The horrors after the Doha summit picture

Suhair Atassi (top) seen fronting for Moaz al-Khatib (above) at the Arab summit 

Symbolism was the memorable part of the just-concluded Arab summit in Doha.

The symbolism of Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib being asked to take over President Bashar al-Assad’s seat and address the Arab heads of state in the name of the Syrian people.

And the symbolism of Suhair Atassi briefly deputizing for Khatib later and becoming the first Arab woman to chair an Arab League summit delegation.

Writing in Arabic on what was real and what was metaphorical in Doha, Ghassan Charbel, editor-in-chief of pan-Arab al-Hayat, says the image summed up the summit. And yesterday’s image was “unmatched, conclusive and cruel.”

Charbel explains:

Seeing the Syrian opposition delegation meet huge applause as it made its way to its country’s seat at the summit was unusual.

Witnessing Moaz al-Khatib seated behind the revolution flag, instead of the decades-old Syrian Republic flag we knew, was extraordinary.

Seeing no walkout from the conference room by any delegation leader was equally remarkable.

It is not in the habit of Arab summits to send that sort of message to a member-state’s regime. The Doha summit did not suffice with keeping Syria’s seat vacant but went further and gave it to a delegation representing the Syrian revolution.

The remarkable thing is that the image pertains to an Arab League heavyweight and founding member-state that used to have the last word on matters concerning Lebanon and Palestine.

The image carried a few connotations.

It was a sharp response to Lakhdar Brahimi’s last visit to Damascus.

It evoked the unimaginable human and material losses inflicting by the regime’s military machine on cities and villages and their residents.

And it recalled Russia and Iran’s persistent backing of the regime at the risk of triggering regional and international face-offs liable to dismember or destroy what remains of Syria.

The image came in the context of a growing belief among Arab and Western decision-makers that the Syrian regime will turn down any political settlement unless forced. This explains the (summit) resolve to redress the balance of forces in favor of the revolution. The resolve translates into resuming the funding and arming of opposition forces and continuing to de-legitimize the regime. That’s what can be read into yesterday’s image.

The image came as the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was launching increasingly audacious attacks on regime forces in the country’s south, thus knocking at the door of the regime’s capital, and shelling the heart of Damascus almost daily.

What did the other sides read into yesterday’s image?

We have to wait and see what Damascus infers from Khatib heading the Syria delegation to the summit. Does Damascus have options other than the one it is using?

What will Tehran deduce from the image coming, as it did, when the Saudis were saying they had arrested a spy ring linked to Iran’s intelligence services? Will it perceive the image as a relentless drive to root out its position in Syria and block its route to Lebanon? Will it deduce that retreat or a change of course is behind time?

And what is Hezbollah reading into the image? Does it feel Lebanon can take more meddling by its men in the Syria fighting?

What does Nouri al-Maliki notice in the image after choosing to watch it from Baghdad?

And what will Moscow detect in the image after Khatib said the opposition is looking forward to claim Syria’s seat at the United Nations and other international organizations?

Another warranted question is: How will the Syrian opposition build on yesterday’s success? Will it be tempted to go for the kill and try a knockout against the regime? Or will it choose to redress the balance on the ground and keep alive the chance of Syria’s components continuing to coexist? And will the revolution amplify yesterday’s achievement by closing ranks, ending internal splits and shutting out roving fighters?

Syria watchers are seriously worried lest the next image turns out to be bleaker than the one that preceded yesterday’s.

Some of them are anticipating a terrible and ruinous battle in Damascus that would set off a new wave of refugees and rivers of blood and funerals. They say what we’ve seen so far, which is terrible, is only a small sample of what’s in store.

That will most likely be the case. The Syrian revolution has entered its most difficult and dangerous phase. The neighboring countries are buckling up in expectation of the tremor.

In face of the pending horrors, the adversaries would be well-advised to keep the phone numbers of Lakhdar Brahimi handy.

They might need him to certify the change and check the losses and outrages.

Khatib: I asked Kerry for Patriots to shield N. Syria

From top, Qatar's emir, Khatib leading the opposition delegation, and seated in Syria's chair 

Talking today from Bashar al-Assad’s seat at the Arab summit in Doha, Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib said he asked Secretary of State John Kerry for U.S. forces “not to fight but to defend northern Syria” with Patriot surface-to-air missiles.

Kerry “promised to consider the matter,” Khatib said without elaborating.

Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, opened the two-day summit by naming Khatib and Interim Prime Minister Ghassan Hitto to lead their combined team to Syria’s assigned seats at the conference.

Khatib went in front and sat in what would have been Syrian President Assad’s chair before addressing the heads of state in the Syrian people’s name.

His address came within an hour or so of a stirring opening speech by Sheikh Hamad in which he pledged to contribute $250 million to a US$1 billion fund for the preservation of (East) Jerusalem as a capital for the future Palestinian state.

The Qatari head of state also proposed an Arab mini-summit in Cairo for the sole purpose of spawning a Palestinian reconciliation between Gaza and the West Bank.

On Syria specifically, Sheikh Hamad said:

We welcome the participation of the Syrian National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition Forces and the Syrian Interim Government in our summit.

They are undoubtedly worthy of this representation after earning popular legitimacy at home and wide support abroad, and for the reason that they have assumed a historic role in leading the revolution and preparing to build a New Syria.

Grave and tragic conditions in sisterly Syria have taken a catastrophic turn over the past two years, leading to indescribable tragedies and crimes. Holding one’s tongue about these and about the suffering of the Syrian people in Syria and of the refugees in host countries is in itself a crime.

From the outset, we in the State of Qatar built our position on a set of constants:

-- The immediate cessation of killings and violence against civilians the safeguarding of sisterly Syria’s territorial integrity and popular unity

-- Fulfillment of the will of the Syrian people on the transfer of the power

-- Support Arab and international efforts and political solutions that achieve the Syrian people’s willpower and legitimate aspirations.

(…)

It is unfortunate the Syrian regime chose to enter into a military confrontation with its people, turning down all appeals for serious reform and all Arab political initiatives until the catastrophe reached the stage where the much-loved Syrian people would accept nothing less than a peaceful transition of power, as endorsed by the Arab League resolution dated July 22, 2012.

History will attest as to who stood by the Syrian people in their ordeal and who let them down.

We reiterate our call on the UN Security Council to uphold rights and justice, and pass a resolution ordering an immediate cessation of the bloodshed in Syria and bringing to international justice those responsible for the crimes committed against its people.

We renew our commitment to keep providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, and urge all countries of the world to do so.

We underscore the importance of convening an international conference under UN auspices for the reconstruction of Syria right after the transfer of power as willed by the Syrian people.

I find it important to repeat that we are in favor of a political solution that spares peoples’ blood and lives, presuming that a solution does not put the clock back.

I see the great Syria rising from the rubble soon to rebuild its glory.

Speaking about half-an-hour later, Khatib told the summit:

• Ours started as a peaceful revolution, but it was met by a heartless man’s hellfire... Syrians are the only people on earth whose breadlines are bombed by warplanes.
• The Syrian people cannot coexist with the Assad mafia.
• Whereas we welcome a peace settlement, the regime rejects any solution to the Syria crisis. I suggested talking to Syrian regime representatives in return for the release of prisoners, but the regime shot down the offer.
• The Syrian people initiated their revolution. They alone will determine its course.
• Does it take years to recognize our people’s right to self-defense?
• Occupying Syria’s seat (at the summit) is part of the recovery of the Syrian people’s legitimate rights. We also demand regaining Syria’s seat at the United Nations and other international organizations and the repossession of Syrian (regime’s frozen) assets.
• Interim Prime Minister Hitto has our full confidence… We also plan to transform the Syrian National Coalition into an all-inclusive National Congress.
• The Syrian revolution is being undermined on three pretenses: minorities, terrorism and fear of the unknown.
• The pretense of minorities does not hold water. You need to ask the Lebanese about how the Syrian regime divided all Lebanese sects to rule Lebanon (for 30 years). And who killed Ghazi Kanaan (Syria’s long-time Alawite security chief in Lebanon)? Haven’t Syrian Alawites just concluded a two-day conference in Cairo, which accused the regime of working on turning sectarian zealotry into bloodshed?
• Regarding the pretense of terrorists being in rebel ranks, what do you call the Russians, Iranians and Hezbollah men fighting in regime ranks? And what about the regime’s two-year reign of terror?
• A propos fears as to who rules Syria after regime change, my answer is that Syrians alone will decide who rules them and how. It is no one else’s decision.
• The United States should play a bigger role in helping stop the bloodletting in Syria. I asked Mr. Kerry to extend the Patriots’ umbrella to cover the Syrian north and he promised to consider the matter. We are still waiting for a NATO decision to protect people's lives -- not to fight, but to protect lives.

Syria coalition names seven envoys to Arab summit

But is Moaz al-Khatib cut to lead the opposition?

The Council of Arab Foreign Ministers transferred Syria’s vacant seat at the Arab League to the Syrian opposition coalition a day ahead of the two-day Arab League summit beginning tomorrow in Doha.

The coalition today named as many as seven envoys to the gathering.

They will presumably be asked to join summit proceedings once the heads of state get the summit formally underway.

The seven opposition envoys are:

1. Moaz al-Khatib, who resigned Sunday as head of the Syrian National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition forces (SNA). He has since written on his personal Facebook page: “Dear brothers, after relying on God, doing the acknowledged Istikharah (or special prayer seeking divine guidance) and taking advise from trusted friends, chiefly Mr. Nizar Haraki (the SNA’s envoy in Qatar), I decided to address the Doha conference in the name of the Syrian people. I solicit your prayers and good wishes. This decision is unrelated to my resignation, which will be broached later.”
2. Ghassan Hitto, the Syrian-born American who this month became prime minister of the SNA’s interim government.
3. Suhair Atassi, who resigned in the wake of Hitto election, then retracted her resignation as deputy head of the SNA.
4. Brig. Gen. Salim Idriss, chief of staff of the Free Syrian Army.
5. George Sabra, head of the Syrian National Council (SNC), which is the pivotal component of the SNA.
6. Mustafa Sabbagh, the SNA’s secretary-general.
7. Khaled Saleh, head of the SNA media committee.

I hope Moaz al-Khatib does not pull another rabbit out of his hat (more than he has already) when he addresses the summit tomorrow.

I equally hope the SNA would let his resignation stand after the summit.

I honestly believe the millions of beleaguered Syrians deserve better than an amateurish, whimsical and bungling opposition leader who has no idea of collective endeavor and teamwork.

He is simply not cut to be the beleaguered Syrian people’s motivating, calculating and perceptive opposition leader.

I do not doubt Moaz al-Khatib’s integrity for a moment. But I deeply doubt his sense of timing and his political acumen.

I am a believer as well, but Istikharah has no place in the Syrian people’s struggle for life, freedom and democracy.