From whichever way one looks at them, the images coming out from the areas where chemical weapons were allegedly used in the ongoing Syrian civil war are horrendous. The sight of several hundred people suffering on the throes of obviously painfully and agonizing death is quite benumbing. The question that readily agitates the mind is: “what manner of animal(s) would visit such evil on a people’?
With the dust yet to settle in the areas where the chemical weapons were detonates, members of the Syrian rebel armies had begun to circulate video clips and pictures, blaming the Syrian Army for the atrocity. The denial from the al-Asaad regime was as vociferous as the blames being heaped on the regime. The one sure victim in this present episode appears to be those who have been sickened or died and the truth.
Without any doubt, the ‘red line’ drawn by U.S. President regarding the use of chemical weapons, had indirectly made the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian crisis, a tool which would eventually be deployed as the crisis prolonged. By either the rebels, to ensnare United States intervention to their own favor or by the Syrian army to ensure speedy victory and or prove their independence and ability to do what they want within their territory.
Without any independent confirmation of the nature of chemicals weapons used or from whence the weapons were fired, some countries and entities have rushed to conclusions, conclusions that will if unchecked lead to very dire situations for the entire Middle East in a couple of days.
One salient fact which seem to have been swallowed up in the uproar following the release of video evidence of deaths resulting from what appeared to be use of chemical weapons is the question of which side in the Syrian civil war stood to gain from the use of chemical weapons at the point in time when the weapons were used? In every crime, motive, opportunity and who gains from the crime has always served to reveal the culprits.
For the past couple of months, the tide of battle has noticeably turned against the rebels, with the Syrian army recording consecutive victories across several fronts in the civil war. From the loss of control of the strategic city of Homs, to their defeat in Qusayr on the Lebanese border, and in several key towns across the length and breadth of Syria, the Syrian rebels have been on a losing streak and were in dire need of whatsoever that would turn the tide in their favor.
As the world seems once more on the threshold of yet another enlarged conflagration in the Middle East, the following questions readily agitate the mind:
1. Could the Rebels themselves have used chemical weapons in a moderate dosage on their own side of the divide with a view to eliciting the reactions presently being experienced from the United States and its European allies?
2. Could the chemical weapons have been deployed by any of the several extremist Islamist groups which hold sway in diverse parts of Syria some of which are known to have actively sought chemical weaponry expertise?
3. Would it have been in the interest of al-Asaad to resort to chemical weapons in a war he was on course to winning and risk the possibility of internationalizing the war?
The answers to the questions raised above should ordinarily reinforce the need for deep reflection.
If indeed it is proved beyond any iota of doubt that the chemical weapons were deployed under orders of the army loyal to President al-Asaad, then all efforts, inclusive of ensuring the removal of the al-Asaad regime, must be made to extinguish the likelihood of a re-occurrence.
Until such incontrovertible proof is adduced by an impartial international body, such as the United Nations inspectors presently on ground in Syria, and not the fictitious 'proof' former U.S. President George Bush marshaled out in his desperate quest to eliminate Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, it is in the best interest of international peace and stability that extreme caution is exercised in addressing this most unfortunate escalation in the Syrian civil war.
Picture: corpse of children and some adults killed by the chemical weapon attack near Damascus
