Gulf Arab states pull observers from Syria, call for Security Council action - Polidicks

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16698754[/url] [quote=BBC News][b]Gulf Arab states have announced that they are withdrawing from the Arab League's observer mission in Syria.[/b] The Gulf Co-operation Council also called on the UN Security Council to put new pressure on Damascus to end a violent crackdown against protests. It came after Syria rejected an Arab League plan for President Bashar al-Assad to step down and hold elections. Syria's foreign minister said some Arab states had joined a foreign conspiracy to destabilise the country. Speaking after the GCC's announcement, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said "a new phase of their plan against Syria" included the West and Arab states. Some regional powers were "internationalising" the situation in Syria by asking the UN Security Council to take action against Damascus. Syria has long held that a foreign conspiracy backing armed groups is behind the country's unrest. The UN says more than 5,000 people have been killed as the government seeks to quash 10 months of protests. Syrian officials say about 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed in the unrest, which has become increasingly violent as defectors from the army join the opposition. [b]'Wreaking havoc'[/b] Arab states had ignored a report from the Arab League observer mission that noted a decrease in the violence in areas it had monitored since the end of December, Mr Muallem said. In a news conference in Damascus, he signalled no end to the crackdown. "It is the duty of the Syrian government to take the necessary measures to address the problem of those armed elements who are wreaking havoc throughout Syria," Mr Muallem said. Earlier, the six members of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) urged the UN Security Council to take "all needed measures... to press Syria to implement the Arab League and the Arab initiative on Syria". A Kuwaiti newspaper reported that the GCC did not want its monitors to be "false witnesses to crimes committed against civilians". President Assad's supporters in the government and security forces were exploiting the observers to prevent a solution that did not suit them, al-Qabas quoted GCC officials as saying. Saudi Arabia, the largest of the GCC's six member states, announced it would withdraw its monitors after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Sunday, saying Damascus had broken promises on peace initiatives. The other GCC states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. [b]'Flagrant interference'[/b] The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says Tuesday's announcement from such influential countries is another big blow for the Arab League's mission. The GCC's move is an illustration of how divided the Arab League is over the Syrian crisis, our correspondent says. The monitoring mission, set up in haste in late December to observe implementation of an Arab League peace plan, seems to have a limited future, our correspondent says, even though the league extended its mandate for another month just days ago. On Sunday, the Arab League put forward a plan for President Assad to hand power to a deputy and for a national unity government to be formed within two months which would include the opposition. A new constitution would then be drafted and multi-party elections held, according to the plan. Syria rejected the proposals as "flagrant interference" in its internal affairs. The Arab League has been pushing for UN Security Council support for its initiatives on Syria. AFP news agency reported on Tuesday that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani and the league's Secretary General Nabil al-Aribi had formally requested a meeting with UN head Ban Ki-moon to ask for Security Council backing on Syria. Security Council action on Syria has been prevented by veto-wielding permanent members Russia and China, who have been reluctant to back action that they say might lead to Libya-style military intervention.[/quote]

dont leave me

i hope they've seen all they need to see and finally put a boot up Syria's ass. This shit has got to stop.

The lack of comments here sadly reflect the actual Syrian issue - it's there but no one really is talking about it.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34376048]The lack of comments here sadly reflect the actual Syrian issue - it's there but no one really is talking about it.[/QUOTE] We tried but: [quote]Security Council action on Syria has been prevented by veto-wielding permanent members Russia and China.[/quote]

[QUOTE=Electrocuter;34376294]We tried but:[/QUOTE] Fuck Russia. Their defense of Syria is unacceptable. Surely they would back down against a joint NATO/Arab league effort. And if they don't they don't. Their defense of Syria should be considered a human rights violation in itself.

[QUOTE=OvB;34376477]Fuck Russia. Their defense of Syria is unacceptable. Surely they would back down against a joint NATO/Arab league effort. And if they don't they don't. Their defense of Syria should be considered a human rights violation in itself.[/QUOTE] Sadly if you are a veto-wielding nation in the security council you can veto anything with the reason "because hotdogs" and get away with it.

The idea of a single nation being able to VETO the entire Security Council is the most ridiculous thing on the face of the planet.

[QUOTE=ewitwins;34378259]The idea of a single nation being able to VETO the entire Security Council is the most ridiculous thing on the face of the planet.[/QUOTE] This is why the UN is a joke outside of humanitarian operations, no member country gives two fucks what they say you can and can't do. Also any attempt by Arab nations to try and end this via military might would probably be met with a military response by Russia judging by their past actions.

[QUOTE=zombieslaya;34378593]This is why the UN is a joke outside of humanitarian operations, no member country gives two fucks what they say you can and can't do. Also any attempt by Arab nations to try and end this via military might would probably be met with a military response by Russia judging by their past actions.[/QUOTE] This isn't a humanitarian operation?