Sadly, President Obama has given in to the warmongers and has decided to provide small arms and ammunition to the Syrian rebels. Of course, in that cluster f**k we aren't sure who is who and what their goals might be. That's the extremely sound reason we have stayed on the sidelines for the past two years. But, what they hey, we have to do something, don't we? We are the world's sole Superpower. We have to exert "influence." If you are a "rebel," you must be a good guy! Unless, of course, you are an Al Qaeda rebel. Al Qaeda of course is the Sunni equivalent of Hezbollah, the Shia militia based in Lebanon. So we are going to jump into an armed conflict between the Syrian government forces (Shia) and Al Qaeda (Sunni), Hezbollah (Shia), Iran, Russia, and whatever other random, odd lot rebels there may be in the current fighting. Our goal is to find kind-hearted rebels who want to create a democratic, nonsectarian, government favorable to the western powers and who under no circumstances will use chemical or other unsporting weaponry. And who, when all is said and done, will unite the fractured Syrian people under a beneficent government. Good luck with that!
74% of the Syrian population is Sunni Muslim. They have been ruled for decades by the Assad family, Alawite Shia. Approximately 15% of the Syrian population is Shia. As we know, the Sunnis and Shi'ites have been engaged for some time in a perpetual, world wide attempt to kill each other off. I have attempted to find out what is causing all the problems between these two main sects of Islam but the source of all the hostility seems obscure at this point. They just simply hate each other. It's always been that way. Just accept it. Nobody seems to have a rational reason as to why. Iran is largely Shia. Most other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia are predominantly Sunni. So Iran backs the Shia Assad regime. So, as in Iraq, we have a country where the vast majority of people are being ruled by a class of people that they hate. No surprise that there is a civil war.
Why oh why do we have to get between the warring Sunnis and Shi'ites? How can this possibly be in our best national interests? Let's stay out of the way and mind our own business for once.
It's like the Protestants and Catholics. Forgive me if I admit to watching Downton Abby, but it made me aware of how the Protestants referred to Catholics, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think the only thing we can do is help the victims of the war(s). The Media seem to be saying that most Syrians want the regime out, but the Christian(about 10% of the pop) are rightfully afraid. Open and monitored elections might help, but look at Egypt.