By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 17 -- With Lakhdar Brahimi now in New York to brief the UN Security Council about Syria, Inner City Press is told by sources close to him that his dissatisfaction with the Arab League, particularly with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, goes beyond the League having given the Syria seat to the opposition.
At the recent Arab League summit, they say, Brahimi was “badly treated.”
He wasn't given any good slot to speak in. He was subject to the derision directed at the UN for being represented at the summit by Jeffrey Feltman, previously the face of American policy in the region. (We hasten to say, this is not Feltman's fault.)
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon not going to the Arab League summit was “not helpful,” they say.
It is also pointed out, however, that unlike Kofi Annan who quit, Brahimi is nothing but patient. Look what he did in Lebanon, one pointed out. He just waited and waited, and when they wanted to sign, he (Brahimi) looked good.
But in Syria, after the Al Nusra Front spoke of its links and loyalty to Al Qaeda, things are different. A close observer of the fighting told Inner City Press he estimates that half of the effective armed opposition is Al Nusra, “hard to unwind.” And the opposition outside of the country, he said, doesn't control the fighting inside.
Inner City Press on Wednesday asked Syrian Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari about the Qatar, Saudi and Arab Group drafted General Assembly resolution. He told Inner City Press exclusively that the draft is a “declaration of war,” and that the wiser among them is trying to amend it but “it will not fly.” He said to watch for his statement on April 18. Watch this site.
