US Senate panel condemns Syria's 'brutal' use of force

[tabatha]

(AFP) – 13 hours ago

WASHINGTON — A key US Senate panel unanimously approved a resolution Thursday strongly condemning Syria's "brutal and unjustifiable" use of force against civilians, and called for a review of legal options to hold regime officials accountable.
The measure also expresses "strong disappointment" over Russia and China's veto earlier this month of a UN Security Council resolution that would have censured Damascus for its deadly crackdown on dissent.

The Senate resolution urges the international community "to review the legal processes available to hold officials of the government of Syria accountable for crimes against humanity and gross violations of human rights."

But Democratic Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, acknowledged the resolution had been softened because some members felt the original language went too far. He said it was "a powerful first step," nevertheless.

Republican Senator Bob Corker expressed concern the original resolution could be used to authorize US military action against Syria, likening it to a Senate resolution that he said was invoked by the administration as backing the US intervention in Libya.

PLEASE NOTE - EVEN THE NEOCONS DO NOT WANT MILITARY ACTION

[tabatha]

1. Senator Richard Lugar

Senator Richard Lugar, an influential Republican on foreign policy, said the United States lacked a clear understanding of the nature of the Syrian opposition, and noted that the regime had a credible military, significant air defenses and possible chemical and biological warfare capabilities.

I.E. NO MILITARY ACTION

[tabatha]

2. Some tweets

Mohamed Fadel Fahmy @Repent11 Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
FSA: " We buy all our weapons from inside Syria, from traitors in Assad's army who want money, we also raided several weapons warehouses"

BSyria @BSyria Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
How many times can i stress this? The country is moving toward an armed revolt, whether the west arms the FSA or not. #Syria

Martin Chulov @martinchulov Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
FSA supply lines to Bab al-Amr in #Homs totally cut for now. No-one has got in from the south, or west for 10 days #Syria

[tabatha]

3. Threats of war cloud hopes for Middle East

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/threats-of-war-cloud-hopes-for-brighter-future-in-the-middle-east/2012/02/10/gIQA64BN6Q_story_1.html

Though there is no evidence yet to support Syrian government claims that Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been arming the Syrian opposition, that could well change now that concerted international action to resolve the Syria crisis seems unlikely, said Emile Hokayem of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain.

With Russia already providing arms to the government and Iran offering technical assistance and military advice, according to U.S. officials, the stage is set for Syria to serve as the venue for a messy proxy war that could spill into Lebanon, Iraq and perhaps beyond

That is why Lugar and others do not want any involvement,

[davidthegnome]

4. Syria laughs, rest of world smirks...

Oh look it's the pot calling the kettle black.

I'm not sure what we can or should do, if anything, regarding the situation in Syria. Providing humanitarian support, I think, to the extent that we are able, would be helpful. We don't have any right to condemn another Nation for the brutal use of force though. Frankly I think we need to stay away from this one militarily.