THE response by the regime of Bashar Al-Assad to calls for an end to violence in Syria has been an escalation of violence. Kofi Annan, the UN Security Council and Arab League envoy, has been touring the Middle East and making statements calling for the Syrian regime to stop the killing of innocent people and enter into a peaceful dialogue with the opposition. His mission has apparently failed. The National Syrian Council has noted the failure. Apart from its condemnation of the Syrian regime's atrocities and flagrant violation of human rights, the UN Security Council has been unable to adopt any tangible measure to help the Syrian people who are being butchered by Al-Assad's military apparatus day after day. The Security Council is apparently helpless since Russia and China vetoed the Arab-backed resolution seeking to force Al-Assad to stop the carnage. The group Friends of Syria is still trying to find a way to get humanitarian aid into the country, and there has been no news as to what has happened to the UN request to allow aid to the victims of the regime's atrocities. There seems to be no end in sight to the suffering of the Syrian people. Despite the world's failure to help them, the Syrian people have displayed a strong will to resist the atrocities. Protests have been going on in many parts of Syria. The Free Syrian Army has been holding its gains, although there have been instances when they have had to retreat when enemy attacks have been strong. These are signs that the battle will be settled inside Syria, whether the world community helps the Syrian people or not. With their strong will, we pray for their triumph against the regime's evil deeds. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday that Al-Assad is acting like a murderer and should be sent to the International Criminal Court. Excellent words, but mere words will not win the battle in Syria. Al-Assad has to be defeated before he can be sent to the world court to answer for his crimes. __
