U.S. floats coalition against Syria

Ali Alsayed, 18, of Syria, demonstrates in front of the White House in Washington Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. President Barack Obama's call on Saturday for the U.N. Security Council to stand up against the Syrian regime's "relentless brutality" was rebuffed by Russia and China when both vetoed a resolution calling for President Bashar Assad to leave power. / AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari

BEIRUT - The United States proposed an international coalition to support Syria's opposition Sunday after Russia and China blocked a U.N. attempt to end nearly 11 months of bloodshed, raising fears that violence will escalate. Rebel soldiers said force was now the only way to oust President Bashar Assad, while the regime vowed to press its military crackdown.

The threat of both sides turning to greater force after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution raises the potential for Syria's turmoil to move into even a more dangerous new phase that could degenerate into outright civil war.

The uprising inspired by other Arab Spring revolts began in March with peaceful protests against Assad's regime, sparking a fierce crackdown by government forces. Soldiers who defected to join the uprising later began to protect protesters from attacks. In recent months, the rebel soldiers, known as the Free Syrian Army, have grown bolder, attacking regime troops and trying to establish control in pro-opposition areas. That has brought a heavier government response.

More than 5,400 people have been killed since March, according to the U.N., and now regime opponents fear that Assad will be emboldened by the feeling he is protected by his top ally Moscow and unleash even greater violence to crush protesters. If the opposition turns overtly to armed resistance, the result could be a dramatic increase in bloodshed.

At least 30 civilians were killed Sunday, including five children and a woman who was hit by a bullet while standing on her balcony as troops fired on protesters in a Damascus suburb, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group.

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Government forces firing mortars and heavy machine guns also battered the mountain town of Zabadani, north of Damascus, a significant opposition stronghold that fell under rebel control late last month. Bombardment the past two days has wounded dozens and forced scores of families to flee, an activist in the town said.

"The situation is terrifying. Makeshift hospitals are full," said the activist, who only gave his first name, Fares, for fear of government reprisal. He said the town has been under siege for the past five days and there is a shortage of food and heating fuel during the cold winter.

The commander of the Free Syrian Army told The Associated Press that, after the vetoes at the U.N., "there is no other road" except military action to topple Assad.

"We consider that Syria is occupied by a criminal gang and we must liberate the country from this gang," Col. Riad al-Asaad said, speaking by telephone from Turkey. "This regime does not understand the language of politics. It only understands the language of force."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned that chances for "a brutal civil war" would increase as Syrians under attack from their government move to defend themselves, unless international steps provide another way.

Speaking to reporters in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, she called the double veto at the U.N. Security Council on Saturday "a travesty."

"Faced with a neutered Security Council, we have to redouble our efforts outside of the United Nations," she said, calling for "friends of democratic Syria" to unite "support the Syrian people's right to have a better future."

Clinton calls for united front against Assad

The call points to the formation of a formal group of like-minded nations to coordinate assistance to the Syrian opposition, similar but not identical to the Contact Group on Libya, which oversaw international help for opponents of the late deposed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. In the case of Libya, the group also coordinated NATO military operations to protect Libyan civilians, something that is not envisioned in Syria.

U.S. officials said an alliance would work to further squeeze the Assad regime by stepping up sanctions against it, bringing disparate Syrian opposition groups inside and outside the country together, providing humanitarian relief for embattled Syrian communities and working to prevent an escalation of violence by monitoring arms sales.

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[Testor1234]

What resolution does Russia and China propose to stop the bloodshed? Or, do they also think the rebels are terrorists?

[hawkman1001-2009]

And why would China support any such U.N. initiative?

It is at least as brutal as the Syrian regime when it come to dissent from within.

[model67a]

When will the United States realize they are being used. There are other countries that want something to be done about Syria but they know if they do not do anything the U.S. will. They get what they wanted and the U.S. gets the bill. They have done this so often in the past that it shows how intelligent our leaders are.

[usunus]

If there is any sense left in the Arab League,it would leave the coattails of Hillary Clinton.She is too confrontational and is intoxicated with the " success " in Libya.Instead,the League should put more and more moral responsibility on Russia for solving the Syrian problem and coopt Moscow in efforts to find a solution.Since Russia has vetoed the UN resolution it should be willing to sit with the Arab League and talk.The League ,however,must let go of Hillary first and control the hotheads among the Syrian rebels.

[sallychicago]

No one can convince me that we don't have CIA operatives inside these countries stirring the pot. But it may not turn out the way we expect it to. Look at Egypt. We told Mubarek to leave, he left, and now what's happening? We secretly helped with Ghadafi's death, he's gone and now Libya is a mess. We can't keep supporting these Arab Springs -- and expecting everything to turn out OK. It's not OK.

[cbsblogger]

I agree as it has had precedence. It could be Israel stirring it too. What appears to be happening is probably just the opposite from reality. We appear unable to keep our nose out of other sovereign country's business, and we wonder why others hate us.

Hypothetically if Russia or some other nation state infiltrated and stirred up the Tea Party, armed them, encouraged havoc and as a result it turned into major insurrection and civil war, you can bet we'd end up with many innocent Americans getting killed. Could this be happening in Syria? There are interests and powers that can't keep from manipulating the masses, often to the detriment of the masses. Most of us just want a job, security, and peace, but the war mongers want more.

[usunus]

It is the exercise of our power that goes to our head.The results hardly matter.

[robtemery]

The US has funded Democracy NGOs in the Middle East in predominately non-democratic countries and told the dissidents we will stand behind them should they desire regime change. Presently NGO members are slated for trial in Egypt. If anyone thinks for a minute Russia and China will let the West dominate the region with world's oil supply you should seek professional help. At some point the Arab League will no longer sacrifice their own for Peace. The UN reports over 5,000 civilian deaths in Syria and over 3,000 civilian deaths in Afghanistan and a Civilian death is a death no matter what country and who pulled the trigger.

[Whys333]

Turkey will invade the north. Syria will be partitioned from there until none of it remains. Good riddence to Azzrod.

[lucifersshadow]

The USA was involved in the instigation of the revolution in Syria, CBS did a news article about it about a month ago, now after starting trouble, they want to blame Russia and China. Russia and China have no good reason to reward the USA for once again interfering in the affairs of yet another nation. There is a clear, nazi like pattern here, like the nazis did with Poland. They said they were "attacked", (Iraq WMD lie) and used that as an excuse to invade. Then it was Afghanistan, now they are talking about Iran. The USA just cannot seem to get into enough wars. Russia and China are both fed up with this unilateralism. Sooner or later, Russia and China are going to decide that it is time to confront the USA with its constant inteferance in the affairs of other countries. Ee are not the world's policeman.

[ArthD]

The ONLY reason fish-eyed Hillary is shedding tears over Syria is because it's in Israel's interest for Syria to be weak. We are at the point when most of US foreign policy initiatives, not to mention wars, undercover assassinations and bombing raids are done to benefit the Jewish state and nobody cares about the price WE are paying and will be paying for doing this. The US has become the Israel-first country.

[vermejo]

oh, no.......America is suggesting yet another coalition.......in other words, America is suggesting another war with Americas weapons, money, men, women, and some tokenism from others.......this is shameful, cowardly, and presumptive of America........America needs to sit back and mind its own backyard.......America does not have the answers........