Arming the Terrorists Would but Worsen the Crisis

According to the Daily Telegraph, the majority of EU countries, including Germany, were opposed to supplying arms to the Syrian opposition, because they think arming the terrorists would but worsen the crisis in Syria amid concerns about its spill over to all of the Middle East.

Almost all EU countries, added the Daily,  wanted to postpone the decision until after US-Russia peace talks in Geneva next month, an argument that Britain and France countered would bolster Syrian Government negotiating hand.

Following the publication of this item of news, several comments of interest were made by the Daily readers under the title: ”supplying arms to the Syrian opposition would only fan the flames of war” and extend the area of conflict.

Barry Bond, Leigh on Sea, Essex , wrote: you correctly make the case that feeding more arms from Britain into Syria can only make the situation worse (Leading article, May 29). Have we no shame in continuing to cause destabilization and misery in Middle Eastern countries, especially since the invasion of Iraq in 2003? In the case of Syria there is long-standing, active support for the existing regime by Russia and other major powers. The supply of arms by EU countries to the opposition will feed the flames of war in Syria and increase the possibility of extending the area of conflict. Inevitably, relations with Russia will begin to deteriorate towards Cold War conditions. Can we concentrate instead on trying to save Britain from economic disaster?

John Hill, Maidstone, Kent, said that one presumes that an estimate of the cost of the arms to be supplied to Syria will be made, and authorization given for that expenditure. Would it not be in Britain’s best interests, at home and abroad, to use that money and more to relieve the plight of the refugees from the conflict?

Once again a British government is attempting to untie a Gordian knot of foreign politics, sectarian hatred, tribal malevolence and foreign sedition, for which it will receive thanks from some and hatred from many more. Why can’t this country be seen trying to heal the wounds of conflict instead of creating more?

Timothy Stroud, Salisbury, Wiltshire, pointed out that the latest opinion poll (from the Pew Research Centre) shows that nearly 60 per cent of the British population do not want to see arms supplied to Syrian ”rebels”. It is about time the Government woke up to the reality of democratic society, and stopped pretending that it has an inherited right to do as it pleases.

Joe Emery, Standlake, Oxfordshire wondered  if the United Nations Security Council has been disbanded. It has responsibility under the UN Charter for world peacekeeping and world security but that is lost amid the scramblings of self-appointed world policemen anxious to get involved in another country’s internal affairs.  

Dr. Mohammad Abdo Al-Ibrahim