Apocalypse beckons in Syria
Mmegi Editor | Wednesday April 12, 2017 11:40
Frequently over the decades, global powers and alliances in the East and the West have squared up in territories far removed from their own capitals, and in the endless battle for global influence, power, prestige and self-interest. In Syria, the usual actors and their alliances are once again in action, in a conflict that has thus far killed 250,000 Syrians since March 2011.
What began as an uprising by Syrians against their Government protesting high unemployment, widespread corruption, lack of political freedom and state repression has drawn the world into a nightmare of chemical weapons attacks, non-stop terrorism, mass slaughter of men, women and children as well as the destruction of renowned ancient monuments.
The multiplicity of actors and their highly conflicting interests, from a murderous dictatorship bent on holding onto power, to armed international terrorists keen on establishing their caliphate, the conflict has become one where no side can win, but citizens lose everyday. Russia, China and Iran are actively supporting the Syrian government, while a section of the rebels enjoys the US and its traditional allies such as Britain, Germany, France, Australia and others. Each side accuses the other of advancing the slaughter of the innocents as well as strengthening the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the other group militarily active in the conflict.
Botswana has released several statements since the conflict began, calling for calm, the intervention of the United Nations, and end to hostilities and the cessation of chemical attacks, which have killed hundreds since their introduction in 2013.
In 2012, Botswana summoned the ambassadors of Russia and China and in the years after that, made other efforts to rally support in various global fora for a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The trouble in Syria is much like the troubles in Europe and Asia, which triggered the events that either led to the Second World War or allowed the world to slide towards war without any checks.
These troubles include the presence of global political strongmen, irascible megalomaniacs often unfettered by domestic systems, the weakness of global institutions such as the United Nations, NATO and the Group of Seven, as well as the shifting of geopolitical dominance seen in cycles through the centuries.
Added to this, however, the Syrian war has spawned a record refugee crisis across the world, planting highly disgruntled people in global capitals, with terrorists and their sleeper cells slipping in with the fleeing masses. In the last World War, Botswana was among the 30 countries across the world to take up arms and should Syria erupt into a global conflict, the same will be required of our troops.
The world stands on the edge.
Today’s thought
“My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.”
– George Washington