Syria’s Hijacked Struggle

As Syria’s civil war has progressed, the West’s views on arming the opposition have become increasingly confused, and defining the conflict according to the proverbial “good versus evil” dichotomy has become increasingly difficult. Syria needs a new narrative – one that is not shaped exclusively by Western-backed Islamist groups.

LONDON – As Syria’s civil war has progressed, the West’s views on arming the opposition have become increasingly confused, which reflects the growing muddle on the ground. While President Bashar al-Assad’s regime remains vicious and tyrannical, and some of its opponents’ motives remain altruistic, the conflict can no longer be defined simply as one of good versus evil.

No unified, patriotic Syrian opposition has existed since extremists hijacked the peaceful protests in 2011. Indeed, some opposition tactics are as brutal as those of the Syrian regime. The United Nations estimates that security forces have suffered 15,000 fatalities, and the opposition 10,000, and that 45,000 civilians have died in the last two years of fighting. And the UN has condemned militant groups – which now form the majority of fighters in Syria – for murder, kidnap, torture, assault, corruption, and reliance on child soldiers.

With Syria engulfed by chaos, the world does not know what to think. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has admitted that the United States lacks a clear picture of the situation in Syria.

https://prosyn.org/zCgAiXY