Tags
Bashar al-Assad, clarification, exceptional nations, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Syria, the United Nations, the United States, war crime
Peace Dove, by Pablo Picasso, 1949 (Photo Credit: Google Images)
“After a strike, one can expect anything:” clarification
I received two comments from persons who did not understand the meaning of a quotation. In an interview, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that “after a strike, one can expect anything.” The statement is not mine and it may be unclear.
After a strike, i.e. the gassing to death by sarin of 1,429 Syrian citizens, by forces under the command of Bashar al-Assad, Syrian President Assad can expect anything: retaliation.
Similarly after a “punitive” strike on Syria by the United States, the United States can expect retaliation on the part of ?
Strike A: Assad on Syria (civil war) = Strike B: the US on Assad
Danger: Since President Assad is a protégé of Russian President Vladimir Putin, we do not know who would strike after strike B, but in all likelihood, there would be retaliation and Assad may be helped by his ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Strike C = unknown
Assad: “You can expect everything.” http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/video/2013/09/09/bachar-al-assad-attendez-vous-a-tout_3473648_3218.html“Exceptional” Nations
Because of its status as a “superpower” the United States is currently expected to intervene in the Syrian crisis. Therefore, at the moment, the US’ status as superpower is placing a heavy and perhaps unfair burden on US President Barack Obama and on his people.
Moreover, the US has now been called an “exceptional” nation, which would give it not only the right to strike but also the responsibility to do so. Is this acceptable?
A War Crime
However, on 16 September 2013, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reported that it had been determined by the United Nations that 1,429 Syrian citizens were gassed to death near Damascus, on 21 August 2013. This is a “war crime.” Therefore, it would be my opinion that matters have changed. It is now official that Assad’s forces acted in violation of an international law. Theoretically, this is a matter for the United Nations to deal with.
The Last Post on the Syrian Crisis
I did not intend to write a post on Syria today. In fact, I did not intend to write any more posts on the Syrian crisis. This link will take you to the latest development:
I will close by saying that I grieve profoundly for those who have had to flee Syria, for those who have been prevented from fleeing Syria, and for the families and friends of those who were gassed to death.
* * *
Joseph Haydn (31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809) Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, H. 7b-1- Adagio Jacqueline du Pré (26 January 1945 – 19 October 1987)
© Micheline Walker
September 20, 2013
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Micheline's Blog 
Well said, and I second your post, especially the last paragraph! 🙂
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Thank you tk. You’re so kind. Micheline
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Dear Micheline, you have a big heart and wisdom you! Thank you for your posts so important for the world! We all need people to seek world peace among all peoples! Only peace makes the world more beautiful!
Be blessed with good health and much happiness!
Enjoy a wonderful weekend! Big hugs, much love, Stefania! 🙂
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Dear Stefania,
I feel very sorry that we should still be waging wars, using the worst of weapons and forming deadly alliances. We need to live peacefully. How do these sick individuals become heads of state?
I thank you for the beauty you keep showing us. It’s an antidote. A little sanity!
Big hugs and love,
Micheline
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I, too, am in total agreement with your last paragraph.
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Dear Gallivanta,
We, as individuals, can do little to stop so-called “adults” and “heads of state” from playing evil games. As one of our colleagues at WordPress pointed out, referring to a book, these are sick people. The title of the book is “Ces malades qui nous gouvernent” (The Sick Who Govern Us), by Pierre Accoce & Pierre Rentchnick. They will never mature so we need to use laws. I hope it is not irresponsible on my part to write, with difficulty, about other subjects. We must continue living and focussing on the beauty that surrounds us, which means hoping the proper authorities, such as the United Nations, will do their work.
I thank you for writing Gallivanta.
Love,
Micheline
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It is not irresponsible at all to write on other subjects. It is our duty, in my opinion, to remember beauty and art. The Syrians themselves come from an ancient and beautiful culture and the destruction of any of that must hurt them as much as anything else.
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The Syrians do come from an ancient and beautiful culture. Many of our “stories” were their stories to begin with, and much of the things we know, they have taught us. These were great civilizations.
Unfortunately, when there are “cutbacks,” schools do away with the art classes and the music classes.
There is very little anyone can do to help. Putin had supplied the chemical weapons. Now, that was irresponsible!
Thank you for writing.
Micheline
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There has been more breaks with peace since you wrote this article. It just doesn’t end. We can only keep to being compassionate human beings – but it would be very nice to save the world if there was a magic remedy.
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I can’t understand these breaks with peace. We want to live in a peaceful world. There is no magic remedies, but giving children a better education might help. They have to learn to be respectful of one another, to respect themselves, to respect animals, plants, nature… However, there is no magic remedy. I feel sorry for the victims of violence. There is no need for violence. None whatsoever.
Thank you for writing. Best regards, Micheline
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Education at a grass roots level combined with being taught a trade is a great beginning. Ignorance and the dependency of power seeking, money hungry individuals is out of hand. This hits my biggest nerve.
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I could not agree more. We would be living in a better world in our “leaders” did not hunger for power and money. They should also be, as you already mentioned, much more compassionate. Thank you Lesley.
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