Islamic Solidarity

"Five million people have lost their homes and they are talking about a four-day ceasefire.  If Mr. Brahimi has any way to enforce this ceasefire then we welcome it, but we are not going to let the regime back in.
"We do not trust this regime, because the shelling continues."

Details, irritating details.  Kofi Annan, when he was the UN envoy tasked by the Arab League and the United Nations, to the unenviable job of persuading the rebels and the regime to toss aside their differences for a break in their mutually-applied violence, held out great hopes that rational debate might ensue, that differences could be ironed out, that from a fragile two-day hiatus might eventuate a firm, lasting peace.

His successor, equally skilled in diplomatic negotiations, and equally apprised of the grim, thankless task before him, remains committed to possibly succeeding where Kofi Annan did not.  Lakhdar Brahimi felt that the call for a ceasefire during the holy four-day Eid al-Adha holiday would be the perfect time for both sides to reconsider their positions.  That, during this sacred time, reflection of God's values would inspire them to a peaceful resolution.

Forgetting, perhaps, that Islamists have little respect for the rights and privileges under Islam of other sects which they consider to be an assault against Islam.  So, since the Sunnis declare the Shias not to reflect true Islam, little better than infidels, why should they pause before committing to additional onslaughts during the holy four days? 

After all, in Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world, Islamists have destroyed an Ahmidaya mosque at this singular time.

Most of the formal heads of the Free Syrian Army military council claimed not to be averse to a ceasefire.  "We will co-operate - we want to see an end to the blooodbath.  But we don't want to play another game with the international community", said Louay Mokdad, a council coordinator. 

But the hardline Islamist rebel groups, of which there are plenty, financed by Saudi Arabia, promised to continue fighting.

Jabhat al-Nusra pointed out that it would continue fighting the regime which has continued its atrocities against civilians.  Little incidents like bombing line-ups of civilians waiting on the streets outside bakeries to obtain bread to take home to their starving families.

As for the regime, the army statement that was released on state television said: "On the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Adha, the general command of the army and armed forces announces a halt to military operations on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, from Friday morning ... until Monday", while reserving the right to respond if "the armed terrorist groups open fire on civilians and government forces, attack public and private properties, or use car bombs and explosives."

All of which the military reserves the right to commit themselves to.  For it is they who are commanded to protect the people of Syria, and this is an obligation which they take seriously, zealously doing all in their power to decimate the rebels, along with the civilian population whom they believe to be in support of the FSA.

While in Saudi Arabia, Syrian pilgrims raise rebel flags as the hajj approached Mecca.  Causing the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia to urge Islamic solidarity during the pilgrimage: "We want the call of the faithful, not a factional one.  Avoid raising national and factional slogans", sermonized Grand Muifti Sheikh Abdulazia Al al-Sheikh in the Grand Mosque.

As for the ceasefire, triumphed as a breakthrough on Friday afternoon, breached by Friday evening, it is finished, disrupted by the violence that each side visits on the other in their intractable drive to vanquish one the other, in the name of the Almighty and sacred Islam, the religion of peace.