The Syrian regime's violence against its own people has been horrendous. But the United Nation General Secretary's call for both the regime and those elements of the opposition that are fighting back to simply put down their arms and seek a political resolution is unrealistic.

To be sure, a political resolution must be found. But the regime can't play a part in it. The Bashar Al Assad regime and everyone associated with it need to go. There can be no meaningful discussion with people who pull the fingernails out of children and indiscriminately bombard entire neighborhoods.

Whichever way the regime ultimately crumbles, the United Nations should be taking steps to organize some intervention to prevent the wholesale slaughter of ethnic and religious minorities by members of what we nebulously call the Opposition. As we have seen in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia, when the dictator goes, Islamists rush into the gap, with lethal consequences.

Nadia Khoury is a Contributing Writer for The Propagandist