The commencement, aggravation and the spread of the Syria crisis between the U.S. and Russia have developed so quickly that, by looking at the speed and intensity of the developments from two days ago, one would think that the World War III has begun, which wouldn’t be wrong.
Even though the threat still continues, thank God no war has broken out. During the time that this article was being written, he made another statement on Twitter and wrote, “Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all! In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS [Daesh].”
I think that this is a good sign because the tension that was created by Trump threatening Russia by calling Assad an “animal” seems to be decreased; I am among those who do not expect a serious development after this.
Trump wasn’t the only one who spoke yesterday. Assad also said that “any possible action” of the U.S., U.K. and France “will contribute nothing but an increase in instability in the region, threatening international peace and security.” By having the support of China and Iran, Russia expressed its seriousness on the issue by threatening that it would shoot down any missiles fired at Syria as well as the country the missile comes from. In his explanations, made yesterday, President Erdoğan said, "We’re extremely uncomfortable about some countries trying to turn Syria into an arm-wrestling arena."
The trigger that led to these issues is the allegation that Assad used chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta. Actually, the situation in Syria is beyond an allegation. The act carried out in Eastern Ghouta has happened dozens of times before. This is what the opponents of Assad, his supporters, and those who can overtly or covertly admit it; all of them are well aware of the truth. Chemical weapons were used in Syria. However, this is not the first time. In the summer of 2013, the whole world was watching Syrians while they were dying in pain. And this happened again and again.
In addition to these, the justification for the Iraq attack, which caused the death of more than 1 million people and which resulted in the split of Iraq and in creating the chaotic environment ready for terror groups in the region, was “chemical weapons.” Therefore, when the U.S. accuses any country’s leader of using or having chemical weapons, whether it true or not, everyone’s hair raises, except for those living in Western countries. In the case of Syria, Trump first said that they would “pull out.”
There may be some who don’t believe in Trump’s transformation due to the fact that not two days after this statement he to the brink of war with Russia and Assad showing the latest chemical attack as a justification when he completely disregarded the dozens of previous attacks.
And they are right.
Thus, the issue is not about chemical weapons. It is a power battle. The war of words are states’ last move on the chessboard. Besides the fact that Syria has been used as a chess board, it is a tragedy that millions of people have turned into pawns.
If we come to the position of Turkey in this battle, where global powers have been fighting relentlessly, I think the point that the Turkish president made yesterday, which criticizes and condemns the U.S. which supports the YPG and others, and Russia which protects a cruel dictator who kills his own people, is a correct stance. Turkey’s position is an ethical stance, as it should be.
Beyond these strategy plans, showdown trials, winning games and power battles, the Syrian people are probably the final factor considered by strategists in this tumult. This nation has become a field on which everyone scuffles. Some of these Syrian people have managed to migrate, some have been still struggling in the battlefield and a proportion has been killed.
Since the beginning of the war, they are on lips of the representatives’ of every country involved but not in their minds. Whether they live or not does not interest anybody until they turn up at the door of Europe.
I do not know what will happen to Syria. I am also not sure whether there will be a Third World War because of the powers that are not able to win. However, we all have observed that the innocents are the ones who primarily suffer. May God help them.
