Syria to 'Save Face' with Arabs in U.N. Vote
The U.N. Security Council vote today is likely to be 14 yes, 0 no, 0 abstentions and 1 non-participate (Syria).
Syria is expected to claim it had not received voting instructions from Damascus in advance of the Arab foreign ministers meeting this weekend.
As such, the U.S. may claim the 14-0 vote was unanimous.
The Syrians will claim that Arab solidarity and lack of instructions from Damascus prevented participation in such a biased vote.
In doing this, Damascus avoids raining on the U.S. parade and also avoids ruffling the feathers of the Arab group.
Regarding procedure, the council will gather around 10 a.m. and go into a private session to finalize everything, which should only take around 15 minutes.
Between 10:15 -10:30 a formal meeting will begin and there will be speeches by 15 members, plus Iraq. The entire meeting would be around 90 minutes.
An Actual vote should come between 10:30-10:45, it will only take 90 seconds, and it will be a simple show of hands.