Playing A Role

"Iran has a role to play.  And my presence here explains that I believe in that.  I have received encouragement and co-operation with the minister and the (Iranian) government."  UN peace envoy Kofi Annan

The former United Nations chief is adamant that Iran must be involved in any peace arrangement between the Syrian regime and the opposition.  Iran is certainly involved, through its deployment of the al Quds section of the Republican Guard, as is its proxy militia in Lebanon, Hezbollah, in the conflict taking place in Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has stated his willingness to meet with the rebels.  The opposition has clearly enough stated its disinterest in anything approximating a jointly composed governing body with the opposition joining the regime in administering the affairs of the country.  One might say that the regime's no-holds-barred attacks on its population represents an atrocity too far for reconciliation.

The United States is unequivocal in its rejection of Iran's participation.  The axis of Iran, Iraq and Syria with their shared Shi'ite sensibilities stands in opposition in fact, to the rest of the Arab League, majority Sunni states and rulers.  Each religious-sect clique in full opposition to the other; each claiming exceptionality in the hierarchy of pure Islamic faith.

The two opposing elements have their foreign counterparts of course with the United States and its allies on one front, Russia and China on the other.  And Russia is sending a flotilla of warships to its naval base at the port of Tartus, more or less balancing the fleet that the United States has assembled in the Persian Gulf.

The very real possibility of a growing confrontation that has the potential to engulf the entire Middle East in a sectarian-tribal-ideological conflict is a threat obvious to everyone involved in the 16-month-long uprising in Syria.  Turkey and Jordan stand on the verge of responding, albeit reluctantly, to Syrian militias' incursions over their borders in pursuit of rebels.

Russia is giving due warning that it will not tolerate any intervention by Western sources.  The situation is at a checkmate.  And Kofi Annan still claims the confident support of President al-Assad, desperate to revive his long-failed peace plan.

The fabled wisdom of Solomon would find this a challenge to resolve, given all the conflicting interests and complicated issues.