Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wants New Opposition Movement for Syria
In an effort to “reshape” the opposition action in Syria, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton organized a meeting in Doha, Qatar to reach for new leadership. The meeting was attended by hundreds of opposition representatives. She stated that the Syrian National Council should not be viewed as the leader for change. She called for a new coalition which includes the council but also includes those who reside inside Syria and others who have established legitimate forces. The Council has failed to represent Alawites who are the highest numbers in Syria, as well as Kurds and Christians. She called for an organization that would speak to the needs of all Syrians. Past efforts of this kind have failed and it is not expected that a task of this nature will be immediately successful. However, when Clinton emerged as a voice calling for this kind of inclusiveness, it marked what could evolve into a new approach to bringing opposition groups to work toward less violence with more cohesive efforts to increase pressures on the governing leadership in Syria. For many of us who are trying to more fully understand the role of the U.S. in Syrian turbulence and massive killings, Clinton gives us a peek into what could help move things beyond a snail’s pace. (NY Times, 11/01/12)