Daily Lessons from Life 04 February 2012 - Army attacks Syria's Homs, 200 killed

"Army attacks Syria's Homs, 200 killed - AFP 04 February 2012

DAMASCUS: The Syrian army unleashed a massive attack on the city of Homs early Saturday, bombing the protest hub and killing at least 260 people in a bloody "massacre", activists and witnesses said.

The Syrian government denied involvement in the violence, blaming "armed gunmen", as television stations showed images of bodies on the ground and buildings destroyed in a city turned into a war zone.

The grim toll, if confirmed, would mark the bloodiest day of the 10-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, with the United Nations Security Council to vote Saturday on a resolution condemning the repression.

Protesters stormed Syrian embassies in Berlin, Cairo, Kuwait and London as the Syrian National Council opposition group called on the world to act to end a brutal campaign activists say has killed at least 6,000 people since March.

"Assad forces randomly bombed residential areas in Homs, including Khaldiyeh and Qusur, which resulted in at least 260 civilians killed and hundreds of wounded, including men, women, and children," said the SNC.

AFP was not immediately able to verify the authenticity of the videos nor of the opposition and residents' accounts because of restrictions on reporting in Syria."

The aftermath of the Arab Spring? Where does it leave the people of Syria?

Lessons for me are:

1. when is a domestic affairs a domestic affairs when the government is killing its civilians? Can the international commuity intervened forcibly or should it just plead with the government to stop killing its own people?;

2. what will become of a country IF international community is allowed to intervene forcibly? is there a tried and tested blueprint or action plans to intervene forcibly in an expeditious and effective manner leaving the nation's infrastructure and social fabric largely intact? History does not seems to provide a good answer as most intervention by 'foreign' or friendly and well meaning international community resulted in a fractious society when the people are NOT ready to govern democratically! A benigh dictatorial rule seems to work better from a practical standpoint!;

3. can there be an adapted approach to put in a STRONG Ruler(s) first and then mobilize the people through intensive education or re-education about what a democratic society citizenry can do to help the nation grow and develop peacefully and justly? OR should the international community intervened at all? Should it be left to the law of nature where eventually the surpressed will either accept its fate or revolt with a 'fight to the end' mentality? Maybe, in the final analysis, letting the oppressed fight its way out is the best way. At least the fate of the nation is decided by the people themselves!!

All to best to Syrians.