If the world’s governments are serious about fighting terrorism, they must follow Russia’s example and coordinate with the Syrian and Iraqi governments in order to eliminate terrorism before it spreads.
Those who reject coordination with the Russian-Syrian alliance against terrorism under any pretext are merely looking for excuse to refrain from cooperating in fighting international terrorism, and at the same time they provide support for ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations.
While aerial operations are important, counter-terrorism requires ground forces to canvass areas, and such forces are the Syrian Arab Army, the Iraqi army, and some defense groups that coordinate with them.
This can’t be done by training the so-called moderate fighters in neighboring countries as Washington did. Everyone knows where those moderates ended up and where their American weapons ended up.
The West’s policies that sought to destabilize Syria have begun to have negative repercussions on neighboring countries and on Europe through the refugee crisis and through the return of foreign fighters.
This issue is resolved by ending violence in Syria, Iraq, and other countries affected by terrorism, as well as lifting the sanctions imposed on Syria that affect civilians’ living standards, and fulfilling states’ obligations regarding the relief process, as well as refraining from exploiting this issue for personal gains.
What is happening in Syria is caused by the interference of some Western and Arab countries and their support for armed terrorist groups. The Syrian Arab Army managed to stand up to terrorist organizations, while the international response in terms of fighting terrorism remains lacking and hindered by narrow interests and wrong policies.
The Washington-led alliance failed to prevent the spread of terrorist organizations. This alliance’s actual goal is to direct terrorism and isolate it within Syria to weaken it, and after failing to make any tangible results against ISIS on the ground, the member states of the alliance began to criticize the Russian operations in Syria.
Fighting terrorism isn’t an alternative to political work with the real Syrian opposition that wants to help build and develop Syria, and the Syrian government’s hands are extended to those who want to enter dialogue.
Syria’s steadfastness forced changes in the political positions of a number of countries.
The U.S. role is very different from the Russian one as the US alleges there is a moderate opposition and Washington has trained a number of them before they willingly joined Jabhet al-Nusra, the Americans know those were terrorists. The “moderate opposition” term is used to camouflage groups that no one truly knows where their loyalty lies and to what terrorist group it is affiliated.
Any side that wants to fight the ISIS should cooperate with the Syrian state and army.
The Syrian Arab army is capable of matching words with actions in the fight against terrorism.
The UN resolutions under Chapter VII remain ink on paper mentioned only in press releases and media statements amid continued support provided by some countries to terrorists in a way that feeds extremism in the region.
There is an utter silence vis-à-vis sustained support provided to terrorists in Syria by countries that make a mockery of the UN resolutions while the countries committed to the international law are bullied.
K.Q.