That Red Line
"We have communicated in no uncertain terms with every player in the region, that that's a red line for us, and that there would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front, or the use of chemical weapons. that would change my calculations significantly." U.S. President Barack Obama
That message didn't go over too well with China and Russia. Both have warned the United States not to become involved in Syria, not to plan a military presence there that would aid the rebel cause, when both China and Russia defend the Alawite regime from the Free Syrian Army's determination to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.
"We cannot have a situation where chemical or biological weapons are falling into the hands of the wrong people. That's an issue that doesn't just concern Syria. It concerns our close allies in the region, including Israel. It concerns us", claimed President Obama, underlining the primary concern with the possible use by an embattled regime fighting furiously for its survival, of weapons of mass destruction.
This is a perplexing, conflicting situation whichever way one looks, for this is the Middle East. Giving aid to the rebel cause could very well mean that the United States by committing itself to the defence of the rebels, might also be placing itself alongside those of Syria's opposition that the West knows too little of. But is certain enough that they include extremist elements, al-Qaeda-linked jihadis, Salafists.
Aiding the rebels militarily by providing weaponry might additionally guarantee that some of those weapons could become the property of al-Qaeda-linked jihadis, along with other extremist groups that have been fighting with the opposition. Yet, as well, Syria is reputed to have the among the largest chemical and biological weapons stockpiles in the world.
Mustard gas, nerve agents like sarin, tabun and VX that can be delivered in missiles, bombs, rockets, artillery shells or other large munitions, are of grave concern. Americans, according to their president, are monitoring the situation "very carefully", and have come up with some contingency plans. The "red line" that would bring the U.S. into the fray is a chemical or biological weapons attack on the rebels.
Whether a weapons transfer from the rebels to al-Qaeda, Hezbollah or Hamas, or a transfer of biological and chemical weapons falling into the hands of terror-linked fighters now with the opposition, the scenario is a daunting one for its further implications. Yet without a clear mandate from the UN the U.S. is loath to commit to patrol Syrian airspace to prevent airstrikes on outposts.
And government forces continue to heavily shell Aleppo and Daraa and suburbs of Damascus as a celebration of Eid al-Fitre, in a display of Muslim brotherly concern that there will not be enough graves for the pious to visit and pray over as per such holiday traditions.
Labels: Political Realities, Revolution, Societal Failures, Syria, Technology, United States
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, August 21, 2012
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