Make Peace, Not War - It’s a New Day for Syria

Rasa - Read this first: In several countries in the Middle East, it seems that one war ends just in time for the next one to begin. In Iraq, most expect the ISIL war to give way to a fight over Kurdish secession. In Syria, with ISIL starting to lose ground, the next round of wars is already starting to take shape.

News ID: 430736

Date: 03 July 2017 - 23:59

RNA - On that note, the Syrian-led war on ISIL is itself only part of a broader, more complicated war launched by the United States and its allies to affect regime change in Damascus. It’s also a stealth escalation against the allied forces of Iran, Russia and Hezbollah to ensure they will not have a say in post-ISIL Syria. Speaking of when ISIL is defeated, there is no doubt that the days of foreign-backed terrorist group are numbered. After being dislodged from Mosul disgracefully, it’s obvious that it’s also the final countdown for the Takfiri terrorist group in Syria.

But still there will be proxies supported by the US government and its allies that will likely continue beyond ISIL having territory. That doesn’t mean more wars won’t break out. The Syrian Kurds certainly see it coming. On the one hand, many YPG are accusing Turkey of plotting to attack them in border regions, but on the other hand, YPG commanders are openly threatening to invade Turkish-held territory either way.

Meanwhile, the US seems to be gearing up for its own new war on post-ISIL Syria, building up its occupying forces in the country’s southeast with an express eye on fighting the Syrian government and hitting its Iranian-Hezbollah allies that back them. It’s unclear how the Pentagon regime imagines they can get into this war without getting Russia involved too, which could quickly make this a regional, if not a global, war.

Not only did Syria win the Real War on Terror in alliance with Iranian and Russian allies against all odds and with the greatest number of Syrians supporting President Bashar al-Assad, the country has maintained its enormous popularity across the region and beyond as well.

Unlike other parts of the Arab world, including the Persian Gulf, democracy is alive and well in Syria, and the public are wildly supportive of their president and his anti-terrorism policies. Many Syrians also want peace and dialogue with the opposition and their Arab neighbors. While the overwhelming majority of Syrian people and their president may be aligned in this wish, their efforts for reviving their democracy and rebuilding their war-torn country from ruins will be hamstrung by Washington’s hardline policy and un-justified UN Security Council sanctions.

That said, Syrian people and their president don’t have to try to please war-party Washington the way its regional allies in the Persian Gulf have. Syria has one of the largest markets and economies in the region, and is among the top regional militaries. If Syrians say they are not open to a new war after ISIL is defeated, Washington should listen and respect that. Syrians have the means to make their point, just take a look at how far they have gone in liberating so many terror-held cities and towns.

Further still, it’s not just the Syrian people and their leader that the Trump White House should hear from. The United Nations and the international civil society, regardless of regional or political affiliation, support peace and direct negotiations between Damascus and opposition. Syrians offer strong support for their president’s commitment to diplomacy.

Under International Law, International Humanitarian Law, and UN Charter, President Assad’s commitment to diplomacy and peace is a welcome breath of fresh air. It is important that he know he has the support of the Syrian people and the international community in his post-ISIL reconstruction and reconciliation efforts. Whatever President Trump may do next in his escalatory campaig, President Assad should know the world community only supports his rightful mandate as the world wants peace, not new wars.

It’s a new day for the long-suffering people of Syria. Damascus has shown it can make progress on fighting terrorism and extremism despite America’s pressures and threats. Without a global diplomatic effort to stop Trump’s next war of deceit, there is little doubt it will develop into an unimaginable regional or transregional conflict.

It is a reckless, inexperienced move by the Trump White House to threaten military action against a battled-hardened nation that has just defeated one the most organized and ruthless terrorist group the world has ever seen; a nation that wants peace with itself and with others. For Syrians, hope is precious, and they are right not to give up.

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