Syria opposition forms body to preserve state institutions

Reuters ^ | Saturday, December 15, 2012 | Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Tom Pfeiffer

[SunkenCiv]

Syrian government defectors and opposition figures formed a body on Saturday that would step in to prevent the collapse of state institutions if President Bashar al-Assad is overthrown.

The Free National Gathering was formed largely by members and supporters of Syria's opposition coalition, which was recognized this week by 114 countries as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

Among them are several high-level defectors such as former Prime Minister Riyad Hijab who are concerned that, were Assad to fall, his opponents would turn upon government employees who did not take part in the country's 21-month uprising, causing the disintegration of the state.

Hijab, the highest level official to desert Assad so far, was chosen to head a seven-member executive council that will manage the Free National Gathering for now, organizers said.

[SunkenCiv]

Post a Foreign Policy topic

[SunkenCiv]

Worldview: Time nearly gone to lead on Syria
Trudy Rubin, Inquirer Opinion Columnist
Posted: Sunday, December 16, 2012, 3:01 AM
http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20121216_Worldview__Time_nearly_gone_to_lead_on_Syria.html

As President Obama enters his second term, Syria has become the most urgent test of his foreign policy leadership and style.

If Obama finally takes ownership of the effort to unseat Bashar al-Assad (which would not require U.S. troops or planes), there’s still a chance of preventing a Syrian implosion. If the administration leads from in front, it may be possible to head off a strategic disaster that would endanger Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel.

Yet early signs indicate that Obama will continue the muddled Syria policy of his first term, while continuing to lead from way, way behind.

[blueunicorn6]

We should ask the governments of Libya and Egypt how the people in their countries feel about this. Oh....that’s right.....those governments don’t care what their people want. Obama’s foreign policy could rightly be called THE HELPFUL ARSONIST POLICY. He starts fires and then throws gas on the fire to be helpful.