President Assad’s tanks are still doing murder on the streets of Syrian, but the
dictator’s isolation grows. After weeks of prevarication, several Gulf States have closed ranks against the Syrian regime. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait have all recalled their ambassadors from Damascus, and King Abdullah of Riyadh has led the Arab League’s condemnation of Assad’s ‘death
machine’.
Better late than never, the international consensus says. Compassion for the oppressed is not a familiar trait among Arabian princelings, but their reticence on this occasion was particularly surprising given that Assad’s Syria is no friend of the Arab League, preferring to side with Iran in most things. Still, today’s diplomatic gestures will add to the pressure bearing on the Syrian regime; although where this will end is anyone’s guess.
The outcome of the Libyan campaign is no more certain. NATO will stay the course, we are told; but the lack of progress has inspired war-weariness in and beyond Westminster.
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