The Arab League's phony mission

Globe and Mail ^ | Monday, January 2, 2011 | editorial

[SunkenCiv]

Their mission appears to have been designed for failure. With 60 monitors on the ground and another 90 to follow, the number of atrocities is too many and their locations too vast for observers to even scratch the surface. The observers are completely dependent on the Syrian government for transport and security and are unable to speak to victims without tipping off authorities, who have reportedly hidden hundreds of detainees in off-limits military sites. Without unrestricted access to hot spots, the results of any observer mission will lack credibility.

The choice of a Sudanese general to head the Arab League mission underlines why the League's member states, many with atrocious human-rights records, are incapable of monitoring one of their own. Lieutenant-General Mohamed Mustafa al-Dabi has held key security positions in the regime of President Omar al-Bashir, who is himself wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of committing genocide in Darfur -- charges the Arab League has denounced...

The League's lackadaisical approach to monitoring reflects the organization's ambivalence. Comprised of despots who share much in common with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, not least their disdain for the human rights of their respective citizens, Arab League members were reluctant, just until two months ago, to pressure their old friend, Mr. al-Assad, to stop the massacres. Until now, the Arab League has merely lent legitimacy to an illegitimate process and helped prolong the abuses that the Syrian government continues to orchestrate unchecked. If it wishes to salvage what remains of its reputation, the Arab League should replace Lt.-Gen. al-Dabi, assign more observers and stop Mr. al-Assad from manipulating its mission.

[SunkenCiv]

Arab League observers take photos of anti-government protesters on the streets in Adlb, Syria, on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. [Reuters]

[SunkenCiv]

[IOW, the demand that the Golan be returned as a precondition for talks won’t change.]

Syrian opposition leader: In post-Assad era, Arab peace initiative will probably be accepted
By Natasha Mozgovaya
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/syrian-opposition-leader-in-post-assad-era-arab-peace-initiative-will-probably-be-accepted-1.405169

[snip] Samir Nashar, one of the leaders of the Syrian National Council opposition group calls for military intervention, says free Syria will follow Palestinians’ lead regarding relations with Israel, once the Golan Heights are returned to Syria. Syria’s relationship with Iran, currently its sole ally, will likely be subject change, Nashar says in an interview to the Washington Times... “The Arab Initiative will most probably be acceptable after the regime change, and we hope it will become a reality,” he told the Post. “After Syria will get back the Golan Heights, they will accept whatever will be accepted by the Palestinian people.” ... He added that most of the opposition leaders support an international military intervention aimed at ousting President Bashar Assad “as early as possible,” adding that some may not be brave enough to say so openly. [/snip]

[also, note that he calls for outside military intervention. I suggest the IDF and IAF.]