SYRIA CRISIS: As violence spirals, solution seems elusive
As the violence in Syria continues to spiral out of control, attempts to begin a process to end it are stumbling.
But the complexity cannot be an excuse to not try.
The effects of the daily slaughter of innocents are multiplying in unexpected ways. Saudi Arabia, supporting the rebels, is distraught over US inaction. Iran, a bulwark of the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad, is trying (on a separate track) to improve relations with the west.
We analyze the situation today in:
Complexity defies attempts to start peace process, but can’t be an excuse not to try
The latest push for a second Geneva conference to kick-start peace talks seems to be running into obstacles just days after it was announced.
We see this in the Telegraph newspaper in the UK in
Syria: West attempts to salvage Geneva peace conference
Reporting Tuesday from Istanbul, Ruth Sherlock writes:
“Britain and the West attempted to salvage a plan for peace talks on Syria next month, making overtures to the disenchanted opposition in an attempt to bring them to the negotiating table.”
Refugees are flooding into Lebanon and Jordan, straining those tiny territories. Many are fleeing to Europe.
And the Obama administration is riven by division over what to do, seeing no good options.
But sitting on the sidelines while the Middle East implodes is not an option. The US is the only country with the resources and means to play a leading role in solving this seemingly intractable problem.
Unequivocally, it must do so.
