Syria: Setback for US interests, UN mission in muddy waters (Op-Ed)
Just in time for the G-20 Summit in Mexico, where the most critical topic will be Syria, clashes in Syria have calmed down after the last 10 days of heavy military campaign by the army against terrorist strongholds.
After successfully sealing Syria’s coastline against the usual influx of supplies for insurgents and terrorists, and also the closure of the Turkish-Syrian border, there has been substantial progress in recent days. Even Idlib, hitherto within easy reach from refugee camp bases inside Turkey, appears mostly cut off now – another major setback for the insurgency.Russia allegedly deployed weapons, spare parts and commando trainers to their strategic naval base in the Mediterranean port of Tartus, Syria, during the weekend, FLN sources among Syrian security officers said on Sunday. Another spectacular move might be on the way for the UN observer mission UNSMIS, with Turkish TV, NTV and other channels announcing last night that UNSMIS headquarters might be moved to Hama.This famous historical center of the 1982 uprising is Syria’s most damaged town since the clashes started more than a year ago. The city is therefore almost deserted, but geographically and psychologically it always was and still is the center of the foreign-funded uprising. Analysts therefore point out that this move might allude to direct UN blames placed on the Syrian government in the past. Others point out the action could stand in contradiction to the third phrase of the “Presidential Statement” of the UN Security Council preceding the UN document on the “six-point peace plan” of UN/Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan. The phrase states “strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria,” but the move may be interpreted as a sign of growing official UN solidarity with the insurgency. The insurgency, however, is constantly accusing the observer mission of siding with the Syrian government.As the overall situation calmed down this weekend, main clashes took place in Homs, Rastan and Ar Raqqah. Ar Raqqah is situated 160 kilometers to the east of Aleppo, on way to Hassakah. This may signal that the Syrian government forces are determined to prevent any progress of the insurgency, and terror to the north and also to the eastern parts of the country. Ar Raqqah is also important for its location near the vital rivers (Euphrates) and their valued water supplies.As yet another incident of international status is Saudi Arabia's expected choice of a new crown prince – carefully watched by Damascus. The decision may prejudice measure and style of further Saudi commitment of hitherto open interference with Syria’s domestic affairs in terms of sponsorship of a bloody, terror-oriented insurgency, redolent of US terror-management policies in numerous locations worldwide.
Christoph R. Hörstel for RT
Сhristoph R. Hörstel is managing director at Hörstel Networks, Government & Business Consulting. http://syria-help.blogspot.de/
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
