Arab League, U.N. Mull Mission

It’s about time. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that the Arab League will send observers back into Syria—and hinted at the possibility of the two organizations joining forces in a mission. A special envoy would combat the sudden escalation in violence in the nation, especially in the city of Homs, where hundreds have been killed in five days of constant shelling. Ban suggested that the lack of an organized mission between the two groups may have “encouraged the Syrian government” to continue its crackdown—which has led to an estimated 5,400 deaths in 11 months. The first Arab League mission was unsuccessful because of security concerns.