The spring in Bashar's step

A new Syrian refugee camp inside Syria has sprung up along the Turkish border. These refugees have fled multiple times from aerial bombardment and were turned away by the Turkish authorities who are struggling to deal with their existing refugees.

The latest Syrian tactic is bombing bread lines in Aleppo. "Ten bakery attacks is not random – they show no care for civilians and strongly indicate an attempt to target them.” said Human Rights Watch. The video shows a chaotic scene of panicked civilians covered in blood and dust. I am beginning to have my doubts in the media's choice not to show graphic images. It makes us complacent and drives the current passivity in the face of an escalation of violence.

Bashar al-Assad has slain, in the 18 months since this conflict began with peaceful protests, some 20 to 25 thousand of his own people. Compared to Bosnia or Rwanda, this is more of a slow-motion massacre, calibrated to avoid intervention. Assad projected confidence in his pre-recorded appearance on Syrian TV, describing the effort as a "cleansing of the nation". The interview, with a dramatic musical score, seems more like a movie trailer.

Clearly what is needed in Syria is a political transition that honors human rights and avoids the type of chaos seen in Iraq that has the potential to draw Lebanon into its vortex. But a number of obstacles continue to frustrate this process.

One problem is the Syrian opposition. It is splintered into about 30 factions, the most well known being the Free Syrian Army. Many of these fighters are far from 'pure as the driven snow'. This lack of credibility as a force for democracy and human rights limits the flow of humanitarian and military aid, the bulk of which currently comes from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. The civilian body composed mainly of Syrian expatriates, The Syrian National Council, also lacks legitimacy due to its lack of cohesion and support.

What would help is for Syrians to recognize more clearly who their friends are and who their enemies are. Their international outcries should be directed more forcefully and with more cohesion against Russia. They should call for protests at Russian embassies around the world and in the Arab League.

Russia and China have vetoed three resolutions in the UN Security Council. The UN General Assembly denounced Syria with 133 votes in favor. Russia, China, Iran, Syria, Belarus, Myanmar, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Zimbabwe voted against it and India abstained. The resolution was watered down at the end, with calls for sanctions and Assad to step down removed. The Arab League has called on Assad to step down.

Once again France seems to be playing the most forceful role, although Hollande is less hyper than Sarkozy. Sanctions imposed by Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and Japan have not been joined by the bulk of Latin America, Africa and Asia.

One proposal, now backed by Turkey, is the establishment of a buffer zone inside Syria which would be defended by international troops and air power. This would allow refugees a safe place to live and enable organizations like the UNHCR greater humanitarian scope. Further it could serve to engage and empower the best elements of the Syrian opposition.

Another proposal is a no-fly zone or several no-fly zones. The Syrian regime is now regularly attacking rebel-held districts with aerial bombardment and shelling, depriving residents of their lives and homes for allowing the rebels to take over.

Diplomacy has failed, deprived as it was by the lack of a credible threat to the regime. Ultimately it would be best for the Syrian regime to accept a UN-brokered transition, but that will not happen without greater leverage.