Sunday 21 February 2016

Arming the Syrian opposition

This is with reference to the report “KSA: Syrian opposition should receive anti-aircraft missiles” (Feb. 20). Saudi Arabia’s demand is very logical but it seems that the global powers have a different plan for Syria and the Middle East. Arming the moderate Syrian opposition will change the ground situation in the war-torn country provided Russia agrees to halt its airstrikes targeting these groups. The delay in arming the opposition will result in its weakening or annihilation, which will make Assad regime the only Syrian player in the battlefield. Such a development will tip the regional balance in favor of Iran, which is openly flouting international laws by interfering in the matters of neighboring countries and promoting its sectarian agenda to create unrest in the Arab world. 

The international community appears to be deliberately compounding the problems in Syria. The reasons for this inaction and wrong approach are beyond comprehension, as the impact of the Syrian conflict is not confined to the region. The ongoing turmoil and the strengthening of Daesh are affecting the entire world. Daesh — like any other terrorist organization — can only survive amid chaos and instability. As a matter of fact, Daesh and its likes emerged in countries experiencing social and political upheaval. 

Many commentators have objected to the Saudi demand of arming opposition groups with anti-aircraft missiles. They fear that the missiles might end up with Daesh. It is a laughable objection. If reports are to be believed Daesh is said to be using US arms that were airdropped in Syria to prop up the opposition groups fighting Assad and Daesh. All the current reports only lend credence to various conspiracy theories hinting at US plans of redrawing map of the Middle East. It would be a huge mistake on part of the US. It should learn from the experience of Sykes-Picot butchering of the region, which is one of the many reasons behind the past and present problems of the Middle East

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