Latest Arab Spring thread

[Undertoad]

Here we go, application of "soft power" on Assad, as the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, the EU foreign policy head all demand in unity that he step down.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14577333

[tw]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Here we go, application of "soft power" on Assad, as the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, the EU foreign policy head all demand in unity that he step down.

That ignores something far more important. Turkey demanded Assad step down and to stop attacking civilians. Turkey also threatened consequences if ignored.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Here we go, application of "soft power" on Assad, as the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, the EU foreign policy head all demand in unity that he step down.

Yeh, after other countries have already done so, Obama then commits. Never in the lead, only seems to be following.

None of us know what happens behind closed doors, but still many were clamoring for this a long time ago and before many innocent lives were lost.

Originally Posted by tw

That ignores something far more important. Turkey demanded Assad step down and to stop attacking civilians. Turkey also threatened consequences if ignored.

Really? Do you have any citations for that claim? Aside from the US press saying that the US is pushing them to do so, they still have not and have, from all indications, refused to do so, so far. In fact, everything I've found seem to specifically say the opposite, for example:

Russia and Turkey rejected Western calls for the Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down.

Turkey calls for change in Syria, but not Assad's resignation

Turkey is reluctant to follow the United States and European powers in calling for ... to follow US President Barack Obama's call on Assad to step down

Russia, Turkey stand by Assad

A Russian Foreign Ministry source said Russia opposes U.S. and European calls for Assad leave power and believes he needs more time to implement promised reforms, while in Turkey.

An official source told AFP Turkey also believes it is “too soon” to call for Assad’s departure.

“We are not there yet. First and foremost the people of Syria must tell Assad to go. This has not been heard in the streets of Syria,” the Turkish official said.

“The Syrian opposition is not united and we haven’t seen yet a collective call from Syrians to tell Assad to go, like in Egypt and Libya.”

Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK), which brings together top civilian and military officials, discussed Ankara’s strategy on Syria Thursday but fell short of making an open appeal for Assad to resign. It instead repeated calls for an immediate end to violence.

“It has been emphasized once again that the use of violence and force against civilians must be stopped immediately,” the MGK said in a statement, released late Thursday.

It said a democratic change must take place in compliance with the “legitimate demands of the friendly and brotherly Syrian people,” according to Anatolia news agency.

A Russian official, quoted in Interfax news agency said: “We do not support such calls and believe that it is necessary now to give President Assad’s regime time to realize all the reform processes that have been announced.”

Read more: