By Matt Bacon
As violence continued to worsen in Syria this weekend, the Arab League proposed a joint peacekeeping mission with the U.N. This mission would oversee the rebuilding process after both parties agree to a cease-fire. The Syrian government rejected the proposal, claiming that any Arab League resolution is “non-binding” since the League suspended Syria in January. Despite this, the League is attempting to push the resolution through the U.N.
As foreign diplomats were working hard to save the people of Syria, the government, led by president Bashar al-Assad, continued its onslaught of civilians, most notably in the city of Homs. Parts of the city were subjected to heavy artillery shelling for the eighth straight day, and activists claimed that government forces were strapping captured civilians on tanks to use as human shields.
The violence continued in other cities as well. Twin blasts rocked buildings in the city of Aleppo this weekend, killing 28 people. The rebels blamed the government, while the government attributed the attacks to al-Qaeda. Despite their condemnation of the Assad regime, U.S. intelligence backed up his claim, saying that the attack seemed to the handiwork of the group. Later in the weekend, a video of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri surfaced in which he backs the uprising.
In Damascus, a high ranking general was assassinated in front of his home by armed gunmen. It cannot be confirmed exactly who was responsible for his death, but the attack can most likely be contributed to the rebels. The general, Dr. Issa al-Khouli, ran a military hospital in Damascus and is believed to be a member of al-Assad’s inner circle. The capital of Syria has remained relatively quiet at this point in the conflict, although reports of skirmishes in the suburbs have emerged over the last couple of weeks.
According to CNN, Syrian state news announced that a copy of a new constitution is in the hands of President Assad. “When the new constitution is approved, Syria will have passed the most important stage of laying down the constitutional and legal structure … to take the country to a new era of cooperation with all spectrums of the Syrian people to achieve what we all aspire for in terms of developing our country to draw a brilliant future for next generations,” Assad was quoted as saying by Syrian state news.
To this point, Assad’s words have been nothing but hollow. The killing is showing no signs of letting up. It must also be remembered that Assad has promised an end to violence several times and has not come through. The real hope for Syria’s future lies with the Arab League and the U.N., and whether or not they can agree on a plan for the quarrelling country.
