The New Dark Age

March 23, 2012 — Global Times – Stop NATO

West realizes at last bypassing UN is futile

The West has dominated the evolution of the Arab Spring. The change of tone is good for China and Russia. If this trend continues, it may break the tradition of the West dominating Middle Eastern affairs.

Politics has a chance in Syria, but it is regarded as a hopeless approach by the West. This option should be presented to Syrians as a more painless way to move ahead than supporting full-blown civil war and outside military intervention.

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The UN Security Council passed a statement on Syria Wednesday that was unanimously approved. All sides claimed that their stance was respected.

The West saw the statement as conducive to restricting the Syrian government’s use of armed strength. China held that a peaceful approach to solving the issue was stressed.

The statement did not require the current regime to yield power. It looks like a result of compromise.

The West has dominated the evolution of the Arab Spring. The change of tone is good for China and Russia. If this trend continues, it may break the tradition of the West dominating Middle Eastern affairs.

Still, the statement may signal another possibility. The West is restricting the Syrian government with China and Russia’s influence. It will then seek to oust the Assad government by other means.

Major powers have not yet reached an agreement on how to proceed. The new statement adjusted the wording. It only indicated a temporary cooperation despite the unanimous vote it received.

But a reality has emerged showing that Western powers are not all powerful on Syria. They have realized that without UNSC support, the actions they back lack legitimacy and punch.

The stance brought to the table by China and Russia is included in the statement, sharply contrasting with the strong condemnation of the West after the dual veto of China and Russia last month.

It is clear the Syrian issue is different from Libya. The will of the Syrian people appears differently than how it was portrayed by the West.

Meanwhile, the joint force of China and Russia cannot be easily ignored. They should stick to their guns.

The West appears more hesitant in staging a military intervention in Syria than a few months ago, no matter how Western media have painted the situation.

China and Russia should step up efforts through the Arab League and Syrian opposition.

The statement called on two sides to start a ceasefire immediately, though it did not require negotiation. Kofi Annan’s role as a special envoy was made very clear.

If negotiations can be initiated, it would be major victory for China and Russia.

Politics has a chance in Syria, but it is regarded as a hopeless approach by the West. This option should be presented to Syrians as a more painless way to move ahead than supporting full-blown civil war and outside military intervention.