Energy minister: Changes initiated by Crown Prince create real impact for Saudi Arabia    Al-Khateeb: Al-Ahsa records 500% tourism growth with 3.2 million tourists in 5 years    Saudi Media Forum panel highlights Kingdom's vision beyond 2034 World Cup    AlUla Arts Festival 2025 wraps up with a vibrant closing weekend    Saudi Interior Minister meets Jordan's King in Amman    Ministry of Hajj introduces 4 main packages for domestic pilgrims    India seeks AI breakthrough — but is it falling behind?    British Army 'absolutely ready' if ordered to deploy to Ukraine    New York governor weighs Eric Adams' fate after scandals    BIE and Saudi officials review progress on finalizing Registration Dossier for Expo 2030 Riyadh    Al-Ettifaq's Moussa Dembélé undergoes surgery, misses rest of the season    Al Hilal secures top spot in AFC Champions League Elite, set to face Pakhtakor in Round of 16    Fast-food giant KFC leaves Kentucky home for Texas    'Real life Squid Game': Kim Sae-ron's death exposes Korea's celebrity culture    Argentina's President Milei denies crypto fraud allegations    U.S praises Saudi Arabia for hosting U.S - Russia talks in Riyadh    Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms in most Saudi regions until Thursday    Al Ahli defeat Al Gharafa to seal AFC Champions League Elite knockout berth    Spouse of Crown Prince launches Misk Heritage Museum 'Asaan' in Diriyah    Conclave and The Brutalist win big at the Baftas    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



When Will We Stop Marking Time in Syria?
Published in AL HAYAT on 18 - 04 - 2013

The answer to this question might seem like fortune-telling, because the factors that would allow for ending this state of military and political attack and retreat are simply unavailable, and may well remain so for a long time.
The regime of the Assad family still does not recognize that there is a Syrian camp facing it with which it can negotiate. Rather, there are only those it must kill. This is precisely what it has been doing for the past forty years, and not just for the 26 months since the start of the uprising against it. As for the opposition, it does not seem capable of achieving decisive victory, not for a lack of will but rather of means.
The ruler of Damascus links the fate of his country to his own personal fate. His Deputy Foreign Minister, Faisal Meqdad, said in a statement to British newspaper The Guardian that “there will be no Syria if President Assad steps down; (...) Syria will no longer be on the map" – while the whole world bears witness to the fact that it is his remaining in power that is threatening his country's present and future.
Yet what the world knows is one thing, and what it does is another. It is undisputable that Iran and its affiliates (Maliki's Iraq and Hezbollah's Lebanon) are exerting every effort to defend Assad and his regime – not out of love for him but rather to protect themselves and their own interests. However, one cannot understand how the rest of the world can continue to stand idly by and watch what is happening, merely expressing grief for the victims, and even pressuring those who are trying to support the Syrian opposition with what would allow it to withstand in the face of the colossal machine of destruction operated by the regime.
The problem remains the same since March 2011. The international community is unable to play its role and drive Assad to accept a transitional period that is being called for in statements, meetings and conferences every day, with every major power clinging to a different interpretation of it. Moscow and Beijing still consider that a ceasefire should precede any political discussion, and this, as the regime understands it, means that opposition fighters should hand in their weapons and surrender. Meanwhile, Washington, Paris, London and the rest of the world call for starting by the transfer of Assad's powers to a temporary government, and this is in practice not feasible as long as the regime continues to receive support in the form of weapons, funds and fighters.
It is a vicious circle everyone is going around without ever meeting. In fact, they probably do not wish to meet. Each side is waiting for the other to take a step towards them, and it is alright to wait as long as the losses are suffered only by Syria and by Syrians.
As for the situation on the ground, it is in a state of marking blood-spattered time – some progress here, some retreat there, but without anyone being able to achieve complete victory. The regime, as Nabil El-Araby said, is “talking to itself", and sees only itself. The opposition is busy with its own divisions and with clarifying its identity, between “Al-Nusra Front" and “moderation". The West finds in declarations of extremism an appropriate pretext to continue to stand idly by and watch. And if this were to go on this way, predictions may prove true that the war in Syria will last for years and years.
What could alter such a state of affairs? The Arabs do not hold an answer, and the bold step they took of granting the opposition Syria's seat at the Doha Summit alone is not enough. The Security Council with its five permanent members is paralyzed and shackled. The rebels alone are convinced that the suffering will not end until Assad and his regime are gone, but they also do not know when they will celebrate victory.


Clic here to read the story from its source.