France seeks Arab backing for Syria intervention

Reuters

France will seek Arab support on Thursday for a humanitarian corridor in Syria, the first time a major power has swung behind international intervention in the eight-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, who first floated the proposal for a humanitarian intervention on Wednesday, gave more details of the plan and said he would propose it to a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers gathering in Cairo to discuss Syria.

After months in which the international community has seemed determined to avoid any direct entanglement in one of the core countries of the Middle East, the diplomatic consensus seems to be changing.

The Arab League suspended Syria's membership two weeks ago, accusing Assad of failing to fulfill a November 2 pledge to halt the violence and withdraw troops from cities.

This week, the prime minister of regional heavyweight Turkey - a NATO member with the military wherewithal to mount a cross-border operation - compared Assad to Hitler, Mussolini and Gaddafi, and called on him to quit.

Juppe said international monitors should be sent to protect civilians, with or without Assad's permission. He insisted the proposal fell short of a military intervention, but acknowledged that humanitarian convoys would need armed protection.

"There are two possible ways: That the international community, Arab League and the United Nations can get the regime to allow these humanitarian corridors," he told French radio on Thursday. "But if that isn't the case we'd have to look at other solutions ... with international observers,"

Asked if humanitarian convoys would need military protection, he said: "Of course... by international observers, but there is no question of military intervention in Syria."

Not really sure what is going on here other than intentions to directly intervene is gaining momentum. the article states that the proposal falls short of military intervention though where circumstances otherwise necessitate, military protection would be used. Note the proposal says to intervene with or without the Syrian regime's permission. Such intervention is not likely going to be well received by the Syrian regime so this may well set up a situation where war cannot be avoided unless there is no intervention at all. What do others make of this?

reply to post by surrealist


That sheds light on the U.S. warning to Americans in Syria to leave immediately! I cant believe this is really going to happen! Russia is chomping at the bit, just waiting on an intervention!

It appears that the Syrian regime's behaviour and scant disregard for the concerns and requests made by key players, like TAL, Turkey and others will not be tollerated for much longer. And the step taken by France is a clear signal that Saudi, UK, USA, Israel, Turkey & France are in agreement that the Syrian regime has to be stopped and the opposition needs support in order to bring about change which will further isolate Iran who will be the last major peg to fall!!!

This Assad is a turd of the highest order!!!

reply to post by surrealist


Whats with the French these days? Mr Sarkozy seem's awfully trigger happy...

hmmm seems like the situation of Syria is out or control. Why can't Arabs handle theirs for once?

Regime change in Syria has been in the works for a long time..say right after 9-11-2001. I wouldn't believe any other reason/excuse they give you for "attacking" another country. Not saying this is right or wrong just sayin i see through all the lies..This is just the best opportunity they will have, so they are taking it...Iran is next..... probably before this one is even over..just my opinion though.
happy thanksgiving all...

The french realize they're just across the pond from Baghdad style suicide bombers. The last thing they want is their local government buildings becoming hot targets.

Well let's hope France control this one rather than what they did in Algeria and Vietnam in the 1950s.

The French, along with the Israeli, U.K, U.S, Canadian and Australian governments are clearly leading the criminal cabal. The people in these countries need to get this mob out of power. They are murderers.