I wonder if we will ever see light at the end of the Syrian tunnel after all these killings of women and children, with death the toll crossing 110,000 and refugees numbering at over two million scattered in camps in neighbouring countries. The human loss is in addition to the massive destruction of infrastructure and heritage of a country known for its diversity of faith.
During the past two weeks, we have been hearing about military strikes against the Syrian regime by US and some Western countries after the alleged use of chemical weapons by the regime forces which killed 1,429 people, 426 of them children. Statements from US President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande show that a military strike is now inevitable, though will be limited.
The tone of their statements shows that a broader military action against the regime is unlikely, as the US is not seeking to overthrow the regime of Bashar Al Assad.
This is because Washington is worried that an escalation of the conflict or a wider war might affect Israel. There is also a fear that the country will fall into the hands of Al Qaeda and its front groups. So, the strikes are meant to strip the regime of its chemical weapons and achieve a military balance on the ground between rival parties.
Although murder is murder whatever the weapons used, the number of Syrians killed in the last two years is far greater than the number who fell victim to chemical poisoning two weeks ago.
Days after the House of Commons vote against any military strike on Syria, British Foreign Minister William Hague said his country was ready to hold talks with Iran on Syria, and was committed to a political solution, and would work for the convening of a peace conference in Geneva.
But the crisis has shed enough blood and Syrians have suffered heavily in their struggle for freedom, justice and human dignity by fighting a tyrant empowered by some countries in the region and some superpowers. However, as the issue has become more complicated due to the conflicting and entangled interests of various parties and the cold war between East and West, a political solution through military means is the only way out. Force must be used to reach a political solution, which shall be binding on all parties, internal and external. Sitting at the negotiation table does not mean a surrender or weakness, but a necessity, to save the lives of Syrians. And bringing two parties to a dispute together at a point in the middle of the road is better than standing on the wayside, without hope.
Moreover, the international community and the superpowers have a moral responsibility to protect Syrian people as the crisis is growing every day. If it is not remedied now, it will burn everyone, without exception. Therefore, all parties should not miss this rare opportunity to stop the killing machine, before the situation descends towards the division of Syria, or Syria becomes a state that lacks the components of a state, or a state without people.
