New York Times Editorial, "Crushing Homs": Who Writes This Rubbish?

Once again, the editorial board of The New York Times has demonstrated that is detached from reality. In an editorial entitled "Crushing Homs" (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/03/opinion/crushing-homs.html?ref=opinion), one of the board's pundits writes that Russia and China must stop supporting the Assad regime in Syria if they wish "to repair their reputations." Exactly to which "reputations" is the editorial referring? Putin has made a made a name for himself by quashing democracy in Russia, while enriching political allies (see: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/world/europe/ties-to-vladimir-putin-generate-fabulous-wealth-for-a-select-few-in-russia.html). China has become a foreign currency repository by harvesting slave labor.

The editorial board of The New York Times goes on to say:

"At some point, the Syrian military and business elites will decide that backing the dictator is a losing proposition. The United States and its allies also need to use all of their influence and coaching to help the opposition form a credible, multiethnic government, one that will respect all Syrians.

. . . .

The United States and its allies should consider providing the rebels with communications equipment, intelligence and nonlethal training."

Indeed, Assad must go, but he is not going to be pushed out by supplying the rebels in Syria with communications equipment. Moreover, sanctions will not persuade "the Syrian military and business elites . . . that backing the dictator is a losing proposition." The Syrian "military and business elites" are from Assad's Alawite minority, and they are painfully aware of the retribution that awaits them from the Sunni majority if the Assad regime falls. There is a reason why Israel is contemplating opening the Golan Heights border to Alawite refugees (see: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/idf-chief-israel-ready-to-absorb-some-syria-refugees-once-assad-falls-1.406487).

Writing from their aeries in Manhattan, these New York Times editorial board members don't have a clue what is happening on the ground in this corner of the world. However, that has never stopped them from writing in the past.