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REUTERS/SANA/Handout
A handout photograph released by Syria's national news agency SANA, shows Moroccan Colonel Ahmet Himmiche (3rd L), leader of the first U.N. monitoring team in Syria, during a visit with his team to one of Damascus' suburbs, one of the locations of protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad April 18.
UNITED NATIONS -- Syria has not fully complied with its obligations to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from towns and has yet to send a "clear signal" about its commitment to peace, the U.N. chief told the Security Council in a letter obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said an expanded U.N. monitoring mission for Syria would be comprised of "an initial deployment" of up to 300 unarmed observers who would supervise a fragile week-old ceasefire between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and opposition fighters seeking to oust him.
"The Syrian Government has yet to fully implement its initial obligations regarding the actions and deployments of its troops, or to return them to barracks," he told the council.
"Violent incidents and reports of casualties have escalated again in recent days, with reports of shelling of civilian areas and abuses by Government forces," he said. "The Government reports violent actions by armed groups."
"The cessation of armed violence is therefore clearly incomplete," Ban said, adding that both sides say they are committed to ending the "violence in all its forms."
Diplomats on the 15-nation council say Ban's report and a briefing they will receive from U.N.-Arab League mediator Kofi Annan's deputy Jean-Marie Guehenno on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. ET will be crucial in determining whether the conditions are right for deploying a U.N. monitoring mission to Syria.
Correspondent Neil Connery has travelled to the city of Al-Qusayr, near Homs, where he has discovered that Syrian forces and tanks still occupy the area.
Ban said such a force would be helpful in securing an end to all fighting though it was essential the conditions be right for deployment.
"Developments since 12 April underline the importance of sending a clear message to the authorities that a cessation of armed violence must be respected in full, and that action is needed on all aspects of (Annan's) six-point (peace) plan," he said.
Diplomats' wives urge Syrian first lady: 'Stop your husband'
"At the same time the very fragility of the situation underscores the importance of putting in place arrangements that can allow impartial supervision and monitoring," he said.
An advance team of monitors in Syria had visited the town of Deraa and "enjoyed freedom of movement" there, Ban said. However, he noted that "the team's initial request to visit Homs was not granted, with officials claiming security concerns."
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UN chief says Syria hasn't fully complied with peace plan. Really? Who would have thought that ? Hillary and the UN are a "BAD JOKE" Next move UN and Hillary..
Dilemma.....dilemma.....dilemma for the U.N.
Sending a "monitoring mission" will do NOTHING. Sanctions will do NOTHING. Resolution letters will do NOTHING.
The only thing Assad knows is violence and the only way to end this mess is for a "special unit" be deployed with only one mission, termination.
The United Nations has become a big "bad joke" in peacekeeping. The only thing they will do is send in "monitors" without weapons (which is like our DHS sending National Guard units to our borders without weapons). The only thing the United Nations does well is "squeeze" member Nations for more IMF money for World Redistribution of Wealth.
The United Nations should be told to leave the United States and seek solice somewhere in "Socialist" Europe where they will be welcomed with open arms. Then, whatever country they move to will have to deal with all the Illegal Parking by their "diplomats".
The non-compliance should have surprised no one. Now, if the UN would authorise Turkey to enforce a no fly zone and declare certain border areas no go zones for Assad's troop . . . well, just maybe . . .
Assad lied and the surprise is what exactly???
Why are we wasting billions of dollars and lives of our troops in support of the UN. the UN is full of criminals and do nothing to actually solve any problems. We give them billions of dollars and tons of equipment and support for what? We need to get out of the UN, quit givig them support and money. Sanctions do not work, letters to those against us do not work, giving our enemies money or food does not make them like us, it does not make them change what they are doing. IF There is a threat to us we need to actually REMOVE the threat not try to bribe them to be nicer. We have lost the respect of many places in the world as we are now being seen as weak and without any power or dedication to do what is needed to protect ourselves. You will only be able to stay a leader if seen from a position of strength not from a position of weakness and apologies.
Evidently the U.N. didn't get the memo until just now. These primitive goons have been going at it for the past TEN THOUSAND years. And guess what: they will still be going at it in ANOTHER TEN THOUSAND YEARS. NO AMOUNT of intervention on our part will EVER change that. And that's the way it is, as good ole Walter Cronkite has always said.
The Syrian Rebels (Activist) have yet to stop their attacks. The Syrian Government has the right to protect its cities and country from Rebel attacks. Once again the U.N. is showing favoritism in its one-sided assessment. Let us not forget than the Rebels (Activist) started this Civil War and not the Syrian Government. This is a battle between different Muslim Terrorist Groups for the control of Syria since they lost Afghanistan they need another country from which to launch their attacks.
Ahhh, isnt it comforting that the US pays for the UN as well...Our debt dollars are hard at work!
Nothing to see here, business as usual in the Mid-East
Four words. F' the U N!
ORB1943 You have a plan and I think it would work ""Now if the UN would authorize Turkey to
enforce a no fly zone and declare certain areas no go zones for Assad's troops. Well, just maybe."
Wow, just wow.
JoeB - Wouldn't you think the people have the right to take back their homeland from the radical Muslims? This is the same thing that happened to Lebanon in the early 70's. Hard to think that Lebanon was once a very "western" society with all types of Arabs and Christians, and Muslims living together in peace in a place called the "Paris of the Middle East"...then the Radical Islamist took over and ruined people's lives and murdered tens of thousands of innocent people just because they were too "western" and sinful. I would think these "rebels" have a right to take back what was stolen....don't you? If someone came and took your land...would you NOT want it back? Syrian "leadership" are nothing but terrorists. So, the "rebels" didn't start it.
And Afghanistan hasn't been "lost". Terrorism is alive and well there too. Not only that, we have our troops murdered and all the president can do is apologize to them for mistreating their Koran. Really? Murdering people for burning a Koran? How is that equitable? I hold the Christian Bible as the most sacred and REAL Word of God....but if someone burned one.....that's their business, they don't deserve to be murdered. But for some strange reason we have to accept the murder of our troops as some sort of equitable punishment for burning the Koran...and then an APOLOGY to boot....by our PRESIDENT! Why is there no outcry here about that? Hmm. Maybe it's just me who sees the travesty.
The headline is posted as if there were some level of surprise. Anyone who actually thought or believed that the Syrian President would honor any promise or act with any integrity is quite foolish. And no, this is not one of those ethnic tirades. The simple matter is that power corrupts, and his family has held power too long. There is nothing he would not do to try to hold onto that power. No international convention and no code of human decency will constrain al-Assad.
The real question is whether the West or whether the UN will see the rescue of the Syrian people from the grip of al-Assad as of strategic importance. The UN cannot act because Russia and China supply weapons to al-Assad. Only if financial resources are cut off so al-Assad can no longer pay will they withdraw support and stop blocking UN resolutions.
Do we know for sure that the Syrians actually AGREED to such an arrangement?
I do not for a nano second believe they did.
But that is just me.
FULLY COMPLIED? hahahahahaha how about not at all , un . They fart in your general direction ..
Tyrants do not follow the rules?! I'm shocked.
NOW can Annan quit playing the chump and disappear from the world stage for the rest of his life?
He cannot. He has a FAT contract from the UN (mostly paid for by American taxpayers) and he knows how to cheat and lie. That is why he was selected for this 'important work'.
Remember his son was in charge of the Oil for Food program with IRAQ which was discovered to have been a buffet table for him. He made off with several million bucks from his 'management' of the program. But of course he was never investigated. The UN faculty never would allow that to happen. So when we see Kofi Annen involved in this charade we know a large amount of money is changing hands.
It is past time for the U S of A to leave the UN and kick the fools who occupy the building on the land given to the UN by the Rockefellers out for good.
Well said, Josh. I agree. The UN is just a stink-hole that is funded by us taxpayers. We pay more than ANY other nation, and then have to sit and listen to other nations cheap talk us in their sessions. Let them exist without US dollars and see how long it would stay afloat. Our "return on our investment" is non existent there.
The forgot the DUH at the end of the headline.
You know, if these little powder blue NWO uniforms show up here in the States, the wearers are going to get filled so full of lead that they will be able to use their dicks as pencils. Why should we expect any different from any other countries which they(the U.N.) deploy to?
What about the truth that most Syrian's are UNARMED. What does McCain want to do again? Arm them.
One bullet is all that is needed to solve this problem.
Tired - I'm sorry to say that one bullet is not going to be enough. This problem is so ubiquitous that a single bullet won't put a dent in the problem. I say arm the rebels and let them fight for their homes. But don't send in troops. Let someone else shoot at the bad guys other than us.
Syria is a problem and we all should agree on a solution to the problem but a lot of us disagree about how to handle there controversy. I don't know what it will take to find some common ground but people arn't agreeing on an answer. I see civilian deaths and it is something but no one seems to care enough. Its a matter of time and this country will fall as Lybia and others did but the thing is that it would be to easy if it was the same attack so now we are in a new one that may take time as the problem. So it would be for me to say Syria is going to get a different government operation in the future.
People have trouble agreeing on a solution because there are many westerners today who are more afraid of Islamic terrorists than secular dictators. So it becomes "in our best interest" to keep the dictators in power so they can keep radical Islam down.
Never mind that dictatorships breed terrorism in the first place...
For some...."common ground" is not an option. When you are dealing with differing Islamic religious issues, politics will not offer a real solution. I don't think it has to do with "no one cares" but rather "nothing works". Violence seems to be the only catalyst to change for these people. And until we are willing to aid or supply that "violence" I'm afraid all we can do is watch from over here. it may not be right...or fair...but it's the truth. There is no "easy" or fair solution unfortunately. Just my opinion, tho.
SF - "keep radical Islam down"? Really? That doesn't work. That's why they are labeled "Radical" and unfortunately "radical" seems to be more and more "mainstream". The CAIR in the US has ties to radical Islamist terrorism. Three of their leaders are known terrorists that have been arrested. And this is from the CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations)!! Royer, Elashi, and Khafagi....These are the ones professing to HELP and then found to be terrorists themselves. Ibrahim Hooper, the Communications Director of CAIR defends Saudi financial aid given to families of suicide bombers. In my eyes, "radical" and "mainstream" are too close to differentiate. If the ones posing to help are this bad....well, you see my point.
I know suppressing radical Islam doesn't work. At least, not by force.
The only way I can see Islam leaving behind its violent roots is by bringing them forward to the 21st century. Christianity has a bloody past, but nowadays most Christians have a big enough stake in the prosperous, modern world that religious war seems ridiculous to them.
Liberalization reduces the impact of religiosity. Economic success reduces the role for faith, and with it, radicalization. Democracy increases pluralism and tolerance, and gives non-violent alternatives to spur on change.
Syria isn't complying. Of course not, they're Arabs. It's their job.
SO why should we care - they are Arabs being killed. It's not like they are Jews. Had they been we'd been in there a year ago
And, your point??? Jews are a religion, NOT a race!!!
Actually the "Jews" are a nation. There are some secular Jews and some practicing Jews. So you are not entirely correct. They are not a race, although God does TREAT them like a race of people, but all Jews are not practicing. But, I do agree that their inception was totally religious with Abram being the first "Jew" by being renamed by God as Abraham.
But the "Jews" ARE our friends and allies...One of our BEST friends and allies and we should come to their help whenever they need it.
to Realist - We should care because what happens in the Middle East directly affects our security here at home. Especially in terrorist controlled states like Lebanon and Syria. That should be pretty easy to understand seeing all they want to do is kill us.
SHOCKING just shocking! Here's a novel idea, why don't try something different and keep our noses the HELL OUT OF IT!
Think it's time to say: We just don't have time on worrying about the whole world. We have our own problems in America. We pay the UN on solving these problems like yours.
Oh well, surpising this isn't as the Arab League is refusing to take any action hoping someone else will do it for them. They have more than enough money and military capability to convince Assad to comply or be forced to as the issue rages on.
Assad was and remains a U.S. Puppet ally. Assad is no different than Hasni Mubarak, Saddam Hussein, the guy from Yemen and many others in the Middle East. The United States and England has the Middle East by a choke hold and the only way to stop the European War Machine is to stop the oil. I can't wait for Iran to bomb Isreal, Russia to assert its power in Europe and it's allies Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, and others to declare war on the U.S. and Britain. Oh and Germany? You would think that getting your ass kicked twice by England that it's time to finally win? I mean c'mon...Third time's a charm.
I can't wait for you to realize that everything you just said is wrong and that none of those things are ever going to happen because your understanding of geopolitics is ridiculous.
I'm in for a long wait, I'm sure, but it'll be worth it.
Poltergeist - Let's say for argument's sake you are right...all those things will happen. To say you can't "wait for them to happen" makes you nothing but a terrorist sympathizer...and in effect, a terrorist yourself. Why would you WANT that to happen? What kind of sick satisfaction do you gain by Iran bombing Israel? I see a major problem with your concept here though.....America doesn't have a "choke hold" on the Middle East. Last I heard we were leaving Iraq, Afghanistan will be next and Iran is building nukes. not sure where this idea of "choke hold " is. Our only REAL foothold is in Israel. Which leads me back to your statement....why on EARTH would you like to see Iran bomb (most likely nuke) Israel? Do you actually think before you write or does it just come out bypassing your brain?
Whaaaaaaaaatttttttt????
They are not complying with the cease fire agreement!!! Why I'm...I'm...shocked, I don't know what to say!
Wow, didn't see that coming!
well if the syrian government should give in to the terrorists, maybe we should have just let the 9/11 people have their way : ) Terrorists invading from turkey are not going to honor the ceasefire, especially when western media will glorify their heinous acts. And trust me, if someone shot at me, i would shoot back, not just sit there and talk about the UN ceasefire agreement. Obviously the "syrian opposition" is not legally bound by anybody since they refuse to talk to the syrian government.... and have aggravated the cease fire.
So F'in what I could care less...We have our own BS to deal with. Stop banging the drums and F everyone focus on our debt our waste our jobs our useless government. if we can control that mess maybe we can look to help some people somewhere else.
gunsmith - do you remember what happened to our economy after 9/11? We cannot afford another 9/11 so we have to remain vigilant and keep those terrorist states in check. We are directly affected by what happens in the Middle East. A certain amount if Isolationism is good and expected, but that shouldn't include sticking our head in the sand either.
And the beat and the BS goes on!!
He cannot. He has a FAT contract from the UN (mostly paid for by American taxpayers) and he knows how to cheat and lie. That is why he was selected for this 'important work'.
Remember his son was in charge of the Oil for Food program with IRAQ which was discovered to have been a buffet table for him. He made off with several million bucks from his 'management' of the program. But of course he was never investigated. The UN faculty never would allow that to happen. So when we see Kofi Annen involved in this charade we know a large amount of money is changing hands.
It is past time for the U S of A to leave the UN and kick the fools who occupy the building on the land given to the UN by the Rockefellers out for good.
We should either arm the rebels with the tools they need to get rid of Assad, or off Assad ourselves. Hes a murderer, so whatever he gets, he deserves. War is not needed to accomplish either of those.
How about helping Turkey do it? They've been making aggressive noises lately, and they aren't going to turn the weapons on us later.
SF - That's not a bad idea.
OK Freedom4evryone and SF accountant . The problem been solved you two with McCain , Lieberman , Hillary , congressman King and Leon Penata , can arm yourselves and go fight next to these Al Qaeda rebels and the Saudis and Qataris will pay dearly , and then try to explain that to some of the families of our heroes why you so crazy about doing that and whats the real reason behind it .
My turn, do you actually read the entire post before you respond? Or is your reading comprehension as bad as your grammar and punctuation? I'm not going to argue with you in defense of opinions you keep assuming I hold.
no comment
Assad quoted last year that he is a great admirer of obama ..hmm! Heres a joke..The U.N. and hillary go into this bar called Syria and give the bartender orders ..but nothing happens!
And a big ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,WHO CARES , again
What a Shock! Another Lying, Islamic MURDERING "leader" won't listen to or play by the UN and the West's rules. Sounds a Lot like Saddam, Gaddafi, Ahmadinejad, leader of Sudan, etc. Now what UN's "Bark at the Moon?" Now what, Hillary? Now what Hussein Zero? Now what EU? More talk, More sanctions? Assad's answer, just like all the rest, How abouut more Bloodshed and DEATH!
The UN is the most incompetent organization in the world, run by idiots who know nothing of true reality. I have had the luxury (that's a joke) of working alongside these morons in Haiti and see first hand just how much they screw things up and allow atrocities to continue right in front of their eyes. They never intervene, citing one reason or another. They only write reports detailing what good jobs they've done 'monitoring' while patting themselves on the back simply for being there. They have no idea how to deal with a real situation, but they demand to be in the forefront leading the charge.
Not to say that there are not some good people working for that organization on the ground level who actually try to make a difference, but the UN machine as a whole keeps that from happening. No country of any substance respects the UN.