The “Friends of Syria” aren’t – looking for a Security Solution

The Security Solution vs The Friends of Syria: Recipe for Deadlock
By: Nicolas Nassif – 26 February, 2012 – Al-Akhbar

There is a complete disconnect between the Friends of Syria conference that was held Friday February 24 in Tunisia and the military solution adopted by the Syrian regime inside Syria.

The dialogue between Syrian President Bashar Assad and his Arab and Western adversaries regarding the bloody crisis in Syria is almost non-existent.

Assad has ignored the pressure and harsh sanctions against his regime and has insisted on pursuing a security solution against the armed opposition in an attempt to create a new balance of power that would guarantee his place at the head of negotiations over the fate of his country under the purview of his regime.

Arab and Western leaders who are against Assad have cut off all direct dialogue with him. Communication is restricted to the media and the strict measures and sanctions taken against his regime.

These leaders rely on two Syrian opposition movements that don’t speak to one another except to highlight their differences, disagreements, and opposing views on foreign military intervention.

Arabs and Western powers distinguish between the first of these groups, the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the rest of the Syrian opposition. They invite the former to the Tunisia conference and the others to dismantle the regime.

As such, the military and political options appear to be moving on parallel tracks that don’t meet anywhere. And there has not been a breakthrough toward a settlement. …more