(Foreign Policy) Salman Shaikh - As U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed out last week, UN observers cannot operate effectively while Assad refuses to abide by a ceasefire. UN and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan's plan is flawed because it was formulated on the misguided belief that the Assad regime will ever stop using violence against domestic protesters and negotiate with them in good faith. People have believed for too long that Assad is willing to initiate political reforms. He has not and will not. Nor will the regime stop its violence. Doing so would hasten its demise. It is time for a renewed effort to forge a genuine united front, including all groups in Syria's social fabric, dedicated to Assad's downfall and the establishment of a pluralistic, democratic state in the aftermath. The writer is director of the Brookings Doha Center. He previously served as special assistant to the UN special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
2012-05-10 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive