France Supports International Military Action Against Syria
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KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images(PARIS) — France said Wednesday that the time is drawing near to get tough with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Syrian government forces pounded Douma and several other Damascus suburbs on Wednesday as the long crackdown against opposition forces continued.
Several more United Nations monitors have arrived to determine the effectiveness of the ceasefire plan crafted by special emissary Kofi Annan, who has already admitted that it’s failing to end the hostilities that have cost between 9,000 and 11,000 lives since March 2011.
With little sign that Assad will call off the bombardment against rebel targets, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe is now saying that the Security Council should opt for military intervention if the presence of U.N. monitors does nothing to stem the violence.
The last resort is the deployment of 300 monitors over the next two weeks. Juppe said if they can’t help bring the crackdown to a halt, then “we would have to move to a new stage with a Chapter Seven to stop this tragedy.” Chapter Seven allows for action that could be backed by force from an international contingent.
Passing such a resolution would likely be impossible with Syrian allies Russia and China certain to veto military intervention. The Obama administration has also expressed its reluctance to send troops into Syria.
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