The hereditary Syrian dictator, Bashar al Assad fled Damascus today, ending the fifty-four year family tyranny which ruled Syria. Joyous Syrians fired guns in the air, the Lebanese Syrian border was crowded with diaspora Syrians seeking to return home and worldwide Syrian exiles celebrated the new “freedom” of their country. Who the new rulers of Syria are remains to be determined. Will they establish a truly democratic regime, as westerners understand the word or will they establish an Iranian type Islamic demo-theocracy? All that is for the Syrian people to determine. What is clear is that American intervention is neither required nor needed. The Arab League, OPEC, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are large enough and wealthy enough to pay for all the rehabilitation needs of Syria. The American troops currently in Syria should be withdrawn as soon as possible. Russian bases in Syria are the Syrians’ problem and they must demand their exit as the Russians supported the Assad regime for many years. Iran, too, is a big loser.
All of this brings to mind a quote from Joseph Conrad’s novel Nostromo written in 1904.
“The fault of this country is the want of measure in political life.
Flat acquiescence in illegality, followed by sanguinary reaction-
that señores, is not the way to a stable and prosperous future.”
The future of Syria is in the hands of the Syrian people, as it should be. How they play it will determine what kind of future they have. It is not up to the rest of the world to make the decisions for Syria. It is theirs alone.
Garry S. Sklar
At Sea in the Atlantic Ocean
December 8, 2024