regime thugs called "Shabiha" constitutes a very serious escalation," Nuland told reporters. "What government voluntarily uses helicopters and fires from them on their own civilians if they're not desperate?" she asked. "What government depends on a bunch of thugs in trucks, irregulars, if they're not desperate? So, you know, clearly the government is under threat." British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday that "all options" should be considered if the peace plan put forth by special envoy Kofi Annan fails to achieve peace.
