The shocking scenes of the massacre of women and children with chemical weapons in the vicinity of Damascus has sent a shiver down the spine of humanity; but already decision-makers in the United States and Europe are turning their backs on this grave tragedy. UN chemical experts are based only a few kilometres from the site of this appalling tragedy, so inaction now, in the wake of over 1,300 civilian deaths, would be inexcusable.
It is clear that these horrors in Syria are being perpetrated with the active support of the Iranian regime and its brutal, terrorist Quds force. It is unlikely Assad could last for long without their involvement. Indeed Syrian opposition leaders have said that it is the Quds Force commander – Qassem Sulaimani – who now directs the war in Syria, mobilising thousands of members of the brutal Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
In addition, the Lebanese branch of Hezbollah, together with Iraqi agents of Tehran such as Asaeb Ahl al-Haq and Iraqi Hezbollah, have joined forces with Huthi rebels in Yemen to massacre the Syrian people, under the instructions and guidance of Sulaimani.
The West can no longer stand idly by while this catastrophe unfolds. Ending the tragedy in Syria means taking decisive action to force Tehran and its cohorts out of Syria and Iraq. Senior officials of the Iranian regime now say openly that Syria is virtually Iran’s 35th province and the fall of Damascus will render Tehran insecure.
But the August 21st chemical attack, which without doubt is a war crime and a crime against humanity, has eliminated any lingering excuses for a lack of intervention against the Syrian dictator and the Iranian regime. The tipping point has arrived. Intervention aimed at protecting innocent Syrian civilians is an international obligation, which should not be side-tracked by UN stalling-tactics supported by Russian and Chinese economic interests. To deal effectively with the murderous Assad regime, it is necessary to deal first with his main allies in Iran and Iraq.
Europe’s absurd assertion that the newly elected President Rouhani of Iran is a moderate can no longer be used as an excuse for inaction.