RFS_Br
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2012
- Messages
- 1,237
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
- Location
Syria: London doesn't rule out opposition defeat
By Georges Malbrunot, 6 November, 2012
Risking to offend some of his allies, who are determined to send Bashar al-Assad to international courts, David Cameron said he is in favour of a safe exit for the Syrian leader.
"Certainly I don't offer him an exit plan to the United Kingdom, but if he wants to leave, he could, that could be arranged", said the British PM in an interview to the network channel al-Arabya in the Saudi capital. Cameron said he is "in favour of anything to see that man leave the country and bring about a safe transition in Syria".
France, by contrast, wants to try Assad and his men for "the crimes against humanity" of which they are accused of perpetrating or letting happen.
In fact, British officials are pessimistic about the Syian situation. John Wilks, the Mr. Syria at the Foreign Office, has not hidden that from some rebel leaders.
"Prepare yourselves", he said to them, "for all sorts of eventualities, including that of a new Shaabanyah Intifada", that is, a defeat of the Syrian rebels like that of the Shiite and Kurd opponents of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 1991. After having launched their insurrection and taken over 13 of the 16 provinces of Iraq, they finally had to retreat, and then wait 12 years more before the ousting of the Baghdad dictator.
Many things inform the pessimism of Mr. Wilks, who is an excellent Arabist and a fine connoisseur of Syria: the dispersion of the insurgents, the anarchy in the country, and the abscence of an opposition programme. According to him, "the revolution attracts fewer people now".
Days before, in a reception to a delegation of the Syrian opposition in London, Mr. Wilks did not hide his irritation. "Quit demanding a foreign intervention, that's not going to happen, we have told you so many times over", blasted the British diplomat, asking his guests to unite as soon as possible in order to prepare for a future without Assad.
By Georges Malbrunot, 6 November, 2012
Risking to offend some of his allies, who are determined to send Bashar al-Assad to international courts, David Cameron said he is in favour of a safe exit for the Syrian leader.
"Certainly I don't offer him an exit plan to the United Kingdom, but if he wants to leave, he could, that could be arranged", said the British PM in an interview to the network channel al-Arabya in the Saudi capital. Cameron said he is "in favour of anything to see that man leave the country and bring about a safe transition in Syria".
France, by contrast, wants to try Assad and his men for "the crimes against humanity" of which they are accused of perpetrating or letting happen.
In fact, British officials are pessimistic about the Syian situation. John Wilks, the Mr. Syria at the Foreign Office, has not hidden that from some rebel leaders.
"Prepare yourselves", he said to them, "for all sorts of eventualities, including that of a new Shaabanyah Intifada", that is, a defeat of the Syrian rebels like that of the Shiite and Kurd opponents of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 1991. After having launched their insurrection and taken over 13 of the 16 provinces of Iraq, they finally had to retreat, and then wait 12 years more before the ousting of the Baghdad dictator.
Many things inform the pessimism of Mr. Wilks, who is an excellent Arabist and a fine connoisseur of Syria: the dispersion of the insurgents, the anarchy in the country, and the abscence of an opposition programme. According to him, "the revolution attracts fewer people now".
Days before, in a reception to a delegation of the Syrian opposition in London, Mr. Wilks did not hide his irritation. "Quit demanding a foreign intervention, that's not going to happen, we have told you so many times over", blasted the British diplomat, asking his guests to unite as soon as possible in order to prepare for a future without Assad.
