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Syrian Opposition: Now's Not the Time to Plan Post-Assad Era

The Syrian opposition in exile is under increasing pressure from international and Arab supporters, as well as forces on the ground, to prepare for life after Assad, writes Hala Kodmani. But opposition forces insist they must first focus on ousting Assad, not to mention the glaring lack of consensus on how to map out the next government.

PARIS — Pressed by its international and Arab supporters to hasten preparations for the post-Assad era, the Syrian opposition in exile is under even greater pressure from dissident forces on the ground. Army defectors are now setting the political agenda — one of all-out war on Bashar Al-Assad’s forces. Meanwhile, the political opposition, mostly embodied by the Syrian National Council (SNC), says it is growing tired of Western and Arab calls to map out the next government, insisting that it is not yet in control, not to mention a glaring lack of consensus as to who should sit on it.

Working on post-Assad scenarios while trying to address the urgent needs of a dramatically evolving military and humanitarian situation is a daunting challenge for the Syrian political opposition in exile. In fact, Col. Qassim Saaeddine, the spokesman for the Common Commandment of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), said it was nothing short of “nonsense.” Speaking from Rastan, near Homs, in the middle of a military offensive by regular army brigades, Saaeddine said that his only message to “the world’s politicians and to our exiled opposition” was: “Provide us with anti-aircraft rockets so we can do as our brave men just did when they destroyed two tanks and one armored vehicle with anti-tank rockets.” Saaeddine said that for the time being the priority is “inflicting as much damage as possible on Bashar forces and increasing the number and rank of defectors.”

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