It’s a general notion that we can’t think beyond the dictionary. However, the reality is so depressing that the barbarism and brutal acts by the extremists in Syria have just crossed every limit and their definition is beyond words and can’t be explained by any combination of these twenty-six alphabets. Thankfully, the United States and other nations have come forward to save these sinless people. Recently, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee agreed on a resolution that would authorise a military strike on Syria within 90 days. Former President Barack Obama is asking Congress to support his plan to attack the Middle Eastern country based on evidence that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its citizens.
Max Abrahms, an assistant professor of Public Policy in the Department of Political Science at Northeastern University and an expert in comparative politics, international relations, and the consequences of terrorism, elucidates congressional approval would give the president “a rare mandate to pursue his political preferences.” When asked about the global implications if the U.S. was taking military action against Syria, Abrahms opined that the conflict in Syria is already a regional crisis with a worldwide impact. President Bashar Assad is an Alawite, who draws Shia supporters in his war against the Sunnis. The sectarian divide pits Hezbollah against thousands of foreign Jihadists, including from the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaida affiliate mainly from Iraq.
Three crucial Sunni states—Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates—have already offered military assets in the event of a U.S. strike, while Iran predictably supports Shia fighters, particularly from the “Party of God.” Russia is also an Assad-backer for strategic reasons, harkening back to the Cold War. Such complex dynamics create high levels of uncertainty. A U.S. strike, for instance, risks empowering al-Qaida elements. Although Russia would likely remain on the sidelines, Iran may encourage Hezbollah to retaliate by launching rockets into Israel. If no military action is taken, by contrast, Iran may be prompted to pursue its weapons of mass destruction development, and Sunnis may settle the score in other theaters, like Iraq.
Harminder Singh
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