Israel Matzav

NATO preempts the United Nations

NATO has decided to preempt the United Nations on Syria. How's this for a courageous, principled stand:

NATO has announced that even if a United Nations mandate is forthcoming, it will not intervene militarily in Syria.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the Western alliance had no intention of intervening in Syria even in the event of a U.N. mandate to protect civilians, and urged Middle East countries to find a way to end the spiraling violence.

Rasmussen told Reuters Friday he also rejected the possibility of providing logistical support for proposed "humanitarian corridors" to ferry relief to towns and cities bearing the brunt of President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

"We have no intention whatsoever to intervene in Syria," Rasmussen said in an interview, during a visit to mark the 60th anniversary of Turkey joining the alliance.

...

Asked if NATO's stance would change if the United Nations provided a mandate, Rasmussen was doubtful.

"No, I don't think so because Syria is also a different society, it is much more complicated ethnically, politically, religiously. That's why I do believe that a regional solution should be found," he said.

The good news is that the 'Responsibility to Protect' doctrine has been exposed as being empty. Of course, that would not stop them from trying to use it against Israel.

What could go wrong?

Labels: NATO, responsibility to protect, Syrian uprising, United Nations

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:13 PM