The War on Syria: August 28, 2013
Here is some sober, clear, well-founded analysis from CBS News:
Like it or not, it looks as though an attack on the sovereign state of Syria will indeed take place, though it’s not yet an absolute certainty. It’s clear that there will be some kind of meeting of the UN Security Council today, tomorrow, or Friday at the latest to discuss the findings of UN inspectors who have been investigating the alleged chemical attack in Damascus — though it appears as if the US is seeking the legal justification to launch an attack on Syria without hearing the considerations of the UN. We should hold zero expectations toward the outcome of this meeting (should it even take place before the launch of an illegal US offensive), but remain hopeful toward the possibility of diplomacy and miracles.
Here’s what we know today:
1. The US government has not presented the public with concrete proof of the Syrian regime’s involvement in the alleged chemical weapons attack, though evidence suggests that some kind of substance was used by some person or group to kill hundreds of Syrian citizens on August 21st.
2. We have no concrete, confirmed information on the whereabouts of Assad and his family, though there is one credible report that suggests he fled to Tehran yesterday evening.
3. China has officially stated that they believe this is a move toward regime change, an event that would serve to trigger Iranian intervention.
4. The West has said repeatedly that they are prepared to attack Syria without UN sanction, though the Western nations will all attend the meeting of the Security Council should it take place. That is why no one should jump to conclusions until we see what happens at the UN meeting — but it is fair to suggest that Russia, China, and Iran have ever-shrinking windows for diplomatic maneuvering.
The situation is clear and the UN is where we keep our eyes and our ears — for better of worse — as we hope that the missiles won’t fly and the bombs won’t drop until there has been a UN session.
There should be 50 million Americans in the streets right now, but there aren’t — and the sad truth is that there is likely little I or we can do to get 50 million Americans to comprehend and understand — over the course of the next three days or less — the pretext for and the scope of what is unraveling before us.
Once again, we have forgotten history, but it is unequivocally certain that history will not forget about us.
