Syria: The War of Perception and the Idea of Exceptionalism

President Bashar al-Assad has said that the reason Syria is giving over its chemical weapons has nothing to do with America.



Saying Syria is placing its chemical weapons under international control because of Russia; that U.S. threats do not influence the decision.



Assad adding that Syria would submit documents to the United Nations, for an agreement governing the hand-over of its chemical arsenal.



And (just really quick), before we go even further with this war of perception, Putin, who's obviously really good friends with the president of Syria, said two things that stood out to me.

The first was:



And, to that point, I agree. It's something I ask myself, and I think it's something many of the American people wonder. But, if one is to point out filth, he should wash his own hands. I've read two separate stories saying Syrian rebels received their guns from the United States; and then we have the Syrian government receiving aid from Iran and Russia. It's completely and horribly hypocritical. Nonetheless, it's still a very good question.

The second was:



Apparently, an editor removed "...unless you're gay". Ultimately, God may have created us equal, but we do live in different places. Some where, you know, there can be racism. And then, some, you can stone your 8-year-old wife to death because she probably looked at someone sexier than you by a long-shot. Proportionally, one of those situations is greater than the other.

Without a doubt, the idea of American exceptionalism is so hated by Mr. Putin, broadly because he thinks they claim to be the best in things they're not the best in. Personally, I do see America as exceptional in several ways: I think it's exceptional they don't jail political opponents, I think it's exceptional that they're not trying to arrest members of the Bloodhound Gang because they're expressing their distaste for the country by putting a flag down their pants.



Additionally, I think the USA is egregiously exceptional because they're slowly (as a big group) accepting their gay brothers and sisters; and that's what I think of when I see American exceptionalism, it's not that they're better. Admittedly, the U.S. is kinda fucked up, they don't have it all altogether (no country does, not even mine). They have some good things though, and they're striving to be better. In my honest humble opinion, the idea of exceptionalism is only bad if it's blind and without humility. Even Mr. Putin was deemed to be exceptional compared to his opponent (unless his elections are rigged).



All of that typed, Putin is just playing the liberal western media and everyone else following it. And he's doing it so, so well.

The Assad Agenda

There was the news that Syrian president Assad said he'll give away all of his country's chemical weapons.



Personally, I thought that it'd be super easy. Turns out it's not. Matter of fact, it has become a conversation of:

(1) Is he really going to give out all the weapons?

(2) Where are the weapons?

(3) Will the people who are getting the weapons be safe?

(4) Is Assad and/or his regime open to pinky promising that they'll totally do it?

(5) How would these things be destroyed?



Basically, everything's being talked about. Proportionately, this is a big battle of truth. So, who's telling the truth? Also, let's remember that it wasn't just this one chemical strike, but over one hundred thousand people have died during this conflict. And, it's in that number of one hundred thousand that I found something seemingly interesting (thanks to the UN), because a UN probe revealed that eight massacres were perpetrated by the Syrian government...



...with one other massacre being credited towards the rebels.



Additionally, the Committee of Independent Experts say that this isn't quite everything; that they are actually looking into nine other massacres right now.

There's also an untold number of men, women, and children who have just disappeared. I only wish that these people are held accountable for what they're doing.

All in all, with things advancing, it'd be very interesting to see how things progress, with possibly disposing of these weapons (if that's actually a possibility).

The Syria Situation Continues To Spiral Out Of Control

Despite extended and wagging fore fingers, and some don't-you-dare's from the mouths of China and Russia, US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel, told the BBC that American forces are prime and ready to attack Syria, if President Obama does, in fact, order a strike.



This is all in response to the Syrian government's alleged use of chemical weapons on their own people.


The Syrian government adamantly denies the accusations, but US Secretary of State, John Kerry, suggests that there's undeniable proof. He further said:



Government sources are saying that US President, Barack Obama, and the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, have been talking, and will continue to talk, and if an agreement is made to attack, it could happen as early as this week.



On the other side of things, we have China's official news agency saying:



While Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Rogozin, tweeted:



Now, if all the world is a stage, this is a very tense act. Russia and China backed the Syrian regime, saying there's no glaring evidence of the use of chemical weapons. US and Britain are stuck between this weird place of action and big talk. The UN is trying to formulate a way to respond without things getting too messy. Too late. And, the Syrian people are caught right in the middle.


Some clamour for international intervention, while others are crying for the West to stay the freak out.

And, don't for one nanosecond think that the Syrian government is going to just push over. A senior Syrian official had a different kind of warning for America. That being from Halef al-Muftah, saying that Israel will be under fire, if the United States attack Syria.



Also, the Syrian Foreign Minister said:



I just hope that those "materials" are not of the chemical nature, because that's exactly what this whole thing's about.

So, the world is still waiting on official confirmation from the inspectors at Damascus. But, their jobs have been hampered by the Syrian government; as well as sniper attacks, and reports that shells are still falling on the area where the attack took place. And, that's why inspectors are delaying inspections that were supposed to happen a few days ago.



John Kerry states that this is the Syrian government trying to systematically destroy evidence before UN inspectors enter into the area. It's all a mess!

The Pentagon has positioned four warships in the region, with missiles, ready to strike.



Britain moved airfighters within striking distance, and the world is on the edge of its seat, waiting to see who makes the next move.

Obviously, it's scary, because the common denominator here is human life.

Syria's Chemical Catastrophe

Activists in Syria are claiming thirteen hundred (1,300) people have been killed in a government rocket strike, on a residential area.



These Syrian activists are utilizing the internet to report the alleged atrocious attack they're claiming they've endured, and they're also accusing the Syrian government and President Bashar al-Assad of bombing the suburbs of Damascus (early last week), with chemical weapons. The Syrian government, however, adamantly denies these claims, and says the reports are merely a distraction.



If these reports are true, and, Assad did in fact unleash chemical weapons, this would be the most egregious chemical attack since Saddam Hussein used gas to kill thousands of Kurds in 1988. Either way, this act is nothing short of a massacre.



Reportedly, local warheads (rockets with chemical agents) hit the Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka, and Jobar. They hit right before dawn as families were sleeping.



Hospital reports and images show victims with little to no physical damage on their bodies; which could show evidence of the use of chemical agents.



Dr. Khaled al-Doumi, a director of a medical center near the site stated:



A UN team is in Syria, probing to see if this did happen, and if it was because of President Assad.



The hope here is that these chemical experts investigate the area of the bombings, right away. But, the catch is that they need permission from Syria to do anything in the country. It's probably all going to get wrapped up in bureaucracy, so, who knows if that will ever occur.

The pictures of the aftermath are hard to look at. There are many children who were killed.



The European Union has condemned the suspected use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government. While the French foreign minister said that if these claims are true, a reaction of force must be taken. Adding that if the UN council cannot do it, decisions would be made otherwise.



The Turkish foreign minister also joined in saying the UN must act, as all red lines have been crossed.



The German foreign minister called for more efforts to confirm that this happened. The US joined in, saying that this must be urgently investigated. But, will actually anything happen? Thanks to the UN security council, I don't know. But, what I do know, is that China and Russia will not join in. And, it's terrible to see because it's just more of what we've been seeing. Over 100,000 people have been killed (in conflicts that started back in 2011). Millions displaced. And, really, no positive end seems in sight.



A website called The Revolting Syrian, which has posted many disturbing images of the aftermath, stated:



And, that's the thing: it's important we don't forget. Daily, these people wake up to a world of uncertainty and violence that we could never begin to comprehend or handle. And, if these allegations are true, and indeed, chemical weapons were used against the people of Syria, , I hope for a swift and actual response from the international community.

In either way, my heart and thoughts go out to all of the victims in Syria.