US withdraws support for Syrian opposition

The Times

1 November 2012

The Obama Administration demanded a major shake-up of the Syrian opposition last night. Hillary Clinton brought an end to America’s efforts to “lead from behind” by attempting to intervene in the make-up of Syria’s dissident leadership.

Speaking in the Czech Republic, she said that the opposition must represent those dying on the front line, and be better able to rally wide support and resist attempts by extremists to hijack the revolution against the Assad regime. The US Secretary of State wrote off the Syrian National Council (SNC), a group of exiles based in Paris. She said that the organisation could play a part in the opposition, but no longer had a claim to leadership.

“This cannot be an opposition represented by people who have many good attributes but have in many instances not been inside Syria for 20, 30 or 40 years,” she said.

“There has to be a representation of those who are on the front lines fighting and dying today to obtain their freedom. And there needs to be an opposition leadership structure that is dedicated to representing and protecting all Syrians.”

The abrupt change in America’s approach came in advance of talks on rebel leadership starting next week in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The Administration has been reluctant to take a hands-on role in the creation of the opposition despite Republican criticism. Mitt Romney has criticised the White House for spending too much time trying to win support for a Syrian political transition plan at the United Nations instead of forging a cohesive body to lead Syria if President Assad’s regime is defeated.

Mrs Clinton said that America had been helping to shape the Syrian opposition, along with European and Arab partners, for months. “We have recommended names and organisations that we believe should be included in any leadership structure,” she said. “We’ve made it clear that the SNC can no longer be viewed as the visible leader of the opposition.

“They can be part of a larger opposition, but that opposition must include people from inside Syria and others who have a legitimate voice that needs to be heard. So our efforts are very focused on that.”

At least 36,000 people have been killed in Syria since March 2011, according to activists. The last 19 months have experienced the Assad regime’s brutal crackdown on dissent descend into a full-scale civil war, with the resistance initially led by the secular-minded. As the violence has intensified, the rebels have increasingly come under the sway of Islamist and extremist influences.

Mrs Clinton said that many in Syria were worried about a Sunni-led opposition taking over from the Assad regime.

“They have no love lost for the Assad regime but they worry, rightly so, about the future,” she said. “So there needs to be an opposition that speaks to every segment and every geographic part of Syria.”

Commenting on Secretary Clinton’s statement, Ribal Al-Assad, said:

“I welcome Secretary Clinton’s statement that there needs to be an Syrian opposition that speaks to every segment and every geographic part of Syria and that the SNC do not have a claim to leadership. It is exactly what I have been saying for over one year.

“It imperative that diplomacy is given a chance to achieve a peaceful resolution in the Syrian conflict. Therefore the opposition must come onto one platform to unite and speak with one voice. That is the only way to start a political process leading to a peaceful inclusive democratic transition to a national unity government and to democracy and freedom.

“The alternative is an all out civil war leading to greater fragmentation of Syrian society and a regional conflict along sectarian lines leading to massive destruction and loss of life.

“I call upon all parties to step back from the brink of an all out war and to de-escalate and end the violence to give diplomacy a chance.”

“I call upon Secretary Clinton to match her words with actions by ensuring that the opposition is genuinely inclusive and that all legitimate representatives are included.”