Syria: the World's shame

COMMENT

There was an interesting discussion on Radio 5 the other day about the whole, terrible, Syria issue. One contributor was castigating Russia and China for refusing to endorse the UN's condemnation of Assad's mass murder, but another used wiser counsel. She invited us to recall that there is no more democratic freedom in China than in Syria; hardly surprising then, that they would be reluctant to disapprove of a repression they themselves have practised for many years. And as for Russia, wasn't Syria doing now in Homs exactly what Putin's Russia did only very recently in Grosny?

Another well informed contributor, probably better informed than the notoriously ignorant presenters on Radio 5, reminded the audience that this is not the first time Homs has been attacked. In the 1980s, Assad's father wrought terrible vengeance on its citizens for an uprising organised by the Muslim Brotherhood: over 20,000 were killed in a few short weeks.

I hear in Egypt they are seeking the death penalty for Moubarak. I say this: look out Mr Assad. It may be a long while, it may not, but I suspect time is running out before you face the same fate. The people of Syria, I am confident, will not be denied their freedom forever. I am not a supporter of capital punishment, but mass murder, if you are going to sanction it, must be the best grounds to carry out the ultimate punishment.