The numbers go up again in Syria

The death toll for the last twenty four hours in Syria is over 240, most of whom died in the city of Homs. There was a protest in that city held to honor the 10,000 or so Syrians killed there by the government thirty years ago. That protest led to government forces opening fire on whole districts of the city and the resulting deaths of over 200 people.

With the death toll soaring, the world has finally taken notice. A draft resolution is being debated at the UN Security Council which would support the efforts by the Arab League to stop the violence. The Arab League plan calls for Bashir al Assad to step down and for elections to be held. As of now, Russia is planning to veto any resolution that calls for regime change in Damascus or any other action against Assad. Among other foreign ministers, Hillary Clinton is in New York lobbying for the passage of the resolution in the Security Council.

I still cannot fathom why it is that president Obama cannot take time from the campaign trail in order to speak out against the killing in Syria. Having Clinton push for the resolution at the UN is nice, but it is a far cry from a presidential statement condemning the killing in strong terms. America does not have to get involved with armed force, but we do have a moral obligation to speak out in support of those who are being killed only for protesting. Let's put this in context: suppose that government snipers randomly shot people at an Occupy Wall Street encampment or a Tea Party rally? That is exactly the type of thing that has been happening in Syria for six or more months. Then, suppose that an armored division of the army surrounded Oakland and began shelling the city because the Occupy demonstration was continuing. That is what is happening in Syria today (although the protesters are not part of the Occupy movement.)

Do not get me wrong. I neither support or oppose the aims of the Syrian protests. Indeed, I think the most likely result of the protests is that one blood-covered dictator, Bashir al Assad, will be replaced by another dictator. No matter what happens, however, America should be on the side of basic human rights.