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MMC
02-24-2012, 08:58 AM
TUNIS (Reuters) - Western and Arab nations will demand Friday that Syria allow aid to be delivered to desperate civilians in the absence of any international resolve to intervene to end a crackdown on a near year-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Foreign ministers from more than 50 countries were in Tunis for the first meeting of the "Friends of Syria" group, against the backdrop of a surge in government attacks on the city of Homs and mounting world outrage over violence that has claimed thousands of lives during the uprising.

The opposition Syrian National Council called on the Tunis meeting to let individual countries arm the rebel Free Syrian Army - its most explicit plea yet for military support.
"If the regime fails to accept the terms of the political initiative outlined by the Arab League and end violence against citizens, the Friends of Syria should not constrain individual countries from aiding the Syrian opposition by means of military advisers, training and provision of arms to defend themselves," it said in a statement of demands to the meeting in Tunis.

The "Friends of Syria" pledged, in the latest version of the draft seen by Reuters, to deliver humanitarian supplies within 48 hours if Syria's government "stopped its assault on civilian areas and permitted access."

The draft communiqué did not mention any foreign military intervention along the lines of the NATO bombing campaign that helped force out Libya's Muammar Gaddafi.
Instead, it called for further diplomatic pressure on Assad to step down and endorsed an Arab League plan that sees him handing power to a deputy as a prelude to elections.
The group will also commit to enforce sanctions aimed at pressuring Syria authorities to halt violence, according to the draft declaration.

The wording of the draft reflected a harsh reality: there is little the outside world can or will do to stop the violence as long as Russia and China, both of which declined invitations to the Tunis meeting, reject Security Council resolutions.

Another problem facing world powers is divisions within the Syrian opposition, which they will seek to overcome before offering full backing.
The draft stopped short of fully endorsing the Syrian National Council as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people, proposing that it be recognized as "a legitimate representative of Syrians seeking peaceful democratic change."
It committed the group to "increase its engagement" with the Syrian opposition while urging it to create a mechanism for disparate groups to coordinate, and to agree on principles that would lay the foundations for a future Syrian government.

A lack of unity within the Syrian opposition and fears that the country is sliding toward civil war have left even Assad's harshest critics reluctant to directly arm Syrian rebels in the absence of any moves toward a Libya-style military campaign.

U.N. investigators said Syrian forces had shot and killed unarmed women and children, shelled residential areas and tortured wounded protesters in hospital under orders issued at the "highest levels" of the army and government.
In their report to the U.N. Human Rights Council, they said they had drawn up a confidential list of names of commanders and officials alleged to be responsible.
The commission found that the rebel Free Syrian Army had also committed abuses, "although not comparable in scale.".....snip~

http://news.yahoo.com/friends-syria-demand-ceasefire-aid-access-010336021.html
Reuters – 16 mins ago<<<<< More Here!

SOS Clinton is there and 70 Countries total have come to try and assist Syria. Clinton stated that the rebels will arm. Yet they are already armed. As they have been accused of doing the same thing Assad has. What more is there when the harshest of critics are all saying this is looking like a civil war. Though I think they need to look up the definition of looking like.
Clinton is pushing this meeting and there is Video up and running with her little speech. Question is why does she push this Administration into getting involved with Syria. Why does she stick up for the Sunni Rebels.....knowing AQ has been attacking Assads Troops?

According to Al-Jazzera, not only has AQ taken credit for the attacks that took place in Iraq yesterday. But that they had released a Statement to Assad threatening him for his acts upon the Sunni. That they will, note; Continue to attack his Officers and Officials.

So now there is the Transitional Council, The National Council, and AQ plus the MB, all working inside Syria at this present moment in time. The Sunni and the Saud are willing to Arm and finance their rebels. Did anyone expect otherwise?

Conley
02-24-2012, 09:19 AM
Right, and if the rebels weren't armed there's no way they could have held out this long.

Did you see a couple of reporters got killed over there too.

MMC
02-24-2012, 09:31 AM
Right, and if the rebels weren't armed there's no way they could have held out this long.

Did you see a couple of reporters got killed over there too.

Yes.....it is mentioned in the link. So again Clinton and Obama already know this is a civil war. According to the piece they will apply more sanctions. Clinton says people insides Assads regime are starting to look to their families and will be looking for exit strategy. But this meeting will bring together all the Sunni-Heads with the Saud. Who wants to finance and back the Sunni even if it means giving weapons to AQ and the MB.

See they must see no problem with this. As long as they assure the West of Democracy. I noticed I didnt hear to much from the Sunni about AQ making those attacks in Iraq yesterday.....huh? They were targeting Police/aka LE's.

MMC
02-24-2012, 05:13 PM
Both Clinton and Obama have pushed for this Friends of Syria meeting. So do we think that these 70 Nations walked away without doing anything due to the political tie-down with Russia and China.

Conley
02-24-2012, 05:22 PM
Yes.....it is mentioned in the link. So again Clinton and Obama already know this is a civil war. According to the piece they will apply more sanctions. Clinton says people insides Assads regime are starting to look to their families and will be looking for exit strategy. But this meeting will bring together all the Sunni-Heads with the Saud. Who wants to finance and back the Sunni even if it means giving weapons to AQ and the MB.

See they must see no problem with this. As long as they assure the West of Democracy. I noticed I didnt hear to much from the Sunni about AQ making those attacks in Iraq yesterday.....huh? They were targeting Police/aka LE's.

Yeah, I saw that about Iraq. Iraq has enough problems without AQ adding to them.

MMC
02-24-2012, 06:09 PM
Notice it says that the Western powers want the Syrian National Council to be declared legitmate first. That this draft is that First Step. That they will seek Peaceful Democratic Change. So someone is going to have to Officially Recognize the Syrian Rebels. (Sounds like a Job for the French again)

But all keep telling the Western media that this will not be like Libya. Funny how all the moves that have been made are quite similar. Just a different set of circumstances. We have Rebels and AQ with armed rebellion. Army defectors and the MB working with each other. Rebels and the MB engaging other countries diplomatically. We now have the Sunni Arabs saying they want to finance and aid this venture. Plus now this National Council wants official recognition over any other dissidents. Wants a No Fly Zone or Safety Zone. Rebels have a base in Turkey where they meet other diplomats.

The Sunni Rebels have their main Stronghold in Homs.....in Libya they had Benghazi. Plus with official recognition and if they can hold Homs. Then they will be given their base inside Libya, erm I mean Syria. but don't worry no military action is being taken. :burp:

Mister D
02-24-2012, 09:30 PM
Right, and if the rebels weren't armed there's no way they could have held out this long.

Did you see a couple of reporters got killed over there too.

I don't like the way reporters are treated as if their craft is somehow sacred. Reading those reports you would think they murdered missionaries or priests.