By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 18 -- As President Obama and the EU's Cathy Ashton called Thursday for Bashar al Assad to step down in Syria, the US tried to belatedly claim leadership at the UN, while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon offered thanks to, and quotes from, Assad.
On a White House call with self-described Senior Administration Officials, one of the officials said that the US had "led" in the UN Security Council, leading to an August 3 Presidential Statement which showed that Assad had no more support.
Calling in from the Security Council stakeout, Inner City Press said it appeared to most that the European member had led, and asked if Obama's statement signaled a new approach at the UN.
One of the Senior Administration Officials replied that the US led on the draft resolution, and PRST. The resolution was sponsored by the Council's four EU members, and it was these four who spoke at the Council stakeout after the PRST was adopted.
Inner City Press asked a representative of one of IBSA - made up of India, Brazil and South Africa -- countries about the US claim to have led. "That's very creative," was the response.
One wondered what the US now thinks of Ban Ki-moon's performance. On August 17, Ban "expressed appreciation that the Syrian Government had agreed to receive a UN humanitarian assessment mission;" the UN readout recited that "President Assad said that the military and police operations had stopped."
Inner City Press asked Ban's acting deputy spokesman Farhan Haq if Ban actually believed this. He thinks it should be investigated, Haq replied. One wag muttered, "Just turn on your television."
Inner City Press asked if Syria had been given approval rights over the UN readout and Haq said no. Is that worse?
Footnote: Inner City Press also asked if the US sanctions on SyriaTel, the cell phone in the country, might make it more difficult from the protesters to communication and dissemination information about abuses. The Senior Administration Official expert in sanctions said SyriaTel is owned by "crony" Rami Mahklouf. He seemed to say that the US will be issuing "general license" in the coming days, presumably to allow other companies to provide cellular service in Syria. Can you hear me now? What this site.
