The Crisis in Syria: a Simple Solution to a Complex Situation
The Crisis in Syria: A Simple Solution to a Complex Situation
A worldwide debate is in progress as countries weigh in on their intended involvement in a high stakes, limited missile strike on Syria. Some believe it is their responsibility to intervene after a large-scale chemical weapons attack recently occurred during the Syrian civil war. Others can admit that the event was terribly wrong and unjust, but it is simply not their responsibility, nor is it their best interest to get involved. With one thing in common, the belief that what occurred was unjust, each country must consider the history of the violence in Syria, the nature of the recent attack, and decide how they will act based on a number of factors. If a country decides not to attack, they must act in a way that will deter such an event from happening again.
In March 2011, demonstrators began to gather in Syria voicing their need for political participation, increased freedoms and the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. These demonstrations were part of a movement in the Middle East known as the Arab Spring. In April 2011, the government deployed the Syrian Army, who began to fire on protesters in hopes of ending the numerous demonstrations. Throughout the next few months, the violence increased and the former protestors began an armed rebellion. A full on civil war between the groups broke out, with outside forces joining both sides over the next two years. The Syrian government describes the opposing force as terrorists who are trying to destabilize the government, while leaders of the opposing force say that’s how the government justifies its attacks. The death toll continued to rise on a daily basis, passing 100,000 in June 2013, according to the United Nations. The war went on without any threat of major international involvement until August 21, 2013, when an event shocked the world.
A man holds a dead child after the Syrian chemical weapons attack (2013). Reuters, from
A worldwide debate is in progress as countries weigh in on their intended involvement in a high stakes, limited missile strike on Syria. Some believe it is their responsibility to intervene after a large-scale chemical weapons attack recently occurred during the Syrian civil war. Others can admit that the event was terribly wrong and unjust, but it is simply not their responsibility, nor is it their best interest to get involved. With one thing in common, the belief that what occurred was unjust, each country must consider the history of the violence in Syria, the nature of the recent attack, and decide how they will act based on a number of factors. If a country decides not to attack, they must act in a way that will deter such an event from happening again.
In March 2011, demonstrators began to gather in Syria voicing their need for political participation, increased freedoms and the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. These demonstrations were part of a movement in the Middle East known as the Arab Spring. In April 2011, the government deployed the Syrian Army, who began to fire on protesters in hopes of ending the numerous demonstrations. Throughout the next few months, the violence increased and the former protestors began an armed rebellion. A full on civil war between the groups broke out, with outside forces joining both sides over the next two years. The Syrian government describes the opposing force as terrorists who are trying to destabilize the government, while leaders of the opposing force say that’s how the government justifies its attacks. The death toll continued to rise on a daily basis, passing 100,000 in June 2013, according to the United Nations. The war went on without any threat of major international involvement until August 21, 2013, when an event shocked the world.
A man holds a dead child after the Syrian chemical weapons attack (2013). Reuters, from
References: Cited Jenspie3, Flickr (n.d.). A photo from the news article “US May Not Be Able to Stop Syria From Using Chemical Weapons”. From http://gerarddirect.com/2012/ 07/21/us-may-not-be-able-to-stop-syria-from-using-chemical-weapons/ Munro, Neil. (2013, September 4). Obama denies his Syrian 'red line ' comments. In The Daily Caller. Retrieved from http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/04/obama-denies-his-syrian-red-line-comments/. Reuters (2013). A man holds a dead child after the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria. From http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ news/uk-world-news/syrian-government-accused-killing-hundreds-2199919 Syria Chemical Weapons Attack Killed 1,429, Says John Kerry (2013, August 30). In BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23906913.