Initially British aid was confined to non-military support such as access to intelligence and training, but the new move announced by the Foreign Secretary yesterday is both involving the UK in the conflict directly and is likely to escalate beyond protective vehicles and armour; it could become a western war against President Assad with similarities to the Iraq War, and with significant geopolitical dangers, and it could be bloody, protracted and extensive, with foreign-sourced equipment ending up in the hands of extremists.
By focusing on a war which will limp on possibly for years, Mr Hague is missing the point: 70,000 people are believed to have been killed, 2 million Syrians have been displaced and 1 million have fled their country, many of them to live in overcrowded camps with minimal food, water, clothing. Syrians are dying every day from the cold, disease and squalid conditions, and others live in misery. They cannot afford to wait for a desultory war to reach its conclusion.
I know that there is good intent within the British government to "help save lives", but what is needed is strong political and diplomatic action both to assist the dispossessed and the countries sheltering them, and to achieve a cease-fire. If all caring or subjectively concerned countries were to concentrate their efforts in unity to achieve an end to a wasteful, fruitless war and to heal a fine but broken country and its people, it could be done, given will and commitment.
In any situation where there is a choice about what to do, a good question to ask is, "What is the kinder option?" If our leaders remembered this, our world would, indeed, be a better place.
Claire Montanaro is a spiritual teacher, channel and blogger with special interest in esoteric philosophy and the world in transition. Loves nature and wildlife. Author of “Spiritual Wisdom”.]]>
