There are no “Good Guys” in this conflict. This is a war waged by various religious factions of fanatics.
The “Good Guys” in Syria want to kill, not only the “Bad Guys”, but also Bashar al-Assad regime, the Christians, the Shiites, the Kurds, the Druze and others. According to Mr. Kerry, they constitute the majority of fighters but they are lacking the necessary funds to do the desired killing. Yes, through advertised pictures and videotape, the savage “bad Guys” shot their enemies to their death, in a gruesome scene, of course after praying to Allah the merciful. Secretary Kerry assures us that the new Government, established by the “Good Guys “in Syria, will be a secular (not a religious) one. I say to Mr. Kerry: “We will not buy this horse twice.” We were burnt before; you can’t believe people who may be saying what they don’t mean.
These religious fanatics were portrayed very well in the recent book by Carrie Rosefsky Wickham titled “The Muslim Brotherhood” in which she chronicles, in detail, the evolution of this fanatical Islamist Movement. In their Manifesto written in 1928, by Hassan El-Banna, the Muslim Brothers assert that lying to the infidels (not belonging to their clan) will please Allah, so long that they are pursuing full control. Their emblem tells their story; it has two swords, an incitement of violence in addition to the Quran.
I never condone killing of other humans let alone mass extermination, by chemical weapons. What is taking place in Syria is repugnant. It makes us worse than the fighting cocks. The end never justifies the means. In this case not only is the purpose ignoble, but also the means to achieve it is disgustingly barbaric and demeaning.
Unless diplomacy succeeds this time, religious wars can last for many years until war fatigue sets in. For America to say that we are going to deliver only a limited “punishing blow” is bad enough. Worse still is to amend the intervention, at the last minute before the vote by the Foreign Relations Committee of the American Senate, by Senator John McCain (who was photographed in Syria with the rebel’s General Idris). The resolution became: “…Change momentum on the battlefield” in favor of the rebels. By so doing, we have inserted the American Camel’s nose in this civil war’s tent.
American foreign policy has been described by many critics as being “short-sighted, naïve and unpredictable”. No wonder that America is hated throughout the Arab World, by those who oppose the use of violence and by those who recommend it. By those who are for Morsi and by those who are against Morsi.
America is fond of talking about implementing democracy in the Arab World. I would like to remind the reader that the dictionary definition of democracy is: “…state should be controlled by all the people, each sharing equally in privileges, duties, and responsibilities and each is participating in person in the government.”
Many Egyptians need to know that their country has to travel a long, albeit Egyptian, way before achieving true democracy. Let us embark on this journey together with a pure steady sight fixed on the ultimate prize. As we turn the leaf and start a new chapter, we have to be deliberate but resolute to avoid a self-inflicted wound that derails our progress and prevent it from accelerating.
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Lotfy Basta MD, FRCP, FRCPE, FACP, FACC, FCCP, FAHA…..