Arab League turns to UN for support on Syria

[tabatha]

Posted on January 22, 2012 by JH2992

The Arab League has asked the UN to support a new plan for resolving the crisis in Syria that sees President Bashar al-Assad transferring power to his deputy and a government of national unity within two months.

Assad should “delegate powers to the vice president to liaise with a government of national unity,” to be formed in two months, according to a statement read by Qatari premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani after Arab foreign ministers met in Cairo to determine the fate of their observer mission.

The Arab foreign ministers urged "the Syrian government and all the opposition factions to engage in a serious dialogue under the auspices of the Arab League, within a period of not more than two weeks, to be able to achieve the formation of a unity government bringing together those in power and the opposition."

The new government's mission would be to implement the Arab League plan to end the crisis, and to prepare free and fair legislative and presidential elections under both Arab and international supervision.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1620737/Arab-League-turns-to-UN-for-support-on-Syria

BEST possible scenario.

[ellisonz]

1. Assad isn't going to step down.

He crossed that bridge when he started murdering unarmed demonstrators.

[tabatha]

4. There are rumors that he is loading the Russian ships with gold and art.

If true, that means he is probably planning to go to Russia.

[ellisonz]

5. Or he's trying to raise cash...

...to pay his thugs.

[David__77]

7. Many people consider "thug" to be a racist term.

http://plaistedwrites.blogspot.com/2008/07/thug-is-new-n-word.html

and someone who disagrees...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-muller/a-thug-by-any-other-name_b_155708.html

Somehow Arab and African people get called "thugs" an awful lot. I don't hear white people being called "thugs" too much. Doesn't mean it's a racist term, but a lot of people think it is.

[ellisonz]

9. Really...

Why don't you just defend the Butcher instead of nibbling around the edges. I resent your implication that the usage here is even remotely racist.

From Merriam-Webster:

Definition of THUG
: a brutal ruffian or assassin : gangster, tough
— thug·gery noun
— thug·gish adjective

He was beaten and robbed by street thugs.
<the Mob boss regularly sent his thugs after people who were slow to pay their debts>

Origin of THUG
Hindi & Urdu ṭhag, literally, thief
First Known Use: 1810

Derived from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuggee

It seems I probably know more about the term than you anticipated...

[David__77]

10. I didn't imply it. I was just relaying that some consider it a racist term.

I know what the dictionary says. The etymology is from the Thuggee murder cult of India. The British colonialists liked to hone in on this as supposedly exemplifying the "savage" qualities of inferior people of color. I am not saying it is racist, and each to their own devices. I am sure you had no racist intention whatsoever. "Butcher" is certainly not a racist term, nor are brute, tough, knave, rogue, or blackguard.

[ellisonz]

12. So then what was the point of the conversation?

The term is quite accurate in its use. I agree though, calling NBA basketball thugga-ball as some have done here is racist. But in this instance, it wasn't even close to productive discussion.

[David__77]

8. Or he's trying to protect national resources from destruction.

Perhaps...

[tabatha]

11. That's a joke - from the most destructive person to date in the ME.

[David__77]

13. Bashar Assad, the MOST destructive person TO DATE in the Middle East? Really?

Hmm... Not even George W. Bush exceeds Assad in terms of "destruction?" Or perhaps T.E. Lawrence?

[tabatha]

14. I am talking about heads of state on their own people

who they are supposed to protect.

Bush Co were a complete disaster, and Iraq is in ruins.

[tabatha]

2. League urges Yemen scenario in Syria

CAIRO – Arab league foreign ministers voting to extend their widely criticized Syria observer mission agreed Sunday on a new political road map that calls on President Bashar Assad to delegate power to his deputy and set up a unity government as a prelude to early parliamentary and presidential elections. The Arab League decided to extend the mission, a move that was rejected by opposition groups and Saudi Arabia, which said it was withdrawing its observers after the mission failed to end 10 months of bloodshed. Riyadh called on the international community to exert “all possible pressure” on Damascus.


Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told a news conference after the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo that the Arab League would take the power handover initiative to the U.N. Security Council and ask for its endorsement.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Jan-23/160759-league-urges-yemen-scenario-in-syria.ashx?#axzz1kEke99cR

[tabatha]

3. The Arab League to Syria’s President: It’s Time for You to Go

BEIRUT – The epithet that seemed to be perpetually attached to the Arab League was “toothless.” On Sunday, however, the organization was baring fangs at Syria. In the absence of a detailed political roadmap from the Syrian opposition, the Arab League presented its own audacious plan, calling on Syrian President Bashar Assad to relinquish power to his vice president who would then form a national unity government within two months ahead of early parliamentary and presidential elections.

The proposal, outlined by Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani in a press conference at the League’s headquarters in Cairo, also demands Assad begin a national dialogue with the opposition within two weeks, and that the unity government elect a council within three months of its formation to write a new constitution. “I call on Syrian authorities to accept their responsibilities before God, and their people and the Arab nation,” Sheikh Hamad said, after a nearly-five hour meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo. “We know that Syria has entered a period of violence and counter violence.” He added that the members of the opposition “are arming to defend themselves.”

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2105066-2,00.html

[pampango]

6. Aljazeera: Syria rejects Arab League transition plan

Syria has condemned a new Arab League initiative that calls on President Bashar al-Assad to cede power by holding early elections and forming a "national unity government".

Syrian state television, quoting an unnamed official source, said early on Monday morning that the resolution, passed on Sunday night, contradicted the will of the Syrian people and was a violation of its national sovereignty. The source said the resolution was part of a conspiracy against the Syrian people.

"After the establishment of the government of national unity, there has to be a referendum and preparation for new elections. The Arab League's Secretary-General is to send a new special envoy to Syria, and will call on the international community to support this national unity government to fulfill its functions," he said.

"We are looking into an Arab solution for this. We are not looking for a military intervention. The decision was by consensus, except Algeria which had some reservations. Lebanon has abstained, and we appreciate their situation there and we thank them for their cooperation," he said.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/01/201212305618873831.html

It seems that Assad's definition of "Syrian national sovereignty" is "my continued rule". The Arab League proposal would require a government of national unity, a referendum and preparation for an election. Don't see much other than Syrians making decisions in that process so I don't see how "national sovereignty" is threatened - just Assad's continued rule.