October 24, 2016

The case against the Syrian war

Hands for Syria Coalition
  1. The continuation of the war in Syria is the result of a U.S.-orchestrated intervention by the United States, NATO, their regional allies and reactionary forces, the goal of which is regime change in Syria.
  1. This policy of regime change in Syria is illegal and in clear violation of the United Nations Charter, the letter and spirit of international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  1. This policy of forced regime change is threatening the security of the region and the world and has increased the danger of direct confrontation between the United States and Russia, with the potential of a nuclear catastrophe for the whole world.
  1. War and U.S. and EU sanctions have destabilized every sector of Syria’s economy, transforming a once self-sufficient country into an aid-dependent nation. Half the Syrian population is now displaced. A UN ESCWA report reveals these U.S. sanctions on Syria are crippling aid work during one of the largest humanitarian emergency since World War II. The one third of Syrians refugees in surrounding Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey have been hit hard by U.S. cuts to UNICEF. This forces desperate refugees to struggle to reach Europe.
  1. No foreign entity, be it a foreign government or an armed group, has the right to violate the fundamental rights of the Syrian people to independence, national sovereignty and self-determination. This includes the right of the Syrian government to request and accept military assistance from other countries, as even the U.S. government has admitted.
  1. Only the people of Syria have the inalienable right to choose their leaders and determine the character of their government, free from foreign intervention. This right cannot be properly exercised under the conditions of U.S.-orchestrated foreign intervention against the Syrian people.
  1. Our opposition is to forced regime change in Syria by U.S.-backed foreign powers and their mercenaries. It is not our business to support or oppose President Assad or the Syrian government. Only the Syrian people have the right to decide the legitimacy of their government.
  1. The most urgent issue at present is peace and putting an end to the violence of foreign intervention that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions of Syrians both internally or as refugees abroad.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Worried about the war in Syria, Sam? The illegality of it, what it portends, the sufferings starting to sink in for you only now? The absurdity of it all given your failure this campaign cycle to say next to nothing about the sole presidential candidate that is advocating peace. Regardless the chances of Dr Stein achieving victory, it was imperative that her voice, concerns, and opinions should have been heard if for no other reason than it would compel the other candidates to address the two greatest threats this planet now faces---World War III and climate change. Now as these disasters begin to unfold and manifest as an inevitable reality you'll have to ask yourself what did I do to prevent these catastrophes? Did I do everything within my powers to prevent it? Did I do everything possible to advance the cause of peace? Sam, you'll have to answer no to all these questions. Instead, you elected to obliquely support the one candidate who'll likely be the catalyst accelerating our doom. Hope you sleep well at nights.

Unknown said...

The comment above is pellucid common sense to anyone professing progressive values. Sam, you’ve made a big mistake here. This is a no brainer. E.g., Clinton’s creation of a no-fly zone over Syria portends the greatest international crisis since the Cuban Missile Crisis.