Editorial: Harsher response for Syria
A member of a pro-Islamic human rights group holds up a sign which reads "We remember Hama", during a demonstration to protest Syrian president Bashar al Assad and his regime, outside the Syrian Embassy in Ankara, on August 1, 2011. Credit: Getty/ADEM ALTAN
While NATO attacks the forces of Moammar Gadhafi in Libya with bombs and missiles, world leaders until recently have spared Syrian President Bashar al-Assad so much as harsh language -- even though human rights groups say he's murdered 1,600 people for protesting his tyrannical regime.
It's time to speak more plainly. Syria's bloody efforts to suppress pro-democracy protesters are outrageous and unacceptable. By using tanks and machine guns against civilians, the Assad regime has made itself morally radioactive. And Western leaders are finally speaking out forcefully. President Barack Obama said he was "appalled" by the latest killings in Hama, and top UN officials have demanded a halt to the violence.
Unfortunately, Assad has allies in some of the world's despots, including the rulers of Iran and China, as well as support from Turkey. He also has a much stronger military than does Libya.
But if military action is out, condemnation is not. A possible United Nations resolution has been blocked by Assad-friendly nations since May, but the most recent bloodshed has made it harder for Assad's enablers, such as Russia, to defend him. The Security Council has been discussing Syria this week, and we urge a strong resolution demanding a halt to the killing.
Sanctions might also help. It may be impractical to hit Assad militarily, but at the very least he can be squeezed economically. hN
