US May Shut Syrian Embassy

One more tangible sign that Syria is growing increasingly isolated amid its violent crackdown on protesters: The US is threatening to shut its embassy in Damascus by the end of the month because of the growing violence, reports the Washington Post. Administration officials say they will make good on the threat unless President Bashar al-Assad provides better protection for employees and staff. “Unless we see that, we have no choice,” says one. The Arab League, meanwhile, is deciding whether to extend its widely panned observers' mission. (More Syria stories.)