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May 29, 2012

Pressure Mounting on Syria After 108 Killed in Houla Massacre 
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International pressure is mounting on the Syrian government following a
massacre in the town of Houla that killed at least 108 people, almost
half of them children. U.N. observers attributed the massacre at least
partly to the Syrian army and pro-government militias, but the Syrian
government blamed Islamist militants. Earlier today, Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad met U.N. envoy Kofi Annan. On Monday, Annan said Syria
must take bold steps to implement the U.N. peace plan.

Kofi Annan: "I urge the government to take bold steps to signal that it
is serious in its intention to resolve this crisis peacefully and for
everyone involved to help create the right context for a credible
political process. And this message of peace is not only for the
government, but for everyone, every individual with a gun. The six-point
plan must be implemented comprehensively, and this is not happening to
date."

On Sunday, the U.N. Security Council condemned the use of artillery and
tanks in the Houla killings, but U.N. observers are now saying most of
the dead were executed at close range. Meanwhile, U.S. General Martin
Dempsey, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, threatened military
intervention in Syria during an interview on Fox.

Martin Dempsey: "There is always a military option, but that military
option should always be wielded carefully, because, one thing we've
learned about war, I have learned personally about war, is that it has a
dynamic all its own, it takes on a life all its own. And so, you'll
always find military leaders to be somewhat cautious about the use of
force, because we're never entirely sure what comes out on the other
side. But that said, it may come to a point with Syria because of the
atrocities."

 

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