Compromise needed in Syrian tragedy
The involvement of neighbouring nations and the US strategy risks further clashes, spelling even greater catastrophe for the war-torn region
The tragedy of Syria has entered a dangerous phase. Turkey’s ramped up involvement and a new United States strategy that focuses on extremists and Iran could too easily lead to clashes between rival militaries.
The risk of such conflict could then drag in allies, with catastrophic results for the Middle East and beyond.
Disaster awaits if self-interest gets in the way of the quest for peace and the United Nations Security Council continues to handle the conflict so ineffectually.
Seemingly forgotten are Syria’s 18 million people. Since the civil war began in 2011 with protests calling for President Bashar al-Assad to resign, almost 500,000 have been killed, 5.4 million live as refugees in other countries and 6.1 million are internally displaced.
Successive UN-backed talks have achieved little and there is scant hope more such dialogue in Vienna this week will find the compromise that has been lacking.
Assad controls only half of the nation and refuses to step aside as the US, its allies and the rebel groups they back with weapons, funds and training want; he is kept in power through the military support of Russia and Iranian-backed militants.
Complicating matters are the involvement of Turkey and the support by Saudi Arabia and Qatar of rebel, religious and extremist groups.
