Kofi Annan quits dealing blow to peace efforts in Syria
Lewis DiuguidU.N. diplomat Kofi Annan’s resignation in efforts to end fighting in Syria deals a major blow to global efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in that Middle Eastern country.
Annan on Thursday in Geneva called global efforts to end the bloodshed in Syria “Mission Impossible.” Rebels with roots to last year’s Arab Spring uprising have been trying to unseat Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Unlike in Libya, the United States and other countries have been reluctant to intervene militarily in Syria.
In all likelihood, Annan’s resignation will mean more people will be hurt or killed as the conflict continues.
Kent Mueller
10 months, 2 weeks agoNot to minimize the seriousness of the issue, the headline is a good example of the importance of punctuation.
I think the intent would be served best by having a comma after quits. That would mean that the act of his quitting will cause damage to the negotiation process.
A second meaning would be the one if this is read as it is printed. That meaning would be that he has stopped deterring the process of peace. That is, he quit dealing a blow to the process.
Of course, a third reading could mean that he quit selling (dealing) cocaine (blow)!!!
Phil Cardarella
10 months, 2 weeks agoSyria is a sad case. It is difficult to transition from autocracy to a moderate democratic government — especially in nations of divided ethnic/religious groups. Assad — had he been an enlightened dictator — had the opportunity early on to do his nation a real service. The first demonstrations were from across the board and totally secular. Had he responded with actual reforms, he could have been his nation’s George Washington.
Once he called in the troops with live ammunition — a terrible miscalulation — his own future and the future of his family and supporters became a matter of win or die. The moderate secular opposition loses control. A cycle of retaliatory violence feeds on itself — and the most extreme elements dominate.
After enough of your sons, brothers and buddies have been killed, compromise becomes betrayal of them. Or so both sides feel.
Ironic, really. Because Assad — a secular, Western-educated guy — follows the advice of the Ayatollahs in Iran, he is likely to be replaced by a different team of nutty Islamists in a terrible bloodbath to come.
Steven Fetter
66223
10 months, 2 weeks agoA couple of thoughts:
Perhaps the Syrian culture is defective. Hereditary succession, ruthless and autocratic law enforcement and blaming Jews for all their problems highlight the current middle eastern environment.
If only Bush would not have called out President Assad as a problem in Mideast peace, Sen Kerry (BFF to Assad) could have probably solved this problem. Blame Bush.
Name the last enlightened dictator.
Kent Mueller
10 months, 2 weeks agoSteven is right. Enlightened dictator? As in benevolent? There is no such thing.
George Hunsucker
Northland
10 months, 2 weeks agoSo, does anyone know how much Kofi got paid for this latest UN boondoggle?
Why are we still in this worthliess organization?