Daily Times

United States of America has been directly and indirectly involved in a number of conflicts around the world. In some places, it supported existing regimes while in others it did not and waged a war on them. Syrian President Bashar al Assad was not in the good books of America and Saudi Arabia so they decided to topple his regime by labelling it a brutal dictatorship not liked by Syrians. On March 15, 2011, the civil war started in Syria. There came into being a number of small and large groups. Some were in favour of the president while the others fought against him. The later ones were supported by USA and KSA and were considered rebels fighting for a just cause.

America was in utterly in favour of regime change in Syria and it took it lightly. This task proved to be a nightmare for America and its allies. The major reason for this was the participation of Russia and China. Both of these powers vetoed the Security Council resolution to attack the prevalent regime in Syria in consideration of its alleged usage of chemical weapons on Syrians. This move by both of these countries was no less than a nightmare for the U.S.

From the Russian side, the resolution was rejected for the seventh time. China, on the other hand, vetoed the SC resolution for the sixth time. In support of Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin showed his resentment on the proposed sanctions on Syria, terming them inhuman and something that would further worsen the situation. China clearly stated that it would be an intervention in another country’s affairs which is something utterly against the Chinese pacifism policy. Both the countries are still favouring the prevailing regime but they have also condemned the alleged chemical attacks supposedly used by Assad’s regime and his forces. Although authorities have denied the claim there is some evidence that shows the use of lethal chemical weapons but not to the level USA claims.

Russian blind support to Assad challenged the Americans which the later did not like. Russians took part militarily in Syria in September 2015, and this was the time when the American retreat started. The blame game of supporting terrorists initiated after Russian entry on Syrian land. Factually, it is America that has supplied resources to the rebels — be they from ISIS or any other group.

Although authorities have denied the claim, there is some evidence that shows the use of lethal chemical weapons

Assad’s government solidifies the position of Russia. This is considered to be the very first time after the Cold War that Russia took a bold move against its cold war arch-rival USA. Russia also considered it an opportunity to flex its muscle and built its Khmeimim air base in the northwest Damascus — its first one in Middle East.

The vital role in the entire war is that of USA that has been supplying financial as well as non-financial resources to the Syrian rebels to fight against Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the ones favouring the president. Many western scholars believe that USA is losing fast. It could not achieve the set objective of getting rid of Assad even after spending a huge sum of money and sending troops.

More than 300, 000 people have been killed and millions of others are displaced. In recent history, the crisis of Syria can be termed as a major setback to humanity — more properly a tussle of ego between giants.

Being a global citizen, I am so vexed by the situation that is getting worse day by day. Everyone needs to be concerned about the miserable life Syrians are living. It is the responsibility of UN and SC to take the matter seriously and consider the political solution of the conflict. The war has proved to be the worst nightmare for the people of war-afflicted areas. They have lost everything.

The writer works as a Press Counsellor in the Consulate General of Pakistan in Hong Kong

Published in Daily Times, November 20^th 2017.