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‘Assad must go to save Syria from intervention’
Published: 15 February, 2012, 13:03
Syrian tanks are seen in Bab Amro near the city of Homs February 12, 2012. (Reuters / Mulham Alnader/Handout)
(89.5Mb) embed videoTAGS: Conflict, Military, NATO, Religion, Politics, Human rights, Terrorism, Opposition, War, Syria, Laura Smith
Syrian President Bashar Assad should resign if he doesn’t want to repeat the fate of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, while Russia and China should help him to do so, the Middle East expert Tariq Ali told RT.
British historian and journalist Ali considers it unlikely that Syrian president will step down on his own accord.
“He has to be pushed out,” Tariq Ali insists, for which “the Syrian people are doing their best”.
Pressure is being mounted outside Syria by Turkey and NATO for intervention – that would be disastrous and bring enormous bloodshed, like in Libya, believes Tariq Ali.
The expert says both Assad and his father have spilled enough Syrian blood and that “this family is unacceptable”.
“Syria needs a non-sectarian national government to prepare a new constitution," Tariq Ali stressed.
He expressed hope that all the most influential parties, like Russia, China, Iran and even Hezbollah must realize that it is time for President Assad to go and to do so, no peacekeeping force is needed.
Tariq Ali agrees that mounting international pressure on Bashar Assad is needed because simple economic sanctions will not bring the desired results. Countries like Iran and China would not abide them, so it is time for Russia and China to realize they need Assad no more.
He believes that once Assad falls, the new government will keep good relations with Iran, because this will be in the interest of the new democratic government.
“If the Assad clan refuses to relinquish their stronghold on the country, sooner or later something disastrous will happen,” Tariq Ali predicts, threatening a foreign intervention and recalling the inglorious deaths of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi lynched by mobs inspired by the west.
“That is the future that stares them in the face, there is no other future,” Tariq Ali said.
“The fact is that the overwhelming majority of people in Syria want the Assad family out – and that is the key thing that we have to understand and he [Assad] should understand,” Tariq Ali claims.
He also warns about letting Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood take control of the Syrian government. Even if it becomes a moderate one, religious minorities will most probably be targeted to divert attention from economic and social problems.
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9 comments
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F.Ade- Your premise would only work in a vacuum. The intrenched will always fight for the status quo. Those wanting change are always at a distinct disadvantage. The media was controlled by Al Assad and not by the west. Most what we saw was a controlled release of staged information with an occasional phone picture of what was going on. Regarding Gaddafi and Hussein, they were so deluded with themselves that they actually thought they would survive. In both instances, it could have been avoided if they bent to the will of their people early on.
I thought what we are seeing is the Syrians trying to set their own agenda. Also, since that area of the Middle East was based on a tribal society, then I assume you would support a return to that form of government which suits their unique history and social circumstance.
RT’s interview with Tariq Ali (15th Feb) underlines the problem with Western orientated commentators today. On a macro level the premise for debate & opinion is Eurocentric & devoid of nuanced, well documented factual evidence. Rather it is based on the tsunami of mainstream media’s deliberate misinformation & heavy bias. Like being caught in a tsunami you take in water & cannot resist the flow!! Why is Western style government, as purveyed by Western imperialistic, colonial powers, the only legitimate type of government, all of a sudden?? Is the comic irony of enforcing a one cap fits all system/dogma, in a world of 7 billion people & labelling it freedom, lost on Dr Ali?? On a micro level on what basis is his assertion that the overwhelming majority of Syrians want Assad regime gone? I assume he is PhD so understands the need for some evidence or basis of this assertion, because anecdotal evidence, of mass pro- Assad demonstrations, not broadcast by the source of his assertions (likely Western media) appears to prove otherwise. As for Assad ending up like Gaddafi or Hussein, you could do worse than dying for your political principles. A morally principled stand, is not the sole domain of the West, quite the opposite. As PhD I expected a better rounding off of his position, what has been the legacy of Gaddafi & Hussein’s death, except complete & sustained chaos & personal agony for millions. As for double standards, this is simply stating the obvious; its necessary & inherent in imperialistic agendas that seek to dominate & sustain illegitimate hold over other nations. Let the Syrians set their own political agenda internally, with a type of government that suits their unique social history & current circumstance. Many, (considered) stable nations today, have been forged through internal struggle even, sadly, war. So lets have no more of this nonsense of how Assad should go, its dangerous Western propaganda that is fuelling mayhem. Russia & China’s proposed roadmap is much is less bloodthirsty & humane than the West’s position of warmonger!!
Does Tarik Alì know the International
Right? Does he know that Russia and China will not permit the West to attack Siria?
I think that the
idiots haven't
the right to express their mechanical ideas.