Why leaders are silent on the brutal crackdown

Damascus: The Syrian regime's crackdown on the rebellious city of Hama has triggered an international outcry, with ambassadors recalled from Damascus and the UN Security Council convening to discuss the worsening violence.

But there has been little response from Arab states to the four-month crisis in Syria, which has left some 1,500 people dead and some 10,000 detained.

While Arab leaders put aside their adherence to the traditional creed of Arab unity and their distaste for public squabbles to support international action against Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Libya, they are far more wary of Syria. Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's regime sits in the heart of the Middle East and exerts influence — sometimes malign — over several neighbouring countries.

Since becoming president in 2000, Syrian President Al Assad's relations with many of his fellow Arab leaders have been strained, mainly because of Damascus's deepening relationship with Tehran over the past decade. Syria is a key member in an anti-Israel alliance spanning the Middle East, which is led by Iran and includes powerful groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Unsuccessful attempt

Saudi Arabia and Egypt, under former President Hosni Mubarak, had deep misgivings about Syria's close relationship with Iran. The Saudis sought to wean Al Assad away from Tehran through an ultimately unsuccessful mix of persuasion and isolation.

If Al Assad were to appear on TV today and announce an immediate split with Iran, "he would get all the help he needs from the Arab regimes," says Sateh Nour Al Din, a columnist with Lebanon's As Safir newspaper. But Al Assad has shown no inclination to give up that alliance.

The succession of regime-changing rebellions that has rippled through the Arab world since January, however, is of far greater concern to Arab leaders still clinging to power than their frustration with Al Assad's regime. Silent during the revolts in Tunisia and Egypt, they are likely to remain silent even as an unprecedented Syrian movement challenges the 40-year rule of Al Assad and his father.

"Anyone who is going for a revolution should forget about any Arab support coming from any Arab country," says Al Din. "Were the Arab regimes happy with the removal of Bin Ali from Tunisia and Mubarak of Egypt? Not at all. None of them."

Libya was the one exception. The 22-member Arab League gave its approval to Western military intervention in Libya because Gaddafi has earned a raft of enemies in the Arab world during his four decades in power and long ago lost the sympathy of his peers.

Staunch critic

Qatar, which has something of a maverick reputation in the Arab world, has distanced itself from Syria.

However, the Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite news network has been a staunch critic of the Syrian regime's handling of the protesters. Other Arab media outlets also have been deeply critical, particularly those owned or supported by Saudi Arabia and other states in the region.

In Lebanon, some politicians have become increasingly outspoken in criticizing developments in Syria. Over the weekend, Sa'ad Hariri, a former Lebanese prime minister who has been living abroad lately (reportedly due to death threats), condemned the "slaughter" in Hama, saying "we in Lebanon cannot under any circumstances remain silent regarding these bloody developments."

Syrian activists decry ‘moral cowardice' of international leaders

But, analysts say, despite the occasional critical voice, the leaders of the uprising in Syria should expect no assistance from Arab leaders. It also looks unlikely that they will get tangible help from Western countries.