Kofi Annan Calls It Quits on Syria

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 6, 2012
All Rights Reserved.                                         

            Calling it quits on his six-point Syrian peace plan, 74-year-old former  U.N.Secretary-General Kofi Annan admitted defeat of his failed Feb. 23 plan.  Annan hoped to negotiate an end to the bloodshed, claiming over 14,000 lives since the Syrian civil war erupted Jan. 15, 2011.  Annan blamed a feckless international response as “strikingly powerless,” especially Russian President Vladimir Putin for showing a lack of “courage and leadership” for not putting more teeth into U.N. Security Council sanctions.  Winning a Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, Annan thought he carried more clout with al-Assad.  When Annan talks of  “courage and leadership,” he’s suggesting Western powers intervene militarily to force al-Assad out of power.  With the U.S. still mired in Afghanistan and barely out of Iraq, Annan did his utmost to pressure President Barack Obama into military action.

            U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called March 5 for air strikes to force al-Assad to stop attacking civilians.  Along the same lines, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urged July 7 the U.N. Security Council to authorize force to intervene in Syria’s revolution.  “It is disgusting and really highlights the absolute requirement that for the future of the Syrian people, Assad must step aside,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney aboard Air Force One.  Carney speaks for President Barack Obama that walks a dangerous tightrope only three months before presidential elections.  Carney’s harsh words do nothing to bring Russia and China onboard in the Security Council.  Both allies of Syria, Russia and China have consistently backed al-Assad in his fight against a growing insurgency.  Al-Assad blames outside forces, like the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, for financing the insurgency.

            Telling Russia and China they’re “on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of the Syrian people,” Carney hoped to change their votes on the Security Council.  When the International Committee of the Red Cross called the Syrian conflict July 15 a civil war, it warned Western powers to stay away.  Russia and China have no problem supporting an ally and trading partner over unknown rebel forces with possible ties to Saudi-based Islamic Wahhabist groups.  Approving another $12 million in humanitarian aid, Obama has given over $76 million since the conflict began Jan. 15, 2011.  Calling the Syrian situation “dire and rapidly deteriorating,” Carney insisted U.S. support was for food, water and medical supplies.  Russia and China have been reluctant to throw al-Assad under the bus, not knowing the makeup of the Sunni Islamic state that would replace the al-Assad regime.

            If the shoe were on the other foot in Russia, China or the U.S., do you really think the government would sit idly by while insurgents toppled the regimes?  Annan and Hillary wish to take Syrian rebel forces at face value, without suspecting other Sunni-backed groups, including al-Qaeda, are sponsoring the revolution.  Human Rights International recently accused the main rebel group “Free Syrian Army” of beheadings and other atrocities.  While no one likes to watch the carnage on nightly TV news, there are real risks to intervening in a civil war.  Can you imagine the outcome if foreign forces took sides in the U.S. Civil War?  Tempting as it is to blame al-Assad, the White House must look at the big picture, work more closely with Russia and China and show more neutrality in the conflict.  Blaming Russia and China for supporting an ally and reliable trading partner goes over the top.

            Kofi’s plan failed because the U.N. took a biased side against al-Assad.   Last time anyone checked, no rebel group has U.N. recognition over a member state in good standing.  Expecting Russia and China to sell out Damascus is unrealistic and reckless.  Syrian factions, no matter what the casualties, must work out their own problems.  “Tragically, the spiral of violence in Syria is continuing . . .” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, urging al-Assad’s government to work out a fix with Syrian rebels.  “Both the government and the opposition forces continue to demonstrate their determination to rely on eve-increasing violence . . .” said, the Secretary-General, admitting it’s difficult to intervene in a civil war.  Pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Hu Jintao to sign on to military strikes can only alienate the last two communist superpowers.

            Throwing in the towel on his peace plan, Annan needs to stop pushing the Security Council to sell out the al-Assad regime.  Hillary does the U.S. a disservice lining up against Russia and China, when U.S. foreign interests are best served by maintaining cooperative relationships.  Unless the White House can make a sound case for how the Syrian conflict threatens U.S. national security, it should back off and let the Syrians solve their own problems.  “Syria can still be saved form the worst calamity.  But this requires courage and leadership, most of all from the permanent members of the Security Council, including from Presidents Putin and Obama,” said Annan.  Annan knows that he doesn’t serve world stability or peace by pitting the U.S. against Russia and China.  Instead of worrying about saving face with his failed peace plan, Annan should quit pressuring the U.S., Russia and China for a quick-fix.

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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