The Arab League voted Saturday to suspend Syria in four days and warned the regime could face sanctions if it does not end its bloody crackdown against anti-government protesters. The decision was a symbolic blow to a nation that prides itself on being a powerhouse of Arab nationalism.
Qatar's Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim said 18 countries agreed to the suspension, which was scheduled to take effect on Wednesday in a significant escalation of international pressure on President Bashar Assad's government. Syria, Lebanon and Yemen voted against it, and Iraq abstained.
The Arab League isn't a collective defense organization. But if it expels a member, it surely indicates that the organization does not stand with the expelled state.
The Arab League gave an ambiguous green light to our NATO campaign against Khaddafi. If we could take an Arab League request for a no-fly zone and turn it into regime change, Turkey can surely leverage this into humanitarian safety zones inside Syria guarded by their own armed forces.
UPDATE:Ah, you can see that Iran must be advising the Syrian government:
Tens of thousands of Syrian government supporters poured into the streets Sunday to protest an Arab League vote to suspend the country's membership, as Turkey sent planes to evacuate diplomatic staff and their families after a night of attacks on embassies.
Embassy attacks are the dead giveaway. More important, Turkey is clearing the decks to get potential hostages out just in case the Assad regime goes the full nutjob Iranian route and seizes an embassy to take hostages.
Turkey did issue an ultimatum to Assad a couple months ago, recall.
