Thread: The crisis in Syria

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Well, the way things are going now, I'm inclined to believe some of the sources that depict the rebels as monsters like that. But were they always like that? Do you remember how the whole thing was starting 2 years ago? There wasn't any "rebellion" back then; there were peaceful demonstrations held by completely unarmed people, typically on Fridays; every demonstration had several to several dozen people killed! Whose hands was that blood on? There were no "terrorists" or "Al-Qaeda rebels" at that point, and the dictatorial government didn't even seem to be bothered hiding evidence that it was their soldiers who shot people; now, if you cannot peacefully fight for your rights (or they'll kill you), do you have much of a choice? Anything but starting an armed fight for your rights and dignity? That was how the rebellion started.

It's very sad that now, there are lots of war criminals and provokers there who pretend to be "rebels"; I'm sure enough there wasn't much of them 1-1.5 years ago; anyway, I think the "true rebels", those who fight for their rights and freedom against the dictatorial regime are real heroes, and helping them will help their country, eventually.

In the beginning, the rebels asked the UN for a no-fly zone. They were denied. So Al Qaeda stepped in to help them because no one else did. At least that is my understanding from talking with a friend of mine from Syria, whose husband has been volunteering in the refugee camps. But even she tells me that the rebels do not want America to get involved militarily.

If we want to help people, we should send food, medical aid, blankets, tents... whatever we can do to help anyone who is suffering. But military involvement will not bring an end to all the bloodshed. It will only worsen the situation, if what the majority of analysts say is true.

Originally Posted by Deborski

In the beginning, the rebels asked the UN for a no-fly zone. They were denied. So Al Qaeda stepped in to help them because no one else did. At least that is my understanding from talking with a friend of mine from Syria, whose husband has been volunteering in the refugee camps. But even she tells me that the rebels do not want America to get involved militarily.

If we want to help people, we should send food, medical aid, blankets, tents... whatever we can do to help anyone who is suffering. But military involvement will not bring an end to all the bloodshed. It will only worsen the situation, if what the majority of analysts say is true.

The people should ultimately defeat the regime though... I'm not sure what exact help that will take, but it occurs to me that just food and clothes won't be sufficient (they'll be helping people survive, but that war might never end that way)