Syria's broken promise

The United States has tried diligently to support the pro-democracy factions seeking to end the dictatorial rule of Syrian President Bashar Assad. It has found no direct way to do so. Economic sanctions have not worked and geopolitical considerations make military action, like that recently undertaken in Libya, unwise. Given that, it seemed the best way to promote democracy in Syria and to force Assad's regime to stop killing protesters was for other Arab nations to intervene diplomatically. Apparently, that approach won't work either.

The Arab League, a consortium of more than 20 nations, announced Wednesday that it had brokered an agreement with Syria that would end eight months of state-supported violence against pro-democracy supporters in that country. The arrangement didn't last. Thursday, Syrian security forces used tanks and machine-guns to kill at least 12 protesters in and around Homs, a city where the pro-democracy movement has been strongest.

Those deaths and several others reported elsewhere Thursday raise the total killed since protest began to between 3,000 and 4,000. It is difficult to ascertain with any accuracy the number of dead, wounded or imprisoned because the Syrian government does not allow foreign journalists into the country and prevents journalists in the country from doing the independent reporting that could verify the numbers. Information on the protests and casualty counts now comes only from eyewitness accounts, from videos posted online and from details provided by well-respected activist groups within and outside of Syria.

The Arab League initiative called for Syria to allow foreign journalists and Arab observers into the country, for the Syrian government to withdraw its forces and weaponry from the streets, for the freeing of all political prisoners and for the opening of discussions with opposition leaders about Syria's future. There's no assurance that those steps would end the current stand-off in Syria, but their implementation surely would reduce the killing. Given Thursday's strike against protesters, it seems unlikely that Assad's government intends to abide by the agreement.

That should not surprise the Arab League, the United States and other parties interested in protecting Syrian citizens and promoting democratic government. If the league's terms were met, it almost certainly would signal the end, or at least the start of the end, of Assad's rule. He likely could not maintain power in a society where all activities were transparent and frank discussion of the country's future was open to public view and comment.

The pledge made Wednesday to the Arab League was broken on Thursday. It is fair, then, to assume that the Assad promise was designed to buy time rather than to promote the peaceful transition from autocratic to democratic government. If that proves to be true and the slaughter of Syrian civilians continues, the United States, the Arab League and other interested nations have little choice other than to significantly escalate regional and international diplomatic efforts to isolate Assad and the Syrian business community that continues to support his regime.

Bringing an end to Assad's reign will take time, but it can be done if Arab leaders and neighboring nations -- especially Turkey -- take the lead. Arab and Muslim voices and actions are far more useful in this campaign than Western ones. The United States' role is rightly one of quiet but strong support of the on-going effort to bring democracy to a beleaguered people.

Upcoming Events