When you look at the current conflict in Syria from
a historical point of view you will find that nothing has changed. The French
mandate of Syria has left the country divided since its independence in 1946.
Prior to that, France governed Syria via a policy of divide and rule. Instead
of promoting a national identity that encompassed all Syrians, the French
encouraged ethic, religious, class, and territorial differences already within
the country and still very much present today. For example, Syrian
President, Bashar al-Assad, is an Alawite Muslim, as are the top officials in
the Syrian government, including the military. The Free Syrian Army is composed of
Sunni Muslims, which happens to be the Syrian majority. The tension
between these two conflicting groups, first manifested under French Rule, still
affects the politics of Syria today as well as the nature of their current
civil war.
If Syria has yet to
get past its sectarian disunity how will a US military strike help? While I
commend President Obama for his humanitarian interest considering Syria, I do
not believe that a US military attack will solve anything. However the main concern
currently revolves around Syria's chemical weapons. Although Assad has
agreed to give up Syria's chemical weapons arsenal, the civil war still
continues. If the use of chemical weapons used against civilians is the primary
reason for US military action, then what will happen after the chemical weapons
are no longer in their possession? The Middle East is constantly riddled with
internal conflict. Is the US expected to send troops to aid every single
one?
As I previously stated this civil war is based upon
tensions established decades before. The minority Alawites standing
behind the Assad regime verses the Sunni majority. The fighting is not expected
to end soon. Both parties have too much at stake. The elite Alawites do not wish to give up their power. Although
the US in providing aid for the Free Syrian Army, it needs to be aware of
radical Islamist groups like the Syrian jihadists who are a part of the Free
Syrian Army. The nature of this civil war is a combination of politics and
religion, thus making it difficult to find a solutions to the conflict within Syria.
President Obama's persistence has served its purpose; Assad has agreed to hand over
the chemical weapons. I do believe that
after the weapons are in fact secured, the threat of US military action within
Syria should be taken off the table. Military action does not necessarily mean an
end to the conflict.
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