Local Editor

As the Syrian Regime successfully moves into a military decisiveness, parallel to the current track of reform, the US and its allies are escalating their political, military, and economic pressure on the Syrian arena.

US senator John McCain called Monday his country to launch air strikes against Syrian territories.
In a clear breach to Syria's sovereignty, McCain said that "the US should lead an international effort to protect key population centers in Syria through air strikes on president Bashar al-Assad's forces."

The influential Republican who lost the White House 2008 presidential race stated in his Senate floor speech that " the ultimate goal of air strikes should be to establish and defend safe havens in Syria, especially in the north, in which opposition forces can organize and plan their political and military activities against al- Assad."

"Time is running out," McCain pointed out noting that "providing military assistance to the Free Syrian Army and other opposition groups is necessary."
"At this late hour, that alone will not be sufficient to stop the slaughter and save innocent lives," he claimed expressing that "the only realistic way to do so is with foreign air power."

The Republican urged his country to join Arab countries, as well as willing partners in the European Union and NATO, especially Syria's neighbor Turkey.
While he lauded Obama's efforts targeting al-Assad, he accused the current administration's approach of not reflecting realities on ground.
"Unfortunately, this policy is increasingly disconnected from the dire conditions on ground in Syria, which has become a full-blown state of armed conflict," he said.

"The time has come for a new policy," McCain stressed arguing that "it would be a strategic and moral defeat for US if al-Assad succeeds in clinging to power.

Mccains' calls seem to have a financial echo in both US administration and neighboring Canada.
On Monday, Washington slapped economic sanctions on Syrian state broadcast 
media i.e. the official TV and radio.

The US Treasury Department's sanctions chief Adam Szubin accused the Syrian
General Organization of Radio and TV for "serving as an arm of the Syrian regime as it mounts increasingly barbaric attacks on its own population and seeks both to mask and legitimize its violence."

In parallel, Canada imposed a fresh round of sanctions on Syria which targeted central bank and seven ministers.
"The Canadian embassy in Damascus and a consulate were shuttered and Canadian diplomats left the country," the foreign affairs ministry said.
The Syrian officials targeted by the new sanctions - the sixth round imposed by Ottawa since May - are ministers of health, presidential affairs, communications, resources, industry, education and transportation.


Sources: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org