Kofi Annan Still Pushing Moribund Peace Plan
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is hosting a meeting in Switzerland to talk about his Syrian peace plan and finding ways to implement it.
The only problem is, the plan has been dead for months — ignored by both President Bashar al-Assad and the Free Syrian Army of rebels. It never got off the ground. It never had a chance of working.
But here we are 3 months later and Annan is still beating his dead horse. Remarkable denial in the face of overwhelming facts.
The US isn’t much better. Washington and Moscow are quarreling over whether to allow President Assad a role in the “political transition” in Syria. This is a pipe dream because Assad has no intention of talking with the opposition much less allowing for a transition of any kind. The US and Russia are arguing over a fantasy.
So the great game of “pretend” continues as the world fails to face up to the massive bloodletting in Syria by pretending they’re doing something about it.
A conference called by special envoy Kofi Annan to end the Syria crisis appeared on the brink of failure as it opened Saturday, with the U.S. and Russia still divided over a role for President Bashar Assad in a transition government.
Annan seemed confident of his plan a few days ago, but Russia has refused to back a provision that would call for Assad to step down to make way for a unity government, a stance that could scuttle the entire deal.
The envoy warned the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — that if they fail to act at the talks hosted by the United Nations at its European headquarters in Geneva they face an international crisis of “grave severity” that could spark violence across the region and provide a new front for terrorism.
“History is a somber judge and it will judge us all harshly if we prove incapable of taking the right path today,” he said.
He appeared to specifically aim his words at Russia, Syria’s most important ally, protector and arms supplier, which insists that outsiders cannot order a political solution for Syria. The U.S. is adamant that Assad should not be allowed to remain in power at the top of the transitional government and there is little chance that the fragmented Syrian opposition would go along with any plan that does not explicitly say Bashar must go.
I suppose it makes these well meaning diplomats feel better that they have convinced themselves they are doing something to stop the bloodshed. But the fact is, the time for a diplomatic end to this horrible situation has long since passed and the only way forward would involve soldiers — something all sides agree won’t happen.
So the pretending will continue. It’s just too bad that the 170 people dying every day in Syria can’t pretend they’ve lost their lives.
Peace has nothing to do with it. He needs some reason to lunch at exotic restaurants in Switzerland while flying first class all around the globe on someone else’s dime.
No real world problem has ever been solved by diplomats. They are only useful in resolving trifles between friends. Any important problems are never solved by them. Some bad guys with guns usually do that.
It’s a nice gig, if you can get it, though.
It has to be a false flag operation while something elce is about to happen.
The world system is changing. So far we have seen North Africa, Libya, Egypt, Yeman? Iraq? and Afganistan? change over to a more Muslim Brotherhood friendly place. Is this region 4 of GATT? Is Syria the next to fall?
I read troops are massing on the border. Is that true?
– rich lifestyle.
The master of UN’s “oil for food” program and magical “slight-of-hand” pocketing millions. And his cohorts in the UN helping him set-up the system he administered to funnel millions from ever reaching needy populations this program was destined to help. Finally, USA private and public agencies hastily stepped in to insure certain populations in middle eastern nations (targeted to receive this aid) were administered health services, food and basic necessities. This Kofi annan? Yeah! Master UN criminal. OH, well! The UN is a criminal organization. Not one shred of accountability, auditing, reporting…zilch! NADA!
Maybe this should be entitled “Moribund Kofi Annan Still Pushing Peace Plan”?