Assad's Mixed PeaceBlues
Published: 6 Jabuary 2013    By Abiodun Giwa

    
















      Bashir-al-Assad of Syria today in a press conference in Damascus admits that his
country has become a ghostland because of a war by terrorists and slaves armed by
 regional powers. He disappoints those who have been demanding him to step down
as the only way to restore order to the embattled country.
  "They call it a revolution, but it is not a revolution. Revolution needs intellectuals, but
 where are the intellectuals? Is there any thinker for this revolution? Revolution needs
leaders, where are the leaders of this revolution?" he asked.
  He suggested a plan to end the crisis in Syria, beginning with a national dialogue, the
writing of a constitution and a  public referendum. 
  However, the embattled leader said he would not dialogue with members of the
opposition he called terrorists. He said the uprising in Syria isn't against his family rule,
stressing that opposition fighters are foreigners who are out to destabilize Syria.
   Members of the opposition are quick in their response rejecting his offer for
a peaceful end to the conflict without him stepping down. Many foreign leaders who
have been urging him to step down continued their demands as only way for peace in
Syria. 
  Many observers are still emphatic that it will be difficult for the opposition in Syria to
single-handedly oust Assad from power. They referred to Muammar Gaddafi's
experience, who they said remained in power, foreign powers intervention, and the
dramatic end of Gaddafi with a drone attack, which compelled him to a hideout where he
was picked up by opposition fighters before he was shot.
   Observers express sorrow for ordinary Syrians who are caught between forces in
the war. They say when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers, referring to
Assad on one hand and leaders of opposition on the other as the two elephants.
   Already, it is estimated that about 60,000 lives have been lost in the war in Syria
and many more may be lost since no end is in sight. There is a lamentation for the
reason the western powers have chosen to distant themselves from physical
involvement in the Syrian debacle, the same reason that Assad has mentioned in his
 speech that those waging war against Syria are terrorists. 
   Observers said Assad was careful in his chioce of words, which showed that he had
been monitoring developments and he knew about foeign powers' aversion to groups
among the opposition in the Syrian war that are Al-Quada allies, the disagreement
among countries in the United Nation's Security Council and resultant decision of 
some western powers to arm members of  opposition they can trust rather getting involved
 in the ground war or the way they did in Liyba that turned out to favor terrorists aliied to
Al-Quada.
   But observers aver that it is a good development that Assad agrees that his country 
has become the face of death where life is no longer safe.They say It is a sign that he is
also under pressure, he doesn't like what he is seeing and he may sincerely be seeking
a solution. Others say Assad has stay too long in power and needs to step down if he loves
Syria.






 
  
  

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