Syria's Crackdown Demands U.N. Attention

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 3, 2011
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             Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal crackdown against anti-regime protesters continued unabated with the Syrian military sending tanks into central Hama to crush demonstrators.  Watching the 30-year regime of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak crushed by demonstrators Feb. 11, Assad stepped up violence against insurgent, using the military to wipe out dissent.  Over 90 protesters were massacred in Hama since the military stepped up its crackdown Sunday.  While press reports remain sketchy, Human Rights Watch and other relief organizations noted the brutal crackdown, putting more pressure on the United States and U.N. to stop the violence.  Since taking office from his deceased father, Hafez al-Assad July 17, 2000 at age 35, Bashar has ruled Syria with the same repressive mechanisms and alliances that had branded Syria a rogue state by the U.S. State Department.

            Syria’s brutal crackdown far exceeded the repression attempted by Mubarak, watching his grip on power slip in Egypt in the months leading to the regime’s fall Feb. 11.  U.N. Security Council officials acknowledge that a “substantially agreed upon” draft resolution condemning Syria’s force against civilians could be ready late Wednesday, Aug. 3.  Today’s violent Syrian military crackdown in Tama coincides with Mubarak’s murder trial in Cairo for the massacre of protesters in Egypt’s revolutionary Tahrir Square.  Mubarak now lies humiliated in a caged hospital bed at his murder and conspiracy trial.  “All communications have bee cut off.  The regime is using the media focus on the Hosni Mubarak trial to finish off Hama,” a local resident told Reuters via satellite phone.  He saw paratroopers, Special Forces and the Shabbiiha militia occupying the central Orontes Square to regain control.

            State Department officials have been reluctant to condemn too harshly Assad’s crackdown, fearing a repeat of what happened in Egypt.  U.S. officials were harshly criticized for aiding-and-abetting anti-Mubarak protesters, leading to his eventual collapse.  U.S. officials have no real clue yet how and when Egypt will return to civilian rule, or whether or not the civilian government will be friendly to the U.S.  While the U.S. hasn’t enjoyed the same partnership under Hafez and Bashar Assad as it did under Anwar Sadat and Mubarak in Egypt, forcing Bashar out would potentially send Syria in the wrong direction.  State Dept. officials don’t want to destabilize Syria, installing regime with closer ties to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Iran’s ally and Israel’s bitter enemy.  No one wants to see a regime loyal or Hezbollah, the exiled Hamas or some other radical group taking over the Syria.

            As the death toll mounts, pressure has swelled on the U.S. and U.N. to take some kind of action to protect Syrian civilians.  When the Security Council authorized force against the Kadafi regime in Libya March 18, they had a reasonably good grasp of the insurgents and their allies.  State Dept. officials have no way today of knowing who would take over Syria if Assad were forced out.  “The United States should impose crippling sanctions in response to the murder of civilians by troops under the order of President Assad,” said Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), urging the White House to take decisive action.  Kirk fashioned legislation with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) to target firms doing business with Syria.  Mark, Lieberman and Gillibrand stopped short of calling for Assad’s resignation but questioned his continued legitimacy to lead Syria.

            Since coming to power July 17, 2000, Bashar hasn’t rocked the boat with Israel’s Golan Heights’ border, once a part of Syria before the 1967 War.  Assad fought a proxy war with Israel in 2006, supporting Hezbollah in their month-long battle with the Jewish State.  While there’s no doubt Bashar has stirred the pot, allowing Hamas to freely plot attacks against Israel, he’s basically isolated himself in the region.  When Israel bombed a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor Dec. 24, 2010, Assad established his credentials as a rogue regime, promising retaliation.  Assad’s decision to employ a Stalin-like crackdown on dissidents opens the door for eventual regime change.  President Barack Obama will be forced to take a sides soon as Assad’s crackdown continues to meet worldwide condemnation.  With 27 more deaths across Syria last weekend, time is running out on the Assad regime.

            Assad’s walking on thin ice when his reliable ally Turkey warns Syria against more violence against civilians.  “I’m saying this on my behalf, what’s going on in Hama is an atrocity—Whoever carries this out can’t be our friend.  They are making a big mistake,” said Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Arine Bulent, demanding democratic reforms.  Even Syria’s usual ally Russia sought a joint condemnation of Syria with anti-regime protesters.  “We insisted on democratic and peaceful solutions and starting reforms.  We told them they would collapse otherwise—Recent events show no lessons learned from those suggestions,” said Bulent, serving notice that Syria could no longer count on Turkish support.  When the U.S. and U.N. set down biting sanctions, the Assad regime will listen.  Allowing the U.N. to help dialogue with protesters should help mitigate the violence.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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