Syria Explodes in Revolt

AP: "Yes for Freedom, no to violence"

The "Jasmine Revolution" continues to roll across the Middle East like a human tsunami wave. Syria is the latest autocratic state to erupt into violent protest. Syria has been ruled under emergency powers for 50 years. Yesterday thousands marched in the streets of Deraa [video] and were fired upon by President Bashar al-Assad's men. Accurate casualty figures are unavailable but reporters on the scene estimate 61 people have died in the last week. The Ba'athist Party headquarters in Latakia was set on fire Friday. There may be a sectarian aspect to the revolt as the Assad clan belongs to the Alawite sect. Most Syrians are Sunni Muslim with a sizable minority of Christians. Assad has released about 200 political prisoners in response to the unrest. However, the government reaction is the most lethal since 1982 when more than 10,000 Syrians were killed in Hama.

Yemen has also experienced violent upheavals in the past weeks. At one point government snipers fired on protesters from the tops of buildings killing 52 people. President Ali Abdullah Saleh who has ruled for 32 years, has promised to step down early. The offer has not satisfied protesters who have vowed to continue their demonstrations. Many government officials have broken away from Saleh.  Saleh appears to be negotiating his exit from rule with government officials and tribal leaders.

Libyan rebels have retaken the strategic town of Adjabiya after ferocious NATO air to ground attacks targeted Qaddafi armor and troop concentrations. US Person says this is war, and it is unauthorized by Congress, again. The Untied States needs to regularize its participation in international military actions by passing legislation authorizing the President to commence hostilities as part of a UN sanctioned operation for a time certain before a formal declaration of war is required. LBJ was a cold war hawk, but even he fudged the Tonkin Gulf incident so he could receive congressional authorization to use American troops in Vietnam. The least the Obamacon can do is comply with the parameters of the War Powers Resolution.

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