Nothing New in UN Report on Syria

The news this morning coming out of Geneva is the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian civil war issued its report. And despite the scare headlines of "war crimes" and "chemical weapons," there is nothing new here, and no side is singled out in particular. This from Nick Cumming-Bruce's story, "U.N. Panel Reports Increasing Brutality by Both Sides in Syria Conflict":

The Commission of Inquiry investigating the hostilities in Syria said it “documents for the first time the systematic imposition of sieges, the use of chemical agents and forcible displacement” in a report presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council. “War crimes, crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations continue apace,” it added, reporting 17 incidents that could be called massacres between mid-January and mid-May.

Nothing will change. The fighting will continue. The West will continue to blame Assad for atrocities as it pours money and weapons and jihadists into Syria. Israel will continue to lash out when it appears Assad is getting the upper hand.

Confirmation of the maintenance of the status quo can be found in the latest "Bosspeak" statement from Secretary of State John Kerry, made yesterday with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. As every torpid, hallow, mendacious word spills from Kerry's lips and you find yourself nodding off, remember, this is how rulers communicate with us.