The yanks seem to be zeroing in on the present regime of Syria. But contrary to their wish, Britain and Germany have come with a 'nyet' on an allied assault thanks to their internal compulsions and on the other hand, France is willin'! The allied forces basically want to punish the Assad regime for using chemical weapons against its people and in the process bring about a regime change, perhaps. Russia and China have expressed their unwillingness to support such a venture and hence, it's a stalemate at the United Nations. And India has taken the stand that she'll only support an action that has the blessings of the UN.
In Syria, there has always been an existential struggle between the Alawites and the Sunnis, the Druze and the Christians ever since it was carved out of the ruins of the great Ottoman Empire. And there's been a sort of after effect of the Arab spring that had witnessed stunning results in neighbouring Egypt. But what has brought Syria to this sorry pass when she's counting the hours in anticipation of the might of the armoury of the allied forces, that would befall upon them anytime?
Bad governance and failing to take note of an even greater catastrophe! Natural calamity and mismanagement of natural resources had triggered off intense sectarianism. Shahrzad Mohtadi, a scholar on global security, has explained the connection between climate change and political uprising in the country. Consider the following facts:-
(a) Syria's patchwork of religions and sects had coexisted peacefully over the years. But five years ago,
an environmental catastrophe hit the country's agricultural belt.
(b) Scanty rainfall between 2006 and 2010 resulting in unprecedented drought rendered its north-
eastern agricultural fields into deserts!
(c) Unable to eke out a living, over 1.5 million destitute farmers moved to the suburbs of Damascus and
other cities, living in makeshift tents and scrounging for a living.
(d) Massive shortfalls in production turned an exporter of wheat into a major importer. Food prices hit
the roof, punishing the mostly Sunni farmers, who once fed the nation.
(e) Their plight was largely ignored by the country's Alawite rulers that stoked anger and initiated conflict.
(f) To make matters worse, Syrian security forces had tortured children who'd made a graffiti of anti-
government slogans on their school wall, sometime in Mar 2011 and its epicenter, the city of Dara'a,
exploded in anger.
(g) The destitute Sunni farmers joined the protest and their congregations in the suburbs were targeted by
the government's forces using conventional weapons and more recently, chemical weapons.
(h) Incidentally, another wrong agricultural policy on the part of the government of promoting water-
intensive cotton for exports quietly began depleting the groundwater reserves at an alarming rate of
the Tigris and Euphrates river basins!
One feels sorry for that country. Negative factors have arraigned themselves and have put her in the tight spot she's in. And there has to be a way out because uncertainty can never be endured for long! It's the time for statesmen, well wishers and intellectuals to bring about a lasting solution for a durable peace. Asking for too much?
Tailpiece.
Can't help but be reminded by that age old saying, "When ill luck comes, it comes in legions"!
In Syria, there has always been an existential struggle between the Alawites and the Sunnis, the Druze and the Christians ever since it was carved out of the ruins of the great Ottoman Empire. And there's been a sort of after effect of the Arab spring that had witnessed stunning results in neighbouring Egypt. But what has brought Syria to this sorry pass when she's counting the hours in anticipation of the might of the armoury of the allied forces, that would befall upon them anytime?
Bad governance and failing to take note of an even greater catastrophe! Natural calamity and mismanagement of natural resources had triggered off intense sectarianism. Shahrzad Mohtadi, a scholar on global security, has explained the connection between climate change and political uprising in the country. Consider the following facts:-
(a) Syria's patchwork of religions and sects had coexisted peacefully over the years. But five years ago,
an environmental catastrophe hit the country's agricultural belt.
(b) Scanty rainfall between 2006 and 2010 resulting in unprecedented drought rendered its north-
eastern agricultural fields into deserts!
(c) Unable to eke out a living, over 1.5 million destitute farmers moved to the suburbs of Damascus and
other cities, living in makeshift tents and scrounging for a living.
(d) Massive shortfalls in production turned an exporter of wheat into a major importer. Food prices hit
the roof, punishing the mostly Sunni farmers, who once fed the nation.
(e) Their plight was largely ignored by the country's Alawite rulers that stoked anger and initiated conflict.
(f) To make matters worse, Syrian security forces had tortured children who'd made a graffiti of anti-
government slogans on their school wall, sometime in Mar 2011 and its epicenter, the city of Dara'a,
exploded in anger.
(g) The destitute Sunni farmers joined the protest and their congregations in the suburbs were targeted by
the government's forces using conventional weapons and more recently, chemical weapons.
(h) Incidentally, another wrong agricultural policy on the part of the government of promoting water-
intensive cotton for exports quietly began depleting the groundwater reserves at an alarming rate of
the Tigris and Euphrates river basins!
One feels sorry for that country. Negative factors have arraigned themselves and have put her in the tight spot she's in. And there has to be a way out because uncertainty can never be endured for long! It's the time for statesmen, well wishers and intellectuals to bring about a lasting solution for a durable peace. Asking for too much?
Tailpiece.
Can't help but be reminded by that age old saying, "When ill luck comes, it comes in legions"!
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