Pride and the Syrian Crisis

For several weeks now, the world has been on the brink of a disaster. The immediate trigger was the attack in Syria using chemical weapons that killed about one thousand adults and more or less 400 children. The published videos of the incident were horrific; children and adults gasping for breath, rows and rows of the dead, young and old, surrounded by families and friends, grieving.
About two and a half years ago, there had been suspicions that the Syrian government was using chemical weapons in its fight against its own people rebelling against the dictatorial rule of its leader. Bashar Al Assad.
President Barack Obama of the United States declared that this is against international law. Some members of the opposition urged him to take military action but the president did not think it is right to get involved in the local strife of another country.
Furthermore there was no sufficient evidence that the Syrian Government used chemical weapons. President Obama stated that the use of chemical weapons draws the red line when the United States of America would take military action against Syria to protect its people as well as the rest of the world against the horrific aftermath of chemical warfare.
Several other instances took place during this period. President Obama had been taunted by his political opponents for lack of action against Syria, saying that his inaction is a sign of poor leadership.
But President would not be drawn to break his promise in his 2008 election that he would take the United States out of war. The memories of the Iraq War which took the lives of more than four thousand American soldiers are still fresh in the minds of the American people,. That war was waged on the belief that Iraq had weapons for mass destruction. This belief was proven false during that war.
Then there is the war in Afghanistan which has not been fully ended up to this time. These two wars had cost the United States a tremendous amount of its financial resources that almost drew it to bankruptcy in 2008-2009. Had these two wars brought benefits to the United States? This is a debatable question.
Some people feel that the downfall of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein had raised the world image of the United States. But how about the thousands of lives and the economic depression these wars have caused? The United States is at present a war-weary country.
But the event of August 21, 2013 has really shaken the whole world. Public opinion seems to have been changed. There seems to be little doubt this time that Syria used chemical weapon to kill its people en masse at a part of the country controlled by rebels. U.N. investigators as well as independent ones found evidences that the attack was planned and carried out by the Syrian government.
President Obama’s critics were on again, calling him a weak leader. He was reminded of his statement about the “red line” when the United States would take military action.
Again, endless debates filled television air, for and against military action. The war zealots were saying that the credibility of the United States is at stake. The most powerful nation in the world is failing to lead in protecting itself and other nations against warfare.
The President of the United States met with his advisers and then issued a statement that the United States is taking military action against Syria to degrade its chemical weapons. There would be no military forces on the ground. Four warships were placed on strategic points in the Mediterranean in preparation for missile attacks. This plan has not received the approval of the U.N, because two members of the Security Council, Russia and China, are sure to be against it.
Cooler heads tried to intervene. The Pope appealed to the world to pray to avert this confrontation that might plunge the world into horrific chaos. A four-hour period was designated for intense prayers. The British Parliament in spite of its prime minister’s appeal to endorse U.S. action on Syria, decided to say No.
Germany, a U.S. ally, also refused to endorse the U.S. plan.
The President of the United States as Commander in Chief of the U.S.Forces could have ordered the attack without Congress approval but he heeded the legislative body’s call that the issue be referred to them.
In the meantime, Russia through its leader, President Vladimir Putin, again expressed his belief that the chemical attack was undertaken by rebels in Syria. He invited Syria to submit any chemical weapon of destruction to international authorities to get rid of them.
Bashar Al Assad reiterated his statement that there will be retaliation if the United States attacks Syria.
A poll conducted in the United States showed that two thirds of those asked are not in favour of the military action on Syria. Some of them commented that the United States is not the police of the world. Any military action will again cost lives and tremendous financial resources. It may precipitate violent reactions from both sides that can lead to greater world unrest.
US Congress response to the President’s pending order has been delayed. A meeting of U.S. and Russian representatives regarding the offer to surrender all chemical weapons by Syria has been going on in Geneva and its results are being waited for with held breath.
But unofficial talks with senators and members of House of Representatives appear to show that the plan will not be approved by Congress.
The heat has gone down but not completely abated. The military action may still happen. But one point has been made clear. This impasse may be solved by negotiations.
There are more people in this world that are against any other war. This is a skirmish between the egos of the leaders and the danger of giving in to taunts of some who disregard the unavoidable disasters that will be caused by the action. Have you watched a Jerry Springer show wherein two women engage in hair pulling and the audience laugh and applaud?
It reminds me of my childhood confrontations wherein I had to engage in physical assaults because someone goaded me by saying, “Ano, duwag ka ba? Lumaban ka!”.
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