The Neighbourhood Bully

"The regime wants to finish with Hama as soon as possible."

Which explains more than adequately why "there are some 200 tanks and troop carriers on the highway leading to the central city of Hama and about 200 tanks around the eastern city of Deir Ezzor" according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

And of course the Security Council's 15 members "condemn widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities." That should help. Shouldn't it? Of course, Bashar al-Assad is far more concerned with the inherited legacy he stands to lose, than with the sentiments expressed by the Security Council.

Some of whom, like Lebanon, have openly disavowed the statement. Lebanon itself knows intimately of such desperate situations as a country seeing itself pitted against itself, through sectarian violence. Lebanon survived its own deadly, bloody conflict, and it is most certain that Syria will do likewise. Whether the Alawites will remain in control over the Sunni majority is another guess.

And look at Lebanon, now. Where once Shia, Sunni, Kurd and Christian lived in amity in a beautiful landscape, Hezbollah now rules supreme. Lebanon quavers and quivers. Its administration views askance and with fear the UN committee's conclusion into the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri.

Syria is called upon "to fully respect human rights and to comply with their obligations under applicable international law". It is reminded by the Security Council that "Those responsible for the violence should be held accountable." Isn't that how things always work out in the Middle East? Is that not what is now occurring in a Cairo court of law?

And let us not overlook the demand of countries like Russia, Brazil and India for "all sides" to "act with utmost restraint", to "refrain from reprisals, including attacks against state institutions", for Syria's tyrannical regime is to be protected equally from the rage of the insurgents. One must not forget the rage of insurgents in Libya resulting in the untimely death of one of their own, General Younis.

This is the Middle East, after all. Anything can happen from the most unexpected, unanticipated sources. There are so many complex issues to be resolved. None of which are readily amenable to being resolved. There are tribal animosities and sectarian angers and clan hatreds. Disuniting the communities that are inherently fractious.

And then there's the sole reality that they are all united and steadfast in their claims that Israel is the source and the fount of all unrest, misery, intolerance and brutalities as the neighbourhood bully and outcast.