Iran (Maybe) Doing Something About the Syrian Conflict
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the Associated Press that his country is finally going to do something about the Syrian conflict, which would be more encouraging if he hadn't made a similar promise before.
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"I will do everything in my power to create stability, peace and understanding in Syria," Ahmadinejad told the AP. This should be a good thing. Syria's few remaining allies (really it's just Iran, Russia and China left) pledging to bring an end to the 18-month conflict should be encouraging. Except they said something similar in June when the rest of the world looked to them for help, and they responded by sending troops to support Assad's forces and flying suspicious packages into the country. This time, there's a group of ten countries Ahmadinejad is putting together, made up of countries from the middle east and beyond, that want to put Assad and the opposition at a negotiating table which gives at least a hint that he might be serious this time. Depending on who the other countries are, this group might be able to make real progress. Otherwise, it's the same empty promise we heard in the summer.
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He also told the AP he wants someone to form a new world order. "God willing, a new order will come together and we'll do away with everything that distances us," Ahmadinejad said. "Now even elementary school kids throughout the world," know that America is an international bully, he says. "Bullying must come to an end. Occupation must come to an end," he added. He didn't mention whether his hope for a new world order and forming of a ten-country coalition to end the Syrian conflict were related or not.
