TheCultofAbeLincoln
17th February 2012, 19:18
A few months ago I started a thread about the then just born protests in Syria (by a few months I mean almost a year). I was quickly gathered that many, if not most, RevLefters deemed the syrian uprisings to be a product of western imperialists and al-qaeda zealots. While both of those groups certainly want to see the Syrian uprising succeed, so do I.
My question is, in the light of what has changed throughout Syria, how do the posters here regard the conflict? If you support the rebellions over-arching objective, removal of the Baathist regime, do you support the al-Qaeda elements that are assisting on that front? If not, did you also oppose that groups actions in Iraq against the Americans, where it is widely reported that support for this movement in syria comes from? (note, when I say al-Qaeda, and when the media says al-Qaeda, it really refers to any sunni islamist militant force at this point. The muslim brotherhood that was destroyed in Hama, along with the rest of that city, in the 1980s really predates al-Qaeda as a major force in Syria when Mr bin Laden was fighting Russians). Also, would you support the western powers sending aid to Syria? If so, would it be medical and foodstuffs or even a large scale "no fly zone" like Libya (aka The rebellions air force)?
Personally, after the ruin and destruction the US especially has wreaked on the region, any involvement by that power would be viewed with extreme skepticism in my eyes. However, on the flip side, simply not acting at all could be just as dangerous and lead to more anti-americanism in the region. It is my belief that the US should use it's vastly superior military capabilities to airlift medical and food supplies into those Syrian cities which are being most heavily bombarded, perhaps even dropping these supplies in from the air. This can only be done with the help of Turkey, who, I believe, would be a willing partner in a very limited and non-binding action such as this.
To the argument that any US involvement will lead to Syria becoming a lackey of the west ignores the most recent example of intervention in Libya, which today celebrates a year after the begining of the revolt which toppled Mr Qaddafi (roughly a year...). On that note, however, involvement in Syria simply cannot be on the level that was seen in Libya, where the military strategy was extremely simple compared to what it would take in Syria.
The Baathist regime has exploited sectarian lines for decades in order to keep control of the country. When this bloody civil war truly gets going, in one form or another it will be a battle for one sect or another to try and dominate the country. Unfortunately, the Baathist regime has done an excellent job at killing those moderate voices who were calling for their, and every Syrians, political rights. The only opposition that may be left today are those same groups which banded together to defend Iraq's sunni community after the fall of the Baathist regime in Iraq. I fear it will be hard for a united Syrian opposition comprising all sects to emerge.
I hope that I am completely mistaken in this, and that Kurds, Sunnis, and Christians, and Alawites, can form a united front against the Baathists and that this is what is being done today. Though it is very hard to tell from the outside. And I also hope that once they lose power, the rest of the country doesn't massacre every Alawite they find.
My question is, in the light of what has changed throughout Syria, how do the posters here regard the conflict? If you support the rebellions over-arching objective, removal of the Baathist regime, do you support the al-Qaeda elements that are assisting on that front? If not, did you also oppose that groups actions in Iraq against the Americans, where it is widely reported that support for this movement in syria comes from? (note, when I say al-Qaeda, and when the media says al-Qaeda, it really refers to any sunni islamist militant force at this point. The muslim brotherhood that was destroyed in Hama, along with the rest of that city, in the 1980s really predates al-Qaeda as a major force in Syria when Mr bin Laden was fighting Russians). Also, would you support the western powers sending aid to Syria? If so, would it be medical and foodstuffs or even a large scale "no fly zone" like Libya (aka The rebellions air force)?
Personally, after the ruin and destruction the US especially has wreaked on the region, any involvement by that power would be viewed with extreme skepticism in my eyes. However, on the flip side, simply not acting at all could be just as dangerous and lead to more anti-americanism in the region. It is my belief that the US should use it's vastly superior military capabilities to airlift medical and food supplies into those Syrian cities which are being most heavily bombarded, perhaps even dropping these supplies in from the air. This can only be done with the help of Turkey, who, I believe, would be a willing partner in a very limited and non-binding action such as this.
To the argument that any US involvement will lead to Syria becoming a lackey of the west ignores the most recent example of intervention in Libya, which today celebrates a year after the begining of the revolt which toppled Mr Qaddafi (roughly a year...). On that note, however, involvement in Syria simply cannot be on the level that was seen in Libya, where the military strategy was extremely simple compared to what it would take in Syria.
The Baathist regime has exploited sectarian lines for decades in order to keep control of the country. When this bloody civil war truly gets going, in one form or another it will be a battle for one sect or another to try and dominate the country. Unfortunately, the Baathist regime has done an excellent job at killing those moderate voices who were calling for their, and every Syrians, political rights. The only opposition that may be left today are those same groups which banded together to defend Iraq's sunni community after the fall of the Baathist regime in Iraq. I fear it will be hard for a united Syrian opposition comprising all sects to emerge.
I hope that I am completely mistaken in this, and that Kurds, Sunnis, and Christians, and Alawites, can form a united front against the Baathists and that this is what is being done today. Though it is very hard to tell from the outside. And I also hope that once they lose power, the rest of the country doesn't massacre every Alawite they find.