I was opposed to a strike on Syria in 2013 but have been thinking through the arguments this time.
The 2017 strike by the Americans seemed worryingly like the start of a US intervention but in fact had no consequences apart from showing that Trump was not a Russian stooge, repairing the damage to US prestige caused when Mr. Obama did nothing after his red line was crossed and killing some innocent people.
If Assad is responsible for using chemical weapons this time the 2016 strike did not deter him.
But is he?
I am very reluctant to think this is a trick by Western governments but is it a false flag operation by others unknown? The Saudis?
How can we know?
But we do know this.
A former British Ambassador to Syria, Peter Ford, thinks that the Syrian government did not use chemical weapons this time. The former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, is certain that Assad is not guilty. I think two former Ambassadors saying this means the case against Assad is not proven.
The 2017 strike by the Americans seemed worryingly like the start of a US intervention but in fact had no consequences apart from showing that Trump was not a Russian stooge, repairing the damage to US prestige caused when Mr. Obama did nothing after his red line was crossed and killing some innocent people.
If Assad is responsible for using chemical weapons this time the 2016 strike did not deter him.
But is he?
I am very reluctant to think this is a trick by Western governments but is it a false flag operation by others unknown? The Saudis?
How can we know?
But we do know this.
A former British Ambassador to Syria, Peter Ford, thinks that the Syrian government did not use chemical weapons this time. The former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, is certain that Assad is not guilty. I think two former Ambassadors saying this means the case against Assad is not proven.
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