veto cast by Russia and China has blocked the security council from taking action against the Syrian regime,and I also agree that  the veto might diminish the relevance of the United nation and that of the security council,but How much relevance did really the UN (and its security council) have after the sixty veto casts by the united states over the years ,in which those veto casts blocked any action against the Israelis and prevented the Palestinians from receiving  any fairness .
     Sixty some veto casts by the united states  didn’t diminish(in the writers opinion) the relevance the united nations,but One veto by the Russians and the Chinese did diminish the relevance of the UN????? What a joke .The entire establishment of the United nation has had no relevance for the past sixty years.Who are you kidding? This is an insult to people’s intelligenceSome objectivity might serve the writer of this article,and a different approach to the veto by Russia and China might serve the Syrian people much better ,and definitively with less hypocrisy. The UN has become a tool for the powerful countries to justify their and enhance their policies in the  name of humanitarian , democracy and freedom .

    1.  Avatar

      Definitely have a point there on UN inabilities, Prophettt … look at Darfur or Somalia … although I think that blocking racist/hate measures against one little country is not quite the same thing as blocking measures against an outright medieval  mass-killing spree by a country against it’s own citizens.
      And don’t give me the tired old ‘Israel does the same thing’ when it retaliates against the ‘foreign’ attacks – even if it sometimes goes over the top in frustration because the ‘opposition’ never wants to make a deal that works.

      1.  Avatar

        I am not in favor of Nuke war or any other unjust war. The Arabs are repeatedly facing this war due to the oil and gas reserve and Israel kept invading land after land in Palestine. I am not in favor of wiping off Israel from the map either. All they have to do is stop those illegal settlement.Israel is waging war , then USA waging war against Iraq , Afghanistan , NATO and Iran in Libya , Syrian regime waging war against Syrian. So any resistance against this illegal war is legitimate. Some call it terrorism ! its resistance. 

        A nuke can destroy plant, animal , human and it is against the code of war in Islam.Few Muslim leaders covet the weapon but Muslims are forbidden to do any collateral damage, forbidden to kill civilians. I am sure some Muslims think its good to have nuke but I do like that Idea. The best way is to defend when we are attacked and the best way to fight is the Afghans way. Now afghan have IED, small arms and these arms naturally reduce the collateral damage and civilian killing. Thanks to Allah that they dont have the access to nuke. We can have a pre emtive thinking like ” if they have they would use it too” yes there is a possibility among those Iranian mullahs. Well in any case the Muslims do not posses the weapon and thats a good news for me.  

        We should study the mentality of those people who manufacture Nukes and dropped it on Japan. These are  pure psychopath killers. In Iraq ,Kosovo and Afghanistan a 400 000 equivalent of Nagasaki nuke were dropped according to US scientist dough Rokke.  It was dropped in a different way which is called depleted Uranium.

        1.  Avatar

          Well wargame … there must be a lot of non-muslim Muslims out there, because every little bomb on a motorcycle or wrapped around a delivery-body or in a turban or buried under a street causes collateral damage.
          Enhancing explosive force with depleted uranium is just as sadistic as the little bomblets designed to maim children and anti-personelle mines which blow off legs. In the history of ‘war’ humans have been ever-efficient in making it as gruesome as possible – especially for non-combatents. Women and children always suffer the most – and even losing a husband/father is collateral damage.
          But humans don’t seem capable yet of listening to 100 years of ‘dialogue’ – so they still do ‘war’.
          Get on the side of those who don’t want it any more. Maybe we’ll win in a thousand years.

        2.  Avatar

          nuk is the answre to mossadies lik yu

      2.  Avatar

        5th, I was not comparing the actions of the Syrian regime with anything because that was not the point I was making ,and we have no disagreement on the Syrian regime. I was simply discussing the  “over the top” and the hypocritical reaction of the author and the international community to the duel veto cast  by Russia and china.
        That being said, it is also fair to recognize and speak out against what the outside opposition,and the extremists who are being brought from Libya and other countries are doing as far as the killings,kidnappings,and mass murder they are committing.Fairness , objectivity ,and even handed are required when discussing critical situation. You can’t over simplify things to suit your own views.
        We need to distinguish between reality and propaganda.As for Israel, you seem to know how to draw  my reaction to the  the state that is a category in itself when it comes to racism and atrocities.I don’t know what “foreign ” attacks you are referring to, but what I know is that Israel has always been the aggressor whether against Palestinians and Lebanese. The existence of Israel(as a Jewish state on a land ” promised” by God) is a continuous aggression.
        Having been born within eyesight from the border,and having lived my early childhood,and teenage years there, I don’t need any convincing from the UN  or anyone else who the aggressor was.As for “going over the top” as you put it, Ethnic cleaning , mass murder,collective punishment,destruction of entire society , erasing entire towns and cities are not just “going over the top”,but rather well designed measures that goes beyond anything any other country ever committed.Israel is a country based on mid evil lies .

        1.  Avatar

          Ah yes Prophettt … the promise of God. They argue over that too.
          Hannibal recently quoted the first two commandments – the only thing apparently written by God on stones conveniently broken by Moses in a typical human fit of rage, so not preserved for all mankind to see. Travesty on travesty of those two commandments. The tribal wars enhanced by science for you to ‘witness’ – the Greek word martur having taken new meanings as well.
          If I over-simplify it is only to save space … I have no desire to re-write all the histories of small and large battles between tribes. Yet if I felt like being religious I might quote those 2 commandments only.
          We can now watch with interest the NEW (and first) city being built on ‘palestinian land’ in the ‘West Bank’ by Palestinians with Palestinian money on a hill which is a figurative ‘stone’s throw’ from an Israeli city (settlement) on the next hill. Idiot Israelis are not making it easy for them to access the site, but they are doing it – with the permissions ‘in the hope’ which other Israelis have, that when it is finished, the two cities might listen to the commandments and not start throwing stones at each other’s hills. Even when some idiots will probably say ‘My hill is better than your hill.’ and want to start another battle in the valley between.
          I am sure by that time all of us can safely watch events from whichever side we choose through the ‘security cameras’ to witness which ideaology started it … before twits begin to twitter their own versions of it. 🙂

        2.  Avatar

          “Israel, … the  the state that is a category in itself when it comes to racism and atrocities.”  Do you even believe what you write?  How long will Arabs think it is OK to live in lies because facts do not suit their narratives?  If Israel is in its own category as you say it is precisely because it is by far the LEAST racist, most inclusive, most tolerant, most moral and definitely LEAST violent state in the Middle East.  This is not propaganda, it is a fact verifiable in law and social realities on the ground.  Israel has Arab Justices, Ministers, Officers, Professors, celebrities etc etc and among the freest presses in the world.  Israeli-Palestinians have all the rights which even you in Lebanon do not.  Meanwhile, Palestinians can barely go to university in Lebanon.  Jordan has anti-Semitic laws and honor killing ones.  Syria, Egypt, Saudi, Iran, Iraq… Christians are being eliminated everywhere in this region EXCEPT Israel where they thrive.  do I really need to say more?   Get a grip. Arabs will only begin to exit their utter and embarrassing social decay when they start to learn from Israel instead of blaming it for their own deep pathologies.

        3.  Avatar

          “Israel, … the  the state that is a category in itself when it comes to racism and atrocities.”  Do you even believe what you write?  How long will Arabs think it is OK to live in lies because facts do not suit their narratives?  If Israel is in its own category as you say it is precisely because it is by far the LEAST racist, most inclusive, most tolerant, most moral and definitely LEAST violent state in the Middle East.  This is not propaganda, it is a fact verifiable in law and social realities on the ground.  Israel has Arab Justices, Ministers, Officers, Professors, celebrities etc etc and among the freest presses in the world.  Israeli-Palestinians have all the rights which even you in Lebanon do not.  Meanwhile, Palestinians can barely go to university in Lebanon.  Jordan has anti-Semitic laws and honor killing ones.  Syria, Egypt, Saudi, Iran, Iraq… Christians are being eliminated everywhere in this region EXCEPT Israel where they thrive.  do I really need to say more?   Get a grip. Arabs will only begin to exit their utter and embarrassing social decay when they start to learn from Israel instead of blaming it for their own deep pathologies.

    2.  Avatar

      Definitely have a point there on UN inabilities, Prophettt … look at Darfur or Somalia … although I think that blocking racist/hate measures against one little country is not quite the same thing as blocking measures against an outright medieval  mass-killing spree by a country against it’s own citizens.
      And don’t give me the tired old ‘Israel does the same thing’ when it retaliates against the ‘foreign’ attacks – even if it sometimes goes over the top in frustration because the ‘opposition’ never wants to make a deal that works.

    3.  Avatar

      I think Marc Lynch could be one of those Neocon policy advocates. Also I totally agree with your viewpoint that the UN has become a tool for powerful nations to settle their accounts. Remember what Lenin had said during the days of league of nations that it is nothing more then a “den of thieves”

      Ya Profettt, I have said this before and I will repeat one more time to clarify any misunderstandings. The  goal has nothing to do with the humanitarian posturing of the US, France, the UK and the various despots that make up the Arab League. The aim is to install a pro-Western government dominated by Sunni forces close to the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, thus further isolating Iran, the main ally of the current Syrian regime.
      Iran is seen as the only regional obstacle to total US hegemony over the oil-rich Middle East and Caspian Basin. Eliminating the Assad regime and weakening Tehran would also serve to push Russia and China out of their remaining bases of influence.
      The US, Britain and France sought to use a demand from the Arab League, supposedly based upon the report of its observer mission to Syria, to condemn the crackdown by the Assad regime and call for Assad to hand over power to his deputy in preparation for a new government that would include the opposition. According to the proposed resolution, this would be followed by new elections.
      The invocation of the League’s mission was thoroughly dishonest. The observers had found that the violence was abating and that the Syrian government was complying with most of the Arab League’s requirements. They had called for an extension of their mission in Syria. The response of Saudi Arabia was to end its participation while the Emir of Qatar went on CNN to call for Arab military intervention.
      Qatar assumed the role of Arab League chair by paying off the Palestinian Authority, whose turn it was to hold the post, with $400 million in aid. It used its position to suppress the observers’ report, demand that Assad quit, and call off the mission. It then forwarded the “recommendation” that Assad step aside to the UN.
      Finally,The task of dealing with the Assad regime belongs to the Syrian working class, not a right-wing armed opposition acting as a proxy for Washington and its European allies, who are preparing to unleash a bloodbath in the country. Assad must be overthrown as part of a struggle of the entire Arab and international working class the initial stages of which were signaled by last year’s mass uprisings against US-backed dictators in Egypt and Tunisia directed first and foremost against imperialism

      1.  Avatar

        Good day Sebouh, I totally agree with your analysis.This is no longer (never was to many people) about freedom or democracy for the Syrian people. I ‘m just tired of people branding any objectivity to the Syrian situation as regime apology.

  4. wargame1 Avatar

    Russia and China are there to veto , they are planted on the opposite side in order to protect the pro Israeli Assad Government and Israeli border guard Hezbollah. If Assad fall it is very likely that the Sunnis will be in power after 41 years and will pose a immediate threat to Israel , possibly claim the Golan height which were sold by Hafez Al Assad in a phony 6 day war.Most of the US population supports the Syrian resistance but the Neocon Zionist influence in US Government will always favor Assad. But this wholesale  killing is exposed and the credit goes to the most organized Syrian people who have posted atleast 50000 video of torture, murder and bombing by Assad. The main stream media still show unwillingness to verify those video but through youtube its already busted. Now these countries are facing a tremendous pressure to act against Assad. They have been playing this veto game here , but during Iraq war they even manufactured false accusation such as Sadam killing the incubator baby and Sadam has yeollow cake , nuke and many other lies. Similarly against Afghanistan and Libya like Afghans carried out 911 and Gaddafi killing his people. These invasion were planned but no one really expected the Syrian revolution which is genuine from every aspect. Why USA would want to change Assad ? The biggest massacre in the middle east was Hama Massacre in 1982 and the world dont even remember. Israel itself didnt do massacre as big as Hama massacre against the Palestinians. All of the Superpower in UN are buying time for Assad. Assad will fall eventually and then USA and Russia will jointly invade Syria when they see the Sunnis are about to emerge governing the country.Syria share border with Israel so the Zionist power around the world will never let any democratic government emerge in Syria. A free election in Syria will definitely bring a sunni Government as they are 80% in Syria. This is a long struggle for the Syrians and they have to fight not only Assad but also Russia and USA in the near future. There is a chance that USA might stay away from this conflict if Ron Paul type Christian leader come to power in USA , then I believe they atleast will not attack Syrian and very likely they will support the Syrians. But that is a distant possibility. USA is controlled by Israel in every way…private own federal reserve by the Israeli , the Nuke bomb password, Media, holy wood and whatnot. USA will have to see Israels interest first in Syria and Russia , China , India will undoubtedly keep their support on Assad or any one similar to Assad. 

  5.  Avatar

    Russia and China are there to veto , they are planted on the opposite side in order to protect the pro Israeli Assad Government and Israeli border guard Hezbollah. If Assad fall it is very likely that the Sunnis will be in power after 41 years and will pose a immediate threat to Israel , possibly claim the Golan height which were sold by Hafez Al Assad in a phony 6 day war.Most of the US population supports the Syrian resistance but the Neocon Zionist influence in US Government will always favor Assad. But this wholesale  killing is exposed and the credit goes to the most organized Syrian people who have posted atleast 50000 video of torture, murder and bombing by Assad. The main stream media still show unwillingness to verify those video but through youtube its already busted. Now these countries are facing a tremendous pressure to act against Assad. They have been playing this veto game here , but during Iraq war they even manufactured false accusation such as Sadam killing the incubator baby and Sadam has yeollow cake , nuke and many other lies. Similarly against Afghanistan and Libya like Afghans carried out 911 and Gaddafi killing his people. These invasion were planned but no one really expected the Syrian revolution which is genuine from every aspect. Why USA would want to change Assad ? The biggest massacre in the middle east was Hama Massacre in 1982 and the world dont even remember. Israel itself didnt do massacre as big as Hama massacre against the Palestinians. All of the Superpower in UN are buying time for Assad. Assad will fall eventually and then USA and Russia will jointly invade Syria when they see the Sunnis are about to emerge governing the country.Syria share border with Israel so the Zionist power around the world will never let any democratic government emerge in Syria. A free election in Syria will definitely bring a sunni Government as they are 80% in Syria. This is a long struggle for the Syrians and they have to fight not only Assad but also Russia and USA in the near future. There is a chance that USA might stay away from this conflict if Ron Paul type Christian leader come to power in USA , then I believe they atleast will not attack Syrian and very likely they will support the Syrians. But that is a distant possibility. USA is controlled by Israel in every way…private own federal reserve by the Israeli , the Nuke bomb password, Media, holy wood and whatnot. USA will have to see Israels interest first in Syria and Russia , China , India will undoubtedly keep their support on Assad or any one similar to Assad. 

  6.  Avatar

    Russia and China are there to veto , they are planted on the opposite side in order to protect the pro Israeli Assad Government and Israeli border guard Hezbollah. If Assad fall it is very likely that the Sunnis will be in power after 41 years and will pose a immediate threat to Israel , possibly claim the Golan height which were sold by Hafez Al Assad in a phony 6 day war.Most of the US population supports the Syrian resistance but the Neocon Zionist influence in US Government will always favor Assad. But this wholesale  killing is exposed and the credit goes to the most organized Syrian people who have posted atleast 50000 video of torture, murder and bombing by Assad. The main stream media still show unwillingness to verify those video but through youtube its already busted. Now these countries are facing a tremendous pressure to act against Assad. They have been playing this veto game here , but during Iraq war they even manufactured false accusation such as Sadam killing the incubator baby and Sadam has yeollow cake , nuke and many other lies. Similarly against Afghanistan and Libya like Afghans carried out 911 and Gaddafi killing his people. These invasion were planned but no one really expected the Syrian revolution which is genuine from every aspect. Why USA would want to change Assad ? The biggest massacre in the middle east was Hama Massacre in 1982 and the world dont even remember. Israel itself didnt do massacre as big as Hama massacre against the Palestinians. All of the Superpower in UN are buying time for Assad. Assad will fall eventually and then USA and Russia will jointly invade Syria when they see the Sunnis are about to emerge governing the country.Syria share border with Israel so the Zionist power around the world will never let any democratic government emerge in Syria. A free election in Syria will definitely bring a sunni Government as they are 80% in Syria. This is a long struggle for the Syrians and they have to fight not only Assad but also Russia and USA in the near future. There is a chance that USA might stay away from this conflict if Ron Paul type Christian leader come to power in USA , then I believe they atleast will not attack Syrian and very likely they will support the Syrians. But that is a distant possibility. USA is controlled by Israel in every way…private own federal reserve by the Israeli , the Nuke bomb password, Media, holy wood and whatnot. USA will have to see Israels interest first in Syria and Russia , China , India will undoubtedly keep their support on Assad or any one similar to Assad. 

    1.  Avatar

      The nuke bomb password ??  Really?? Not even the Supreme knows that ?? Imagine ….

      1.  Avatar

        If you dont know something then dont expect other to be ignorant about it. Israel controls USA in every aspect. They killed the righteous leader John F Kenedy and after that most of the president of USA are Zionist lackey. 

        In a meeting between Sharon and Peres, Sharon reportedly yelled at Peres, saying “don’t worry about American pressure, we the Jewish people control America.”

        “The Israelis control the policy in the congress and the senate.”– Senator Fullbright, Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee:  10/07/1973 on CBS’ “Face the Nation”.

        “I am aware how almost impossible it is in this country to carry out a foreign policy [in the Middle East] not approved by the Jews….. terrific control the Jews have over the news media and the barrage the Jews have built up on congressmen …. I am very much concerned over the fact that the Jewish influence here is completely dominating the scene and making it almost impossible to get congress to do anything they don’t approve of. The Israeli embassy is practically dictating to the congress through influential Jewish people in the country”  —–Sec. of State John Foster Dulles  quoted on p.99 of Fallen Pillars by Donald Neff

        So regarding the Nuke who do you think like to control that ? You need some basic understanding about Israeli influence on Europe, America, Australia , Russia etc. The American politician in the leadership including the president need to go to the AIPAC to convince the Jews in order to get their approval and also need to visit Israel to pray against the wall. 

        Now read  “U.S. Nuclear Weapons Being “Guarded” by Israel”By Michael Collins Piper.(google it)You will find many other article regarding this matter.

        1.  Avatar

          Well then, it must be a good thing Wargame. We haven’t had the nuclear war yet. Keeps all those Christians and Muslims and Hindus and whatever else there is with itchy fingers off the buttons I guess.
          🙂

        2.  Avatar

          Israel killed Michael Jackson and sunk the Titanic. It killed off dinosaurs and has hired Santa Clause to deliver Zionist toys to the masses.  It is responsible for the “New Coke” fiasco of the 80’s and including Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars script.  Israel has planned and executed every earthquake this year.  It puts that latex smell in condoms to oppress the Arabs. The Arabs are never ever capable of controlling their own destiny it seems.  Only Israel, that massive power of 7 million people, can control everything from your thermostat to  clogging your toilet.

        3.  Avatar

          In other words, your comment is just played old, unoriginal anti-Semitic conspiracy garbage.  If the Jews climb through hard work to the top of their professions — thereby making the world a better place through science, medecine, law, the arts and entertainment — wherever they are, this should humble you and, maybe, make you question why the vast Arab world with its unlimited $ billions is unable to even come up with an impressive iPhone app.  You wish Jews ran the world, it would be a much better, moral, happier place — just like Israel is compared to its neighbours.

        4.  Avatar

          @Pass26:disqus 
          You forgot about World War 1, World War 2, the Black Plague, The Great Depression, Fleas on dogs; buildings collapsing in Ashrafieh, the revolt in syria, 9/11, Lockerbie bombings; the accident I had yesterday on the Sydney harbour bridge and the GFC!! Israel is behind all these  atrocities :-P.
          In all seriousness though, all the Lebanese want is for israel to take back all the palestinians they placed in Lebanon and for syria to leave us the f$%k alone and take all the pro syrians in Lebanon back to their desert. Thats all we ask, it can’t be that bloody hard!

      2.  Avatar

        yu mossady zalami smach hopla

    2.  Avatar

      Arab M.O. — when facts don’t match your political delusions, make them up. Now, all of a sudden, the Assad regime which has been supporting Hamas and Hezbullah for years, Iran’s biggest ally, is “pro-Israeli” just because you woke up to the fact that it is evil.  This kind of rampant dishonesty doesn’t help you it keep syou bck while Israel progreses by leaps and bounds, doing more good for humanity in a year than the entire Arab and Muslim worlds have done in the last 500.

      1.  Avatar

        You are lucky to have Hzbollah and Iran as your controlled opposition. I am sure you have seen thousands of video of Iraqi and Afghan resistance such as IED, Sniper shooting, Base attack etc. Those resistance didnt have modern weapon like the Hezbollah have. Do you know how long Hezbollah is acting as your opponent? Many years already. Now produce some Hezbollah attack video on your army atleast similar to those resistance in Iraq and in Afghanistan. 

        Former secretary general of Hezbollah said that Hezbollah is the border guard of Israel and they prevent any attack on Israel. Now lets deal with Assad. Thee is a news that daddy assad sold Golan height to Israel in a phony 6 day war and it seems very true because since then Assad never demanded that area and never fought you. Itd good to have such controlled opposition who fight you with mouth …isnt it ? 

        The bad news is Assad is going down and Syrian people will demand their land. Dont even think they will give up in 6 days like daddy Assad if you please see the Afghan and Iraqi resistance. Muslims do not do 6 days war , they will do SIX decades of war or more if necessary. Stay heppy with hezbollah in the mean time. 

        1.  Avatar

          wow settle down…you sound crazy first of all, and it scares me to think that those wanting democracy in syria think anything like you…u need to chill on all that muslim jazz, 6 decades of war? you basically proved the point he made…

        2.  Avatar

          yu hanky panky mossad love yu nothin moer than mossady

  7.  Avatar

    Just thinking out loud. The U.N is a failed organization because of the veto power to the 5 permanent members of the security council. The U.S has used its Veto to protect Israel and now Russia and China to protect Syria. On one hand we go around criticizing China for child labor, human rights, pollution, rate manipulation on its currency and we give them veto over the world council. Now the U.N was setup after ww2 but China was anything but stable at the time so why were they given the Veto to begin with? Chiang Kai-shek and Mao were fighting a civil war at the time and the country was in chaos!the U.N should be 100% democratic for better or worst and as lonf a s a majority of all nations vote one and issue it should pass. In its present structure it reserves the imperial nations power and keeps smaller nations depandant on larger imperial nations.

    1.  Avatar

      Wow 316909 … questions of a lifetime … now you’ve entered the world of fine politics. A time of being tired of war, a realization we could wipe out most living species on the planet, and a rising of ‘liberal-think’ which said if you offered a nice handshake or kiss even to people who were mass-control despots like Mao it would change their thinking, make them friendly, and bring them into a world of peace and prosperity.
      (Big Business Rising) We had already done Hitler in by shaking hands with Stalin – although that was not generally liked by real warriors such as Patton, who knew he could ride on to Moscow easily at that moment and eliminate Communism too. The ‘liberals’ hauled him back to a Washington desk which he wouldn’t accept … and we had another 70 years of politics while Stalin eliminated millions, hand in hand with Mao.
      People of the west barely understand the eastern minds …. and bowing and kissing their cheeks doesn’t change them much. But including them all in ‘world decisions’ was thought to be good for promotion of general health and welfare of the human experience … and also good for business. Certainly better than war.
      Should have vetoed that thinking, it seems. Doesn’t work. Although as you can see, the fine art of politics goes on, while people still suffer in many of the countries who have a ‘say’ in the esteemed council of (dis)united nations – which doesn’t have a fully democratic system as you have noted.
      Well … as much as ‘inclusion’ was thought to bring people into a better way of thinking, we also knew there would be politics and self-serving interests …. so gave the ‘big boys’ that veto while hoping it would improve their thinking … sort of ‘hedging the bet’, as it were. Big Business sees big countries as income-potential, and doesn’t look at politics. So even if their thinking seems still a little ‘dark ages’ – like Iranian or Syrian torturers – they get the veto.
       Now, as to why the real ‘dark ages’ countries were allowed ‘in’ … some thought they could learn from the experience. Could be taught to respect the humans they ‘control’.  Tsk Tsk  

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