The fact that high level defections are happening does not of itself shorten the terrible war that is going in Syria
Editorial
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 12 July 2012
".....The fact that high level defections are happening does not of itself shorten the terrible war that is going on there. But it does speak to the sectarian and tribal fissuring that is taking place under the pressure of these extreme forces. The defection of Syria's ambassador to Baghdad, Nawaf al-Fares, is important not just because of who he is – a Sunni bestowed with the honour of being Syria's first ambassador to Iraq in three decades. It is also about the people Fares represents. He is head of the Uqaydat tribe which straddles the Syrian-Iraqi border and is highly armed. If Fares's parting message to the Syrian military to turn their guns on the criminals of the regime is heard, it will be heard by his own tribe first. His defection opens up a whole new eastern front for the opposition which stretches well into Iraq. Other tribal areas have yet to follow suit and an important meeting will take place in Cairo next week, but the area of Syria on which Mr Assad can count is shrinking. As importantly, if other Sunnis follow Fares's lead, it means that the regime is retreating back to its ethnic Shia Alawite core. Each defector becomes an added asset to the opposition. The dialogue that the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, says has now started with Brigadier General Manaf Tlass who fled to Turkey a week ago, will provide not only a clearer picture of what is going on at the heart of the regime. It also provides the foundation for the transitional Syrian government that will eventually replace Mr Assad...."
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