UN lines up behind Arab League-Turkey action against Syria

UN lines up behind Arab League-Turkey action against Syria

clipped from article:

The United Nations General Assembly’s human rights committee voted on Tuesday to “strongly condemn” Syria’s crackdown on opposition protests and to call on Damascus to implement an Arab League plan to end the violence.

The resolution has no legal force. But it provides a pretext for the major powers to justify action outside of the UN—supporting the isolation and destabilisation of Syria, with the ultimate aim of regime change.

The resolution was passed in the wake of the Arab League’s decision to expel Damascus for failing to submit to a provocative and one-sided ultimatum. The Arab League demanded the Syrian regime of Bashir Assad halt its bloody attacks on protesters, withdraw tanks from restive cities, engage in a dialogue with the opposition and admit observers into the country. No corresponding demands were made on oppositionists, who are engaged in an armed struggle politically backed by imperialist powers and other regional governments.

The demand was made while the Arab League extended de-facto recognition to the opposition Syrian National Council, which rejects dialogue with Assad other than the terms of his departure, and with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon and others backing the insurgency with money and arms.

Most important of all was the presence of Turkey at the proceedings, which is home to the Syrian National Council and the Free Syria Army.

With both Turkey and Lebanon discussing the establishing of no-fly zones on Syrian soil, the basis for a military intervention has already been laid. The United States, Britain, France and Germany have all been involved in discussions with Ankara, Riyadh, the opposition and other concerned parties.

Having secured the desired refusal from Syria, the UN resolution was moved as a means of bypassing opposition to action against Syria on the Security Council. The NATO powers intend to make an end run around Chinese and Russian vetoes of a similar Security Council resolution condemning Syria.

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