Reasons for and Against Intervention in Syrian Civil War - Essay Example

Reasons for and against intervention in Syrian Civil War This policy brief posits to explore the Syrian Crisis in order to ask the president to intervene or not based on the facts of the brief. The Syrian crisis is intertwined into the multifaceted fabric of Middle Eastern interactions, which mystifies numerous political observers inside as well as outside the region. It follows the Arab Spring currently witnessed that has taken the entire globe by surprise. A majority of political observers could not have anticipated that sequence of events that overthrew the regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, as well as Libya would threaten the Syrian regime of President Bashar Al-Assad 1. The intricate state of affairs in the Middle East has encouraged President Al-Assad to cling onto power and instigate a bloody onslaught against his populace. The Syrian citizenry has continuously demanded that been demanding that President Al-Assad steps down, in order to facilitate the setting up of a government with a solid democratic foundation. Even though President Al-Assad has lost a solid power base, it is apparent that he has exploited the intricate regional state of affairs which has destabilized the capacity of the United Nations (U.N) to firmly counter the Syrian crisis 2. In order to comprehend the complex state of affairs, it is appropriate to take a broader look at this region. This may help in understanding why the U.N seems incapable of being decisive against President Al-Assad. However, as the president of the world’s superpower, there is urge of considering whether to intervene or not and save the Syrian people. This crisis that started on 15th march 2011, have claimed very many lives as protesters all over the country call for resignation of president Bashar Al-Asad in favor of political rights and freedom. However, Bashar has consistently ignored the grievances of the people and continuou-sly used violence to protesters as well the rebels with the urge of overthrowing the government 3. Therefore, the United States of America should not and cannot stay oblivious of the abominable mass killings in Syria. It is thus with this regard that the government needs a strong and firm decision on the Syrian crisis so as to restore peace and stability in a country where the two attributes have long been forgotten. Moreover, The Syrian regime’s violent reaction to protests since March 2011 has led to the death of approximately 5,400 people, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The wounded, tortured, arbitrarily arrested, and disappeared protestors as well as their relatives within as well as outside of Syria are targeted, cannot be enumerated 4. The Syrian administration has been reported to employ artillery fire in confronting unarmed civilians; campaigns for door-to-door arrest; shooting of medical staff who try to assist the injured; raids against mosques, clinics, and hospitals, as well as arrest of medical workers and purposeful damage of medical supplies. This has led to approximately ten thousand refugees fleeing the country, from March 2011, headed to Turkey and Lebanon according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Commission of Inquiry’s report to the General Assembly, November 2011 5. The recent reports by the United Nations (UN) portrayed that the Syrian government resorted to using chemical weapons. Chemical weapons against civilians as well as against rebels is not acceptable because it poses great risks to the overall citizens. Though the Syrian parties blame each other, the empirical evidence cannot be disputed. Furthermore, a civil war cannot be stained through continuos use of chemical weapons because such acts are applicable to e by terrorists. Current approaches lack consistency and enforcement Though military action was seen as a solution after the crime against humanity, the world community decided to wait for the final proof of chemical weapons. Our previous discussions focussed more on ignoring the issue than facing it. This implies that our de facto interests were rooted somewhere else 6. At the end realizing that this is not a solution, worldwide peace being put into question, subsequently incentives and sanctions were put into play. Finally, sanctions were assessed as being guarantees for ending the myriad of disputes within Syria and until to our present day it still represent our plan of approach. Non-Intervention has the reputation of being a two sided sword Pro We can imagine that non-intervention comes with its flaws and strengths. Not intervening in Syria can bring relief to the troops and their families which would have been in constant fear for their loved ones. Undeniably, not risking loosing lives in a war which has no immediate interest is a clear picture 7. Of course on the same line, we can discuss that staying oblivious can give a good example to the world that the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the UN are not leaning towards bloodshed. On the contrary, we do whatever it takes to keep the peace door open for everybody no matter in what circumstances. Furthermore, moving on to finance, even though we have the capabilities and funds to start the required operation, US is better off with the funds within its boundaries and invest in something useful for the people. On its own, this brings only benefits for the entire United States 8. Con Non-intervention can give the Syrians the false impression the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the international world is complying with the current situation of affairs. This subsequently may be followed by a clear tendency towards larger and larger violent operations 9. In the same notion, all the states where violence is probable to erupt at some point will also see incapability or unwillingness of the world to make a clear statement of intervention. This can have a definite and dangerous impact on the future of possible violence, since the world loses legitimacy. Moreover, one issue which is not at all accommodated in our discussions, but of great importance is the risk of the chemical weapons to fall into the hands of terrorist groups. We need to be very cautious while addressing this problem, because it could be a real threat to the world. Taking into account the dangers non-intervention can predict, I recommend a clear and practical plan of action to induce fear and make the two sides take a step back from their actions. I propose the following empirical measures to make the Syrians understand they crossed the red line: * One last call for the Syrian President to seize the attacks and a thoroughly accepting the international sanctions and treaties 10. * Presuming the call will be ignored, organizing a quick military response to the Syrian Government through aerial and maritime militias. * The attack will not target civilians or military personnel, only chemical warfare warehouse or insignificant non-human targets 11. * It will be a strong but brief attack on the Governments military supplies, military equipment and even free spaces just to induce immediate fear into the officials. The above mentioned efforts aim to induce fear to the target and concretely abolish any other intention of breaching international customs or treaties. Fear has been fed as a weapon throughout history and I believe by waking it up inside the belligerents, can have the expected results. The Syrians cannot afford after such an action to keep phing forward and ignore the world’s response. The policy mentioned can propose some miss laps as well. If we decide to act accordingly, the risk of protracting the issue in the region is also on a large scale. Iran clearly stated for example their trenchant decision of intervening for the Syrian counterparts, in case we e force. Another weakness can be perceived as the danger of injuring/killing innocent civilians. Though our mission in to hit only non-human entities, there is always a slim chance of a miscalculation. And from that point on, like a domino effect, the mistake can create real chaos. Bibliography Bhalla, Reva. "Making Sense of the Syrian Crisis." Stratfor Global Intelligence, (2011): Print. Abdulmonem M. Overview of the Regional Players. Saudi Gazette. 2012. Retrieved from   http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=20120219 Unknown. "Crisis in Syria." Responsibilitytoprotect.org, 2014. Web. 15 Apr 2014. Retrieved from http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisis-in-syria Jalabi, Raya. "Syrian crisis: where the US stands on Assad, the rebels and the refugees." the Guardian, 2014. Web. 15 Apr 2014. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/26/us-policy-syria-refugees-assad-rebels Kaldor, M. International Civil Society: A Response to War. Cambridge: Polity Press. 2003 Mario, L. Sovereignty, Syria, & the Arab Spring. National Review Online. 2012. Retrieved from   http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/291196/ Hook, S. U.S. Foreign Policy: Irony of World Power. N.Y: CQ Press. 2012 Okawa, Ryuho. The Syrian Crisis. New York: IRH Press Co., Ltd, 2013. Print. Kerckhove, Ferry De. The Syrian crisis. [Calgary, Alta.]: School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, 2012. Print. Gardam, J. Necessity, Proportionality Use of Force. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2010. 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