With Donald Trump now in the White House threatening to make “America Great Again’ the UK has a unique opportunity to make “Syria Great Again”, with our highly influential Syrian diaspora who can help make it a democratic, secular and moderate country.
Mr Trump seems uninterested, and hence now is the time for us to flex our still considerable diplomatic and humanitarian muscles to ensure a stable Syria rather than let it fall into the hands of the Jihadists if we ‘look’ the other way?
The Russians are considered as evil as Assad here in Homs and have devastated this country as they are trying to in Ukraine, but they have been humiliated here as they should also be in Ukraine. Now they have scuttled off north, along with Assad, Iran and Hezbollah there is really hope for the future but the West, perhaps led by Britain, must act now rather than wait for things to settle down and must not hedge their bets.
Syria is not Iraq 2003 or Afghanistan, I was there too, and we have learnt errors which we must not repeat here. We are in the eye of the hurricane and if we don’t help quickly, evil will return to fill the vacuum created by the Russians running home. The ensuing storm could blow this country to Armageddon.
There is a massive surge of optimism across the country from all areas and sides, with a remarkable collective will to make things better and everyone is assuming and planning for success. If only those hunkered down in their offices and “think tanks”, who are casting lazy and ill-considered views of impending doom, could be bothered to walk the streets of Damascus and Homs they would surely change their minds.
With Donald Trump now in the White House threatening to make “America Great Again’ the UK has a unique opportunity to make “Syria Great Again”, with our highly influential Syrian diaspora who can help make it a democratic, secular and moderate country.
Mr Trump seems uninterested, and hence now is the time for us to flex our still considerable diplomatic and humanitarian muscles to ensure a stable Syria rather than let it fall into the hands of the Jihadists if we ‘look’ the other way?
The Russians are considered as evil as Assad here in Homs and have devastated this country as they are trying to in Ukraine, but they have been humiliated here as they should also be in Ukraine. Now they have scuttled off north, along with Assad, Iran and Hezbollah there is really hope for the future but the West, perhaps led by Britain, must act now rather than wait for things to settle down and must not hedge their bets.
Syria is not Iraq 2003 or Afghanistan, I was there too, and we have learnt errors which we must not repeat here. We are in the eye of the hurricane and if we don’t help quickly, evil will return to fill the vacuum created by the Russians running home. The ensuing storm could blow this country to Armageddon.
There is a massive surge of optimism across the country from all areas and sides, with a remarkable collective will to make things better and everyone is assuming and planning for success. If only those hunkered down in their offices and “think tanks”, who are casting lazy and ill-considered views of impending doom, could be bothered to walk the streets of Damascus and Homs they would surely change their minds.