Isolate Assad

The attempt by four European states to condemn Syrian violence against demonstrators by means of a UN resolution has failed. In view of Assad's brutal oppression of his people such a resolution would accomplish little anyway, writes the daily Trouw: "Certainly, such a signal would not be unimportant as moral support for the Syrian demonstrators. But it would not bring Assad's regime to its knees. That could only be achieved through military intervention. ... However Syria is not Libya. ... A military strike could spark a civil war in this country on Iraq's border, and would have far-reaching consequences for this region where Lebanon, Turkey and Israel are watching like hawks what happens in Syria. The strongest instrument the international community has at its disposal for countering Assad is the complete isolation of his regime, including by his Arab allies."

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