US: Al-Assad Supporters to Fight to Death, Rebel Victory Not to End Conflict

Local Editor

The New York Times daily reported that US administration believes Syria could face a protracted, bloody conflict, even if the rebels succeed in ousting the Syrian regime.

The top American intelligence official, James R. Clapper Jr., said that even Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government fell, sectarian fighting would most likely engulf the country for a year or more.
The American ambassador to Syria, Robert S. Ford, warned that without a negotiated political transition, supporters of the Syrian government, "would fight to the death."

Those bleak assessments, delivered in separate hearings before the House and the Senate, underscore the grinding nature of the conflict in Syria and the administration's pessimism that outside intervention will avert further humanitarian tragedy.
"I agree with you that the prospects in Syria are not good," said Elizabeth Jones, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, who along with Ford faced sharp questioning from members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee over what the members said was an inadequate American response to the continuing bloodshed.

This comes as US President Barak Obama signed off in principle on more aid for the opposition, which could include battlefield gear like body armor and night-vision goggles. The United States has already started training rebels covertly in Jordan.

Administration officials also warned about the rising danger of extremist groups.
"There is a real competition under way now between extremists and moderates in Syria," said Ford, who had just returned from London, where he met with leaders of the opposition. "We need to weigh in on behalf of those who promote freedom and tolerance."

"There needs to be a negotiated political settlement because if there is not a negotiated settlement, our sense is that regime supporters, fearing death, would fight to the death," he said.
In parallel, Obama discussed Syria on Thursday in a White House meeting with the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, who urged the president to show "stronger leadership" in dealing with conflict.

The president, acknowledging that the situation there was at a "critical juncture," said, "It is important for us to bring about an effective political transition that would respect the rights of all Syrians."
In the short term, Obama added, it was important "to try to eliminate some of the carnage."

Source: NYT, Edited by moqawama.org