beyond the bubble

With the world’s attention focused on Libya, Syrian President Bashar Assad has increased the level of violence used by his military forces in dealing with anti-government protestors within his country. The Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail reported on Tuesday that it is estimated that over 400 people have been killed since the government repression began.

The tension has further increased in ferocity in the past week, as the government has been unwilling to permit the protests occurring within its major cities. The most recent violent crackdown occurred over the past weekend in Damaas, where an estimated 120 people were killed.

According to the Globe and Mail, the protests increased in severity in mid-March, when two teenagers were arrested for expressing anti-government sentiments in the form of graffiti.

Keeping pace with the increased violence in the government oppression, protestors’ initial calls for modest reforms have now been transformed into demands for the downfall of the president.

The president has warned in recent days that any further protesting or dissention would be considered sabotage.

In response to the increased severity of the situation unfolding in Syria, international heads of state have come together to try and find a unified voice in their condemnation.

In a joint press conference on Tuesday, Italian President Berlusconi and French President Sarkozy stated that, “Together we send a strong call to Damascus authorities to stop the violent repression of what are peaceful demonstrations and we ask all sides to act with moderation.”

The United States has also increased its disapproval of the conduct of the Assad regime, but has stopped well short of committing itself to another intervention in an embroiled nation.

Such a sentiment seems to be the most prevalent across Europe as well. The Globe and Mail reported that European Union (EU) President Herman Van Rompuy has stated that the EU can “do little to help Syrians in their uprising against Mr. Assad.” The EU president also noted that neither the Arab League nor the United Nations seem inclined to aid the Middle Eastern nation.

Such a position hardly seems surprising as coalition forces begin will begin their fifth  week fighting against Libyan forces on Monday. While Allied analysts have released optimistic reports regarding the progress that the forces have achieved, many remain much more skeptical about what the intervention has accomplished.

Owing to the fact that the United states is now involved in three wars, and many European nations are involved in two or more, it seems highly illogical to predict yet another military intervention to aid rebel forces.

While the violence Syrian citizens are being subjected to may be as severe as the violence protestors experienced in Libya, anti-government forces will not receive the same support from the international community as rebels received in Libya.

The international will for such military aid has been significantly diminished, and as a result Syrian citizens will likely continue to experience severe military repression in the coming weeks.