With Russia and China on one side, US and European
nations on the other side, a full-blown Civil war has erupted in Syria with the
ruling Bashar-Al-Assad govt on one side entering into an all out fight against
forces loyal to the rebels, the Free Syrian Army resulting in the loss of lives
of about 30,000 which include the forces loyal to the Syrian govt, forces loyal
to the rebels and a number of civilians. Still, both sides are not willing to
arrive at a solution to put an end to the genocide and the civil war is likely
to last a long period. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, as UN-Arab
envoy though entered the scene with a six point formula to find a lasting solution
to the ongoing bloodshed conceded his defeat and quit his post as mediator and
in his place a reputed trouble shooter Lakhdar Brahmi has been chosen as the next
mediator between two warring factions. No word is being heard from him so far,
perhaps he might be on the look-out for an acceptable formula to the
satisfaction of both sides. Whether he too might go the way of Kofi Annan
without succeeding in his efforts to broker a peace agreement, it is premature
to predict the outcome.
Now that France has come to the fore with the plan
of supplying arms to the rebels and artillery support. Russia too has come to
the fore which is an all weather ally of Syria with a warning that, actually
what is essential at a critical situation like this is to find ways for a home grown
solution without a regime change.
Vladimir Putin, Russian President is of the opinion that
US and European forces rushing to the help of rebel forces will only help to
aggravate the situation in Syria. His warning that the dreaded terrorist outfit
Al-Qaeda’s fighters have already infiltrated to Syria to fight along with the
rebel forces against the Assad govt that too with the covert support of US and
European nations will contribute to the devastation of the already war-torn
Syria. There is substance in his statement as in the event of Assad being
dethroned with the active participation of the dreaded terrorist outfit, the
consequences will be far beyond the imagination of even the rebel forces who
fight for a regime change now. Once Al-Qaeda gaining the upper hand, the rebel
forces of Syria will have to repent later. Putin must be recalling the
involvement of Al-Qaeda elements under Osama Bin Laden who was generously
provided with financial as well as logistical support to fight along with the
Taliban elements to force the erstwhile Soviet Union out of Afghanistan in
1989. The same Al-Qaeda and its undisputed leader Osama later evolved into a ‘frankenstein
monster’ with it turning against its former supporter US later, which was believed
to have involved in the demolition of World Trade Centre the memory of which is
still a nightmare to the Americans. That major terror attack was first of its
kind against US which always boasts about being the undisputed Super Power of
the world.
Mr.Putin while making his stand clear sarcastically
advised the US to unlock the Guantanamo jail and force the Al-Qaeda elements to
turn against Dr.Assad’s govt. America’s penchant for aligning with any force
however dreaded it may be to protect its self-interest is infamous. Later the
same forces are likely to turn against America - the hand that feeds these
militants might be bitten by the latter itself, later - here it is America itself
about which America must be knowing better. Still in its effort to settle
scores with a prominent rival like Russia, US has no hesitation to ally with
such elements whenever such a situation warrants. Here the prominent rival is
not Syria but Russia which is considered as its traditional rival. Vladimir
Putin here never forgets to make a statement with a sense of black humour, in
the event of US unlocking Guantanamo and despatch the inmates who are supposed
to be Al-Qaeda elements to fight against Syria govt, these freed elements might
end up in another jail without delay.
Sometimes we feel, at present what is actually going
on is an indirect fight between US and European nations jointly against Russia
and China treating Syrian imbroglio as a pretext.
Free Syrian Army who had successfully captured Alleppo,
the Financial Capital of Syria was later recaptured by the govt forces through
a determined fight back lasting for days resulting in the loss of lives of
almost five hundred. The rebel forces are now camping in Al-Rifast about 50
miles away from Alleppo. Now that with an intention to enable the rebel forces to
consolidate its hold over captured areas, France has come to the fore with the
offer of supplying arms to the rebels and if necessary artillery support.
Now that like in Libya, United Nations is poised to
remain a mute spectator with both sides poised to proceed along with plans to
settle scores with Syria remaining as a pretext. The whole world now looks
forward to what positive role the new UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahmi could
play in the coming days to find a permanent solution to the persisting problem
which is haunting Syria for the last seventeen months and more.
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