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As of Feb. 20, the Syrian uprising has been going on for 11 months and five days. Almost a year now of killings by both sides and fighting between oppositional forces and governmental forces, and still no end is in sight.

Since March 15 of last year, estimates place civilian causalities anywhere from the official Syrian claim of 700 to a U.N. estimate of 6,200 dead. While no number is clear, what is clear is that too many civilians have been killed as bystanders in an attempt to change their country for the better.

Protestors in Syria have been protesting for the resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, governmental reforms, removal of emergency law, and the expansion of civil rights.

While the al-Assad regime has given some concessions, such as the removal of emergency law, a new constitution, and the releasing of nearly a fifth of the 30,000 political prisoners, many more changes are necessary.

The actions of the government need to be remembered. In the city of Homs, the center of the protests, it is reported that government forces have shelled the city for days at a time, killing many civilians and injuring many more.

The government has also prevented any aide from entering the country and medical supplies are running low in many hospitals across the nation.

However, there is possible hope for the Syrian people. The Arab League was allowed to send monitors into the country. Their report was not any different than the news coming out of Syria from defectors, bloggers, and sources. The report urged for international intervention much like that of Libya.

But as of late, the international community has not been too keen on starting another Libya. Instead, it has decided to try and condemn and offer sanction in hopes something will change.

The U.N. has tried to pass condemnations against the regime of al-Assad, but to no avail. China and Russia both vetoed the resolution brought forth to the Security Council.

A few days later, Egypt, another country that had been affected by Arab Spring, introduced another resolution to the General Assembly, but it too is failing. However, outside of the U.N. many more nations are condemning Syria for how it has handled the situation.

The U.S. has said that it will not get involved, not wanting another Libya-like situation. Perhaps that was a one-time deal.

But how can any nation in the world sit back and watch the killings of civilians, and feel no guilt? How can they feel condemnation is satisfactory enough?

But then again, what else can you do? With Iran supporting them, and their claims of nuclear weapons, you can’t really do much.

And with the U.S. in an election year, I don’t think we will be making any moves to help the Syrian situation.

Now, what I think should happen is that the U.S. should let another nation take the lead and spotlight in this situation. Perhaps it’s time to let the Arab nations take charge and lead the way in helping change Syria.

Maybe if the Arab League could carry on with agreement and try and alleviate the situation things may get better. But then again, some members are in no place to talk, with the Bahrainian government cracking down on protests against the Royal Family.

So I guess there is no hope for international aid in Syria. All we can do is watch this play itself out, and hope either side will come to terms as humans and realize killing will not solve anything.

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