Critics: Observers Failed in Syria
BLITZER: We'll get back to the latest political news in a minute. But, first, another important story we're working on. The situation in Syria, it is dire right now. Just today, at least 21 more civilians were reportedly killed. Arab League observers are still there on a mission to try to stop the violence, but critics say they are totally failing. CNN's Arwa Damon explains why.</s>ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a darkroom amidst wails of sorrow, hands gently caress the dead girl's face. A voice on the tape says her name is Dalal Al-Halup (ph). She was just 16 years old. According to activists, she was killed in Hama by Syrian government forces while shopping, just as the Arab League observer mission arrived to the city last week. It's the type of death many hoped the mission would help prevent. Abdel Rahman (ph), an activist from Hama who we reached on Skype cursed the Arab League. He was among the few who managed to actually talk to the observers. "We were initially cheered," but then he says, "They didn't even stop in the hardest hit area. They just drove through like tourists. We were following the cars like beggars, like slaves. When they eventually did stop, they were surrounded by people clamoring for help." "The monitors," Abdel Rahman says, "simply nodded." This video posted to YouTube is said to be from Hama on Tuesday. People are heard telling the observers about snipers. The man says the tanks are just being hidden from sight. A woman shouts at another observer, "My 30-year-old brother was killed. Killed. We collected his brains with our hands." "Come to the office and file a complaint," the observer responds. "They will detain us," voices cry out. "They say come se us in our office. File a report," Abdel Rahman recalls resentfully. "I responded, do you want us all slaughtered?" From the onset, the Arab League mission has come under sharp criticism. Its head Sudanese Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Dabi himself is accused of human rights violations in his homeland. And contrary to Arab League's statements, activists say the military hasn't withdrawn anything, pointing to numerous YouTube videos. In one, people wearing the orange Arab League vests are clearly seen in front of a government armored personal carrier. Rami Khoury, a Beirut-based analyst said the failure of the mission is no surprise. They report a foregone conclusion. It will state, he says, that the Syrian government has partially complied.</s>RAMI KHOURY, ANALYST: So, there's no way they're going to be successful on the ground. They'll do a little bit and being an institution that reflects the Arab governments, they're structurally incompetent as most Arab governments are. But they are also politically dynamic. They're trying something new. The critical thing is what will happen in Cairo when the report is submitted?</s>DAMON: But for these people, living the brutality and bitterly disappointed by the observers' visit, there was little hope the Arab League will find the teeth to save them. Arwa Damon, CNN, Beirut.</s>BLITZER: Lisa Sylvester is monitoring some other top stories in THE SITUATION ROOM right now. Lisa, Egypt has not made good on promises to the United States to let U.S. based nongovernmental organizations get back to work. I got to tell you, I'm not surprised.</s>SYLVESTER: Yes, Wolf. Two of the U.S.-based rights organizations say they can't lose their offices and still don't have the money seized in the police raid last week. Egypt's leaders initially accused prodemocracy organizations of activities that included giving money to Egyptian political parties. But the U.S. groups denied it. The raids could jeopardize more than $1 billion in aid that the U.S. taxpayers give each year. Detroit's big three are on the road to a higher market share. December sales were very good for Chrysler group, up 37 percent, which boosts full year sales by 26 percent. Number one U.S. automaker G.M. put up a 4.5 percent gain last month, a 13 percent increase in sales for the year, and a 10 percent rise in December sales was the best for Ford Motor Company in five years. A stock plunge, though, for Kodak, amid reports that bankruptcy may be weeks away. Shares already dropped 92 percent in the last year, but dipped again today after "The Wall Street Journal" reported Kodak may file Chapter 11 if it can't sell several digital patents. The New York Stock Exchange threatened to delist the company in six months if stock prices do not recover -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: You know, on that story in Egypt, Lisa, I've been very, very worried about what's going on. When Leon Panetta, the defense secretary, calls General Tantawi, the head of the Egyptian military, and gets a commitment from the Egyptians to allow the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, Freedom House, to reopen and get all their stuff, their computers, their laptops, everything back, gets that commitment, and now this -- there's going to be outrage in Congress about the billion plus dollars a year U.S. taxpayers provide the Egyptian military. I think this is a crisis that's going to be huge.</s>SYLVESTER: Yes.</s>BLITZER: Stand by. We're going to get more on this information, Lisa. Thank you. A woman in the Oval Office, Jack Cafferty is standing by with your e-mail. Plus, tragedy and controversy marking Rick Santorum's family life. Details you may not necessarily know about him. Stand by.