Syria.

Hey guys! Sorry for my absence, I have been rather busy of late and have done the unthinkable of neglecting my blog so I've attempted to correct that starting right away. 

The main headlines that have captured my attention are the terrible events happening in Syria. The civil war that started some two and a half years ago has claimed numerous lives (conservative estimates place the figure around 100,000) and displaced around 2 million people from their homes. The western media have suggested that western intervention is imminent as Assad launched his latest chemical attack in the eastern Ghouta region of Syria which killed 635 people. The attack was seen as the last straw for Britain, France and the US (the three countries who have been the most outspoken critics on the Syrian regime). The difficulty is now how to deal with the situation. No western governments in their right mind would want a long, drawn out affair involving ground troops, it would be political suicide. The most likely outcome would be air strikes against government targets but how effective this would be remains to be seen.

However, the case made by the western governments is unreliable for some and argued (rightly so in my opinion) that what the effect would be of air or missile strike. The use of force would not stop the Syrian regime using chemical attacks, in fact it cannot be ruled out that an attack of this nature would make the Syrian regime all the more dangerous as it fears itself of being backed into a corner.

Unfortunately, the nature of this war does not suggest that the outcome will be a quick one.

Sam

(If you would like to help you can donate to Oxfam to help the Syrian refugees. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.)
https://donate.oxfam.org.uk/emergency/syria