Syria conflict worsening, says UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi

BBC News ^ | 9/24/12 | BBC

[NormsRevenge]

The situation in Syria is "extremely bad and getting worse", UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has said.

He spoke after briefing the Security Council about his first trip to Syria since taking the post on 1 September.

Mr Brahimi said he would return soon, but admitted he did not have a full plan on how to bring peace to Syria.

The statement comes as violence continues across the country. Activists said the government was bombing parts of the second city, Aleppo.

Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, Mr Brahimi said: "There is no disagreement anywhere that the situation in Syria is extremely bad and getting worse, that it is a threat to the region and a threat to peace and security in the world."

He said there was "no prospect for today or tomorrow to move forward".

But he added: "I think that we will find an opening in the not too distant future." Mr Brahimi said he believed "reasonable people" would know that they cannot go backwards.

The BBC's Barbara Plett at the UN says Mr Brahimi's mission to forge a political solution seems almost impossible, with the two parties intent on fighting rather than talking, and the Security Council deeply divided.

The UN says more than 20,000 people have been killed since anti-government protests began in Syria in March 2011. Activists put the death toll as high as 30,000.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad: Damascus is carrying "a message of peace"

Also on Monday, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad blamed the violence on foreign-backed "terrorist groups".

He told the BBC that Syria was carrying "a message of peace and national reconciliation" to the UN's General Assembly, which starts its annual debate on Tuesday.

[NormsRevenge]

meanwhile , on the campaign trail and fundraising circuit..

This is just another one of them thar ME Bumps in the road, I reckun.

They say the path to Peace runs thru Damascus.. or was it the path to War?

[Uncle Miltie]

Syrian has provided 0bama with a few little "bumps in the road":

[Third Person]

What Syria situation? I thought the domestic MSM made that problem go away.

[Navy Patriot]

The situation in Syria is "extremely bad and getting worse", UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has said.

I certainly hope that translates to "the Muslim Brotherhood radical islamicist rebels are losing badly and may be wiped out."

[bayouranger]

When you have a moment:

http://www.therightscoop.com/walid-and-ted-shoebat-explain-whats-actually-going-on-in-syria/

[Pollster1]

“Worsening” is a judgment call. Is it worsening in the sense that the evil terrorist-supporting dictator, Assad, is losing his grip, or in the sense that the terrorist-aided anti-Assad forces are losing? It is very difficult to decide which side to support, just as it is difficult to control who will take power if Assad is forced out. As much as I despise Assad, I’m not convinced that Assad remaining in power is a bad thing for decent people.

My instinct: Obama wants Assad out, so it’s probably best for America if Assad stays in power.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks NormsRevenge. At least one image in this thread may be disturbing.

[af_vet_rr]

My instinct: Obama wants Assad out, so it’s probably best for America if Assad stays in power.

This is what one of Romney's foreign policy advisers said on the morning shows last Friday:

"It's been over a year since the president said Bashar Assad must go.....Bashar Assad is still in power. America looks impotent in the region."

"President Romney would do more to help the opposition movement on the ground in Syria working with our allies - like the Turks, like the Saudis, like the Qataris - to get the opposition more training, more resources, more weapons. Really coordinate the effort. And [a Romney administration] would not have dragged his feet as long as they have..."

So regardless of who wins the election, looks like we'll be supporting the Muslim Brotherhood by proxy again! What a winning strategy that's been so far! I'm looking forward to Obama or Romney dragging us into an even bigger Muslim civil war and providing training and weapons that will eventually be used against us.