Syria inching towards civil war

All the events in Syria are indicating that the country is moving steadily towards all-out civil war. It is a grave danger that culd see Syria disintegrating into smaller religious, ethnic and political enclaves. And to avoid such a prospect, it is critical that the Syria issue is addressed in its entirety.

The UN observer mission in Syria has decided to stay put there. This decision has been taken regardless of the fact that it has come under fire on a number of occasions.

Following his briefing at the UN Security Council, Major-General Robert Mood, the head of the UN mission in Syria, stated that there is no change in the objective of the mission and that its mandate would continue. “The suffering of the Syrian people, the suffering of men, women, and children, some of them trapped by fighting, is getting worse”, Mood said.

Yet all that the UN mission has highlighted thus far are known facts. The suffering of the Syrian people has just intensified as the shelling, the killings and the attacks by regime forces are now merciless.

Is the UN mission therefore relevant at this point in time? It is only legitimate to ask what it has achieved thus far. It has gone into Syria with a specific mandate or outlined goals. And thus far, none of its objectives has been achieved.

It is important here to define what the mission is trying to achieve, now that the slaughtering of the innocent has become a daily event. The resolution of the situation in Syria demands a greater effort — one that goes beyond the UN. The roles of the US and Russia are crucial to any outcome, with the latter being integral to keeping the Syrian regime alive.

Having said that, it is better that the world powers take an alternative approach towards Syria. And hence, it is time for the UN mission to end its failed attempt at bringing a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the country.