April 3, 2012 | Quote
Splits in ‘Friends of Syria’ Group May Help Embattled Leader Assad
But Tony Badran, a research fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, says U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar appear to have stepped out in front of Obama administration by pushing for “robust action.” …
However, Badran, of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, is among analysts who think the role of the Friends of Syria meeting is diminished.
“Whatever expectations there might have been, they have been essentially undercut by the Obama administration's endorsement of the Annan plan,” Badran said.
“The U.S. has made it amply clear that this was the only game in town at the moment and has pressured skeptical allies to fall in line behind it.”