The United States missiles hit the al-Sharyat air base in Syria. Undoubtedly those who killed a large number of Syrians with chemical weapons should not go unpunished. The question is whether President Donald Trump’s precipitate action will not further aggravate the crisis in Syria. The answer is yes. A unilateral action taken by the US will negate the possibility of unified military action against the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. Unless this is done, a legitimate political order cannot emerge in Syria. There is also no guarantee that civilian lives will be protected as the Opposition will continue to fight the Syrian government. Maybe, Donald Trump plays only a minor role in the ongoing Syrian tragedy. Western powers have always stood for safeguarding human rights, individual freedom and democratic norms. Their campaign started with the Arab Spring in 2011. President Barack Obama’s government went for a regime change in Syria and Libya. However, while authoritarian despotism collapsed, only Jihadist tyrannies replaced it.
All the participants in the Syrian civil war including Bashar-al-Assad have bloodied their hands. However, Assad’s regime along with some Kurdish groups can only set up a relatively secular state structure. The Opposition backed by the US should be persuaded to arrive at a compromise as it lacks military strength. And it should have no truck with the Jihadists. When the first chemical attack occurred in Syria in 2013, Obama stopped short of bombing the country. He knew it will lead to nothing. Trump has embarked on a mission impossible and the US missile attack has only lowered its image.
