16-31 August 2013 8-23 Shawwal 1434 Hijri
Note: Using editorials as an indicator, this series presents views, understanding and attitude of the Urdu periodicals in India towards various developments concerning the Middle East.  The  selection  of  an  item  does  not  mean  the  endorsement  or concurrence with their accuracy or views. Editor, MEI@ND

The Siasat Daily (The Politics Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 16 August 2013, Friday
1. Bloodshed in Egypt
Bloodshed and suffering continues to plague Egypt with hundreds of deaths in the military’s action against Morsi supporters who are protesting his ouster by General Sisi. Though it was the first democratically-elected government in Egypt, it remained short-lived. It was indeed wrong to remove the government on the basis of its performance over one year. The situation worsened when supporters of the ousted government decided to come out in protest, in response to which the military was ordered to quell the demonstrations before it grew out of proportion. The use of force has led to huge casualties in terms of deaths and injuries. Estimates from government sources show the death toll to be 700 while non-government sources estimate the toll to be higher. Moreover, thousands of supporters and workers of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested in different parts of Egypt and imprisoned. The problem can grow manifold if the military decides to further intensify its action against the Muslim Brotherhood. To worsen matters, the supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi have started to take up arms. They are ready to continue their fight with the military to reinstate the Morsi government.

Undeniably, internal matters are largely responsible for the current situation in Egypt but external forces have also played their role in destabilizing the country. These are forces that do not want to see a democratic process take root and function according to the wishes of the people. Furthermore, an Islamist-led democratic political system would have put pressure on other authoritarian governments to reform. Many countries had started to feel uncomfortable after the electoral success and formation of government by the Muslim Brotherhood. The conspiring of these external forces is why Egypt is burning today. However, the worst part of the problem is the use of force by the Egyptian military and an unrelenting attitude of the Morsi supporters; both sides need to show some restraint and work towards resolving the crisis at the earliest.

What is certain is that international powers do not want Egypt to have a democratic political process and an Islamist-led government. It has been the handiwork of these forces that the two groups have been at each other’s throats. The country’s enemies will benefit from the deteriorating situation. Egypt had created an example by ousting a long-held authoritarian regime and the military had then supported the people. The military need to perform its duty once again by working towards a solution through negotiations. Instead of harming its own populace through the use of force, it is important that Egypt address the fears that are burning across large sections of its population.
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Roznama Rashtriya Sahara (National Sahara Daily), Delhi
Editorial, 18 August 2013, Sunday
2. Bloodshed Continues to Worsen in Egypt
Last Friday, a ‘day of anger’ was organized against the military’s actions in Egypt that worsened the already bloodied situation. The idea that the end to Mubarak’s rule would unleash an era of democracy in Egypt has proven to be a mirage. Further, the ensuing battle between the military and Morsi supporters that had begun with the removal and imprisonment of Morsi is worsening. It was an action carried out by the military on the premise that a large section of the population was unhappy with Morsi’s style of functioning while the economic problems were mounting. Undoubtedly, people were out on the streets against the Morsi-led government, but the military used it as an excuse to act. Military intervention in politics is not ideal and only creates more chaos. The fight was between the secularists and Muslim Brotherhood, not something unique to Egypt and can be seen in many countries. We in India have also been witness to the political struggle between the liberal-secular and religious-extremist forces and the situation in Egypt should have been seen in this broader context. The military must remain neutral in such situations. Its crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood is condemnable and has come under criticism from Egyptian secular-liberal forces as well. For example, Prime Minister El Baradei resigned in protest against the use of force by the military. According to government sources, 600 people have died while unconfirmed private sources estimate more deaths. It seems that neither the military nor the Muslim Brotherhood want to step back and the responsibility for the situation cannot be completely assigned on any one side alone. Morsi’s critics have argued that his dictatorial functioning meant that he had to be removed to pave way for fresh elections. Nevertheless, Egypt has since fallen into a state of lawlessness and initial efforts to find an amicable resolution through dialogue have only added fuel to the fire. Moreover, countries like Saudi Arabia have openly supported the military crackdown while the US has been soft towards the Muslim Brotherhood, which is strange. It becomes further complicated because the Saudi supported al-Nour party, which is a Salafi group was part of the Morsi-led government and the Muslim Brotherhood are ideologically closer to the Saudis in comparison to the military. Nevertheless, it is the Egyptian people who are bearing the brunt of the chaos as the country has been divided into two camps. The only thing that is clear is that the people of Egypt will not accept any brand of dictatorship—Islamist or military. It is indeed likely that the military action will push the Muslim Brotherhood into hiding and it will start its underground activities. Consequently, the matter will become worse; it is incumbent on the saner sections of society to find a solution to the crisis.
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Dawat Online (Invitation), New Delhi
Editorial, 19 August 2013, Monday
3. The Situation in Egypt
The situation in Egypt is worsening; anger against the unconstitutional action of the military is increasing and taking shape of a clash. It is spreading to all parts of the country and has not remained confined to big cities. If on the one side people are angry at and criticizing the unconstitutional action of the military, then on the other hand, the supporters of military actions are trying to justify the turn of events. More importantly, international powers are completely confused and have shied away from taking a clear position on whether to term it a military coup or support the action. Although they do not like the Justice and Freedom Party, they are finding it hard to justify the way it has been removed from government. The problem is that the party came to power through the same democratic process that these forces champion and thus it cannot be blamed for undemocratic behaviour. That is why they are demanding the fast restoration of democratic process. Adding to the problem is that they cannot criticize the military and, resultantly, the people have been bearing the brunt of the situation which is getting worse and fast descending into a civil war like scenario.

The developments in Egypt have shaken the entire region and the larger Muslim world. The irony is that the most efficient and professional military in the Arab world is at the centre of controversy. It is critical to note that the events in Egypt have spread disappointment in the entire Muslim world. They are divided into two camps; one side is led by the Gulf monarchies like Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait who are supporting the military action while the other side is led by Turkey, Iran and Qatar who are against the military. Demands have been raised to renew the democratic process and reinstate Morsi as president. The internal situation in Egypt will have an impact on other countries. The steps taken by the US and Britain are indicating more problems to come. Moreover, they have alerted their military bases and embassies in the Gulf. On the other hand, the way things are being pushed on the Israeli-Palestinian front is indicative of a larger game-plan.
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The Etemaad Urdu Daily (The Confidence Urdu Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 19 August 2013, Monday
4. Testing Times for the Muslim Brotherhood
The crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood by the Egyptian military reflects the dark side of the Arab awakening. Undoubtedly the US is shying away from taking any position against the military. Moreover, its Arab allies who abhor democracy are working towards destabilizing the polities in the Middle East that are moving towards it.

The US, which thinks it to be the flag bearer of democracy in the world, has been selective in its promotion when it comes to countries in the Middle East, depending on its own interests. It has toppled many governments in the region and has found some or other reason to intervene if its interest or its allies’ interests have been compromised. This would be followed by the installation of another ‘democratic’ government that is considerate towards American interests. For example, Iraq, Libya, Bahrain etc. have suffered from such an American policy.

The American stand on the bloodshed in Egypt is condemnable. The statement issued by President Barack Obama makes it clear that the US does not wish to take any active interest in the restoration of a democratic government in Egypt. Although it has also issued statements urging the military to restore democracy immediately, it has had no effect on the military council, which has intensified its crackdown on the supporters of Morsi and has led to hundreds of deaths. The excuse for such a massive action against the demonstrators was that there are armed militias among the rank and files of the Muslim Brotherhood who are creating havoc on the streets and spreading chaos in the country. Even though no eye witness account can be found to attest to such accusations, the military has now accused the Muslim Brotherhood of terrorist activities.

It is a painful reality that none of the Islamic countries or leadership has the stature to intervene and help resolve the crisis. Many scholars and observers of Middle East history and politics are of the view that the military is trying to instigate the Muslim Brotherhood to take to violence so as to create doubts about their abilities and their commitment to peaceful democratic polity. This will also legitimize their removal of an elected government while reducing the chances of Egypt voting in favour of the Muslim Brotherhood again.

The military understands that any compromise with the Muslim Brotherhood, allowing it to be part of the electoral process again, will bring it back into power. Moreover, if pushed to the wall, the Muslim Brotherhood has the capability to continue its activities underground. It can also ferment the ground for a civil war, though it is early to predict such eventualities. In the current situation, the Muslim Brotherhood will have to take a mature and well thought out position; if it has taken to democracy then it will have to respect the democratic ethos of non-violence and people’s welfare. It will do well to try and explain its position to the outside world so as to not alienate its sympathizers; these are indeed testing times for the Muslim Brotherhood.
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Hindustan Express (Daily Hindustan Express), New Delhi
Editorial, 19 August 2013, Monday
5. Bloodshed in Egypt
Egypt’s ‘day of anger’ was turned into a ‘day of martyrs’ when the military threw all caution to the wind with its use of force against the Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators in support of the ousted President Mohamed Morsi. The crackdown by the military indicates that it has decided to go to any extent to cling to power, unmindful of the loss of human life and use of force against its own people.

The Muslim Brotherhood, however, is undeterred and has announced that it will continue with its agitation against the military coup that can lead to further bloodshed and violence. The al-Fatah mosque, which was the sight of the ‘day of anger’, became a battleground full of corpses; it was such a heart-wrenching sight that it brought more people on the streets against the military. The military followed up with making large-scale arrests of Brotherhood leaders but this enraged the masses and it will be difficult to bring back the situation to normalcy anytime soon. This can lead to more bloodshed that will be catastrophic for the people of Egypt.

The fall of Mubarak in 2011 had paved way for hope and democracy for Egyptians. After some delays and problems when elections were held, the Muslim Brotherhood came to power and Mohammed Morsi became president. But many quarters started to work towards destabilizing the Morsi-led government before it could take to work. Although the President was able to deal with such activities in an efficient manner, the military did not allow it to continue and toppled the government within a year of it taking power. This smells of a well- organized conspiracy and speaks volumes of the so called international champions of democracy who have backed the military takeover in Egypt.
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Inquilab (The Revolution), Mumbai
Editorial, 19 August 2013, Monday
6. Egypt, Protests and Violence
The situation in Egypt is worsening as the Morsi supporters have refused to withdraw their demonstration despite severe crackdown from the military. As per reports, Cairo is witnessing unprecedented bloodshed due to military’s use of force against continuing protests by the Muslim Brotherhood. The military used helicopters to target the Muslim Brotherhood’s ‘day of anger’ rally in which 95 people were killed (according to government sources) and hundreds were wounded. This shows that on the one hand, the military is using its entire machinery to destroy the demonstrations, while on the other hand, the protestors are resolved to continue with their movement. The problem for General Sisi is that he has not been able to take control of the situation till now. Moreover, it is uncertain whether the interim government had prepared itself for such massive reactions against their move. It is a pity that they think that the protests can be quelled by use of force.

The lack of support from the Western powers who want to save their face by not supporting a military coup has also become a problem for the military. They have even issued some veiled criticism of the use of force by the military. Moreover, many Arab countries have also been forced to condemn the violence despite their support for the military council. However, they have failed to act, diplomatically or otherwise, to stop the bloodshed. The international powers should put pressure on the interim government to end the crackdown immediately. The international human rights organizations should come forward and take note of the violations committed by the military. It is important to work towards securing an end to the bloodshed and finding a peaceful solution to the problem. It is the duty of the human rights organizations to step up their act at this moment of crisis in Egypt.
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The Etemaad Urdu Daily (The Confidence Urdu Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 20 August 2013, Tuesday
7. Beginning of a New Era in Iran
Newly-elected Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has said that the people of Iran have given their mandate in favour of a new foreign policy different from what was pursued by the former president. He was speaking on the occasion of the appointment of Iran’s new Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. He also stated that foreign policy should not be conducted by playing to the gallery.

The Iranian nuclear controversy is about foreign policy and though the newly-elected President has indicated a change, it has been clarified that it is a change in approach and not of principles. In fact, a solution to the controversy cannot be found without the consent of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The controversy has raged since the Islamic revolution in 1979 and although the West has abandoned its project for regime change in Iran, it has remained entangled in the international legal system on the nuclear issue. Iran has maintained a consistent stand that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and it does not intend to achieve nuclear weapons capabilities but the West, particularly the US, has refused to pay heed to such claims and has imposed economic sanctions on Iran. Consequently, Iran is facing a financial downturn leading to inflation and unemployment. This in a way has been the legacy of Rouhani’s predecessor.

Since the new President has indicated a change only in approach, he is expected to receive support from the clergy as well. It is understood that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had put Iran on the road of economic hardships by following a confrontational approach with the outside world. Hassan Rouhani though, is a moderate voice, and has close ties with Ali Khamenei, which should help him pursue his policies.

Nevertheless, it will not be easy for Rouhani to manoeuvre through domestic politics with hardliners closely trying to find ways to undermine his approach towards the West. Moreover, any identification with the people who had led the 2009 Green Movement can result in criticism from the conservatives. In his first address to the parliament after election, Rouhani outlined his agenda for unity and taking all Iranians into account without any discrimination on the basis of political ideologies.

If he succeeds in his plans to stabilize the economy and secure a united political behaviour, it will be good for the people of Iran and Iranian interests. The new leadership in Iran has been educated in the West and is well aware of the ways and means of politics in the West. Rouhani himself has been educated in Scotland. More importantly, he has pledged not to compromise with principles to achieve his goals.
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Inquilab (The Revolution), Mumbai
Editorial, 20 August 2013, Tuesday
8. Volatile Situation in Egypt
In an incident that is reminiscent of Nazi gas chambers, the Egyptian military fired tear gas shells inside a truck full of arrested demonstrators in support of Morsi. It seems that the military is using such acts to demoralize the Muslim Brotherhood supporters. In a police truck where hundreds of demonstrators were transported to jails, the military threw tear gas shells with the intention of killing those inside and according to reports, 36 of them perished. The military has issued a statement saying that they were forced to use tear gas to save an officer who was being beaten by the demonstrators who had dragged him inside the truck. But it looks like a fabricated story in present circumstances. The situation in Egypt is getting worse every day. Egypt could disintegrate into another failed state with raging civil war and unabated violence.

It is unfortunate that the international community and the so-called internal human rights organizations have been silent on the humanitarian crisis perpetuated by the Egyptian military under the nose of military council government. Moreover, world powers have also failed to act or forcefully condemn the actions of the military. The European Union has called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Egypt but is unlikely to take a tough stand against the interim government. The continuing violence can destabilize the economy. Egyptian analysts have pointed out that the economy is already in dire straits and would need a long time to recover. Most of the business establishments have not been able to function and even necessary goods are not available in the market. All of this has led to utter chaos and the failure to check the violence will lead to worse consequences.

It seems that the military is waiting for further deterioration, trying to blame the Morsi supporters for the situation. It is the duty of the interim government to restore normalcy and allow the supporters of Morsi to express their views. If it fails in its duty to prevent Egypt from falling into further chaos, then it will be held responsible for the consequences.
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Dawat Online (Invitation), New Delhi
Editorial, 22 August 2013, Thursday
9. Why this Dichotomy?
It is understood that the Syrian regime is not representative of all the Syrians. The minority group is in power against the will of the majority. The regime has not left any room for freedom and liberty. Neither Islam nor democracy means anything for the regime, which is authoritarian. But the situation is not exclusive to Syria; countries in the Gulf suffer from the same problem. If some democratic ethos has been allowed, it is mainly a tactical move. All the talks—about representation, participation, inclusive approach, freedom of expression and right to organize, elections, human rights, women’s rights and no discrimination on the basis of gender—are just tactical moves. Democracy, no doubt is a western idea but the East also has its admirers. But can the philosophy and idea of democracy be equally implemented in the West and the East? It is argued that a democracy cannot have a place for monarchical governments. But both the East and West have numerous democracies that have sustained monarchies such as Britain, Belgium Denmark, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and so on.

Democracy is not equally implemented in these places. The problem is that while in the West the royals are figurative heads, most of the Eastern democracies have failed in maintaining the supremacy of democratic institutions. Most of the freedom and liberty promised are tactical moves to sustain the monarchies. This situation is stark in the case of Muslim countries. But the irony is that the West has taken a dubious stance when it comes to democracy promotion in these latter countries. On the one hand, they have rhetorically maintained that democracy should be promoted, yet when it comes to practical matters, they are seen siding with individual authoritarian rulers, whether monarchical or republican. If they support the democrats on the one hand, they term them as rebels on the other. Take for example the case of Syria, they are supporting the groups that are fighting against the Syrian regime but are not ready to accept them as democrats. They are termed as rebels not just by the Syrian regime but by the West as well. Why is this dichotomy; can it just be an innocent mistake?
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The Etemaad Urdu Daily (The Confidence Urdu Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 23 August 2013, Friday
10. Syrian Civil War and Use of Chemical Weapons
Syria is witnessing the worst bloodshed in the recent history of the Middle East. Innocents including women and children are being killed every day. On 21 August, several hundreds of people lost their life in a chemical attack near Damascus. It has been reported that some rebels were hiding in the area and the government forces were not able to trace them. But the use of chemical weapons is a blot on humanity.

Syria has a large cache of chemical weapons that were acquired by the former President Hafez al-Assad to counter the challenge of Israeli nuclear weapons. It was supported by the erstwhile Soviet Union and Egypt to acquire chemical weapons after the 1967 Arab defeat. According to analysts, Syria has three types of chemical weapons that can cause mass destruction. The chemical weapons that were used on 21 August caused a number of deaths. Earlier, there had been some reports of the use of chemical weapons but that was not near a populated area. The Syrian military, which is supposed to protect and provide security to the people, is killing them.

The role of UN and the West has been dubious in the case of Syria. The rebel forces are poorly armed despite being promised support. Russia and China are helping the Syrian regime. The Arab League and OIC have behaved like lame organizations while NAM has become ineffective. The Syrian regime is killing its own people and is supported by militant organizations like Hezbollah. The Syrian crisis has been transformed into a sectarian one though it is also to be seen as a humanitarian crisis.

Iraq was attacked because it was accused of amassing WMDs; the country was destroyed without any proof. Syria is using chemical weapons but the West is looking for its own interest. The reason of such duality is the presence of oil reserves in Iraq. Syria, on the other hand, is not a natural resource rich country. Thus, it does not want to put its hand in Syria.

India as an important member of NAM should make a diplomatic intervention in Syria. The OIC and Arab League should also introspect on their roles. It is important that the international community speaks out against such massive killings in Syria.
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Hindustan Express (Daily Hindustan Express), New Delhi
Editorial, 23 August 2013, Friday
11. The Truth behind Chemical Weapons Use in Syria
The Security Council has emphasized an immediate and fair investigation into the use of chemical weapons near Damascus and the opposition’s claim that it was used by the regime forces. The rebels have accused the Syrian military of using chemical weapons at one of the Damascus suburbs in which hundreds of people lost their life. However, government sources have denied this but the opposition insisted that the chemical attack was carried out which led to massive casualties. Volunteer sources have also confirmed huge casualties but the claims have not been independently confirmed. However, video footages show many corpses without apparent injury marks. The video also shows many children among the dead.

The Security Council meeting expressed its concerns about the reports and called for immediate investigation but unfortunately China and Russia are not in favour of any international investigation. They are also against any investigation into Syria’s chemical weapons. But many members of the UN have demanded that the existing UN inspectors also look into the allegation of chemical weapons use; mainly to know if the chemical weapons were used by the regime forces or not. The problem is that these countries are not sure about whether to send inspectors to look into the allegations of use of chemical weapons which is itself indicative of their seriousness to deal with the Syrian crisis.

The fact is that the UN has failed to find any solution to the long crisis in Syria and the Arab countries too have not been able to do anything, which is why peace has eluded Syria. The Syrian crisis has also persisted because of division among world powers. Consequently, unlike Libya, world powers have not been able to intervene in Syria against the Assad regime.

As far as the use of chemical weapons is concerned, it cannot be confirmed without a free and fair inquiry. Some analysts doubt the possibility of use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime at a time when UN inspectors are visiting the country. Moreover, it has strengthened its position over the rebels. However, it has also been argued that it is nearly impossible to show such a large number of fake deaths particularly without any injury marks on the body. Many have made the inevitable comparison with the use of chemical weapons on Kurdish rebel groups by Saddam Hussein in 1988.

Even if it can be proved that the regime did not use the chemical weapons, the Assad government has its hands coloured with the blood of the people of Syria. It is a blot on humanity and a matter of shame for the international community that the people of Syria are paying such a heavy price for not fault of theirs. If the world powers had not indulged in politics of interests, Syria would not have descended into so much chaos. Either the rebels or the regime would have prevailed. It seems that the Syrian crisis has now turned into a proxy war between two groups of world powers as the international community has remained a mute spectator.
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Roznama Rashtriya Sahara (National Sahara Daily), Delhi
Editorial, 24 August 2013, Saturday
12. Deteriorating Conditions in Egypt
A court in Cairo has absolved the former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak of all the corruption charges leading to his release after months in prison. Yet, this is not an end to all his problems as he faces charges of killing the protestors who were demanding his removal in 2011 and the prosecutor general can appeal against the court decision. He was immediately put under house arrest after his release from the prison but what has been unexpected is the absence of a strong public reaction against the court decision. The way events have unfolded in Egypt during the last six months has made the situation very complex. Moreover, we have also encountered numerous conspiracy theories on the removal of Mohammed Morsi and subsequent events. It is clear that these conspiracy theories are not entirely true. What appears clearly from the current condition is that Mubarak still holds some influence among the judiciary and military. More importantly, it is also clear that the Muslim Brotherhood does not have the support of a majority of Egyptians. The people are divided and support various ideologies and personalities. It seems that the Muslim Brotherhood does not have much support in big cities like Cairo. It was shocking to see many people in Cairo supporting Mubarak’s acquittal. An official in the Department of Communication admitted that Mubarak still enjoys support among many people. The National Democratic Party has followers and got some support during the fallout from recent events. Many working professionals and daily wage earners in Cairo evoked strong condemnation of Morsi’s style of governance and his policies. They were particularly angry with the decline in tourism which provided them with their daily source of earning. People said that during the one year of Morsi’s rule, unemployment increased due to the closing down of many factories. All these people cannot be termed as agents of Israel or the US. The situation in Egypt has deteriorated and does not seem to be improving any time soon.
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The Siasat Daily (The Politics Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 24 August 2013, Saturday
13. Syria and the West
The Syrian regime has killed many innocent people including children by using chemical weapons in the surrounding areas of Damascus. The world has been shocked by such a brazen use of chemical weapons but the world powers have only issued verbal condemnation. The US and European Union look clueless about Syria. The situation in Syria is worsening and sending UN inspectors will not resolve the problem. The number of refugees and internally displaced people has reached 300,000 and a large proportion constitutes women and children. Russia and China have emphasized on finding a political and diplomatic solution to the crisis through negotiations. It is important that the Geneva conference is held immediately to find a solution. All parties in the crisis should be part of the negotiations including those who insist on regime change. International observers have blamed the regime for use of chemical weapons. It is important to see the stand of the UN after what happened in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. The humanitarian crisis in Syria is worsening and the international community has not taken any concrete steps to resolve it. Many countries have condemned the use of chemical weapons. Syria is supposed to have large stocks of chemical weapons. The Syrian regime is responsible for the current situation in Syria and should be held responsible for the massive killings of Syrians. President Bashar al-Assad has promised reforms but has failed in acting on his promises. It is important that the Arab League and OIC come forward and take a decisive stand on Syria. The US should not be allowed to intervene as it will further complicate the situation as had happened in the case of Iraq. The Arab and Islamic countries will have to take lead and work towards finding a solution for Syria. It is important that Syria is prevented from descending into an Iraq and Afghanistan like situation as it would be a great disservice to the Islamic world.
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Roznama Rashtriya Sahara (National Sahara Daily), Delhi
Editorial, 25 August 2013, Sunday
14. The US in Dilemma over Syria and Egypt
According to media reports, President Obama is in a dilemma over how to deal with the events in Egypt and Syria. Advisors in the White House are divided over policy towards these two countries but Syria has been more divisive where a group of advisors have even articulated the need for military intervention in Syria. The American military commanders have said that they can destroy Syrian military’s air capability without much difficulty and it would strengthen the opposition forces. However, the US had to pay a heavy price for a similar exercise in Libya despite the fact that the people of Libya did not like Muammar Qaddafi. Another problem with Syria is that it is an ally of both Russia and Iran. Moreover, it is located in the heart of the Arab world and any intervention in Syria can turn into a full-fledged war. The US knows the problem it can create with its experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq. Syria is vastly different from Libya and it is very much understood in the US. However, the biggest problem in Syria has been the unprecedented killing of more than 100,000 people. It has also come to light that the Syrian military has used chemical weapons against the rebels which evoked world-wide condemnation and calls for intervention but Obama confined the US response to the issuing of a statement of condemnation. Russia also demanded the sending of UN inspectors to investigate the use of chemical weapons. However, the US is unlikely to intervene in Syria. It is also unclear to the US administration whether the new disposition in Syria will be pro-US or anti-US? On the other hand, the events in Egypt have further complicated the situation. It is one of the Arab allies but is economically not very strong. Egypt sources its weapons from the US. In fact, Egypt was a Russian ally for long but gravitated towards the US during Anwar Sadat’s presidency. Any change in the geo-political climate of the region can make Israel vulnerable which the US does not want. This is one of the reasons why the US is not taking any chances with Syria and Egypt. The Egyptian military has close relations with the Pentagon but its brutality in dealing with the Muslim Brotherhood supporters has unsettled American calculations. It has become difficult for it to take a clear stand on the issue. The balance of power between Israel and Egypt can be tilted towards Israel if the American aid to the Egyptian military is stopped. The situation has created a dilemma in America’s Middle East policy. Its dominance in the region is slowly receding and one of the reasons is lack of support for it among the Arab masses who dislike the US for its double standards.
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The Siasat Daily (The Politics Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 26 August 2013, Monday
15. The US and Britain should not repeat their Mistakes
It is the duty of the world to prevent another war in the Middle East. A war in Syria will lead to more deaths. If lessons from Iraq is anything to go by then a military strike in Syria will not help the situation. A military intervention in Syria will also adversely affect the already struggling American economy. Moreover, the flames of a war in Syria will spread across the entire region. The international organizations of the Muslim countries should try to find a consensus and negotiations-driven solution to the crisis. The US and Britain seem to have started preparing for war. The war in Iraq and Kosovo were started in similar fashion. The situation in Syria is similar to what had happened in Serbia where the incumbent President Slobodon Milosevic had committed mass killings. The US-led NATO forces had intervened and brought an end to his regime. The problem now is that countries like Russia and China, who have veto powers, will not allow a UN resolution against Syria. The Syrian regime has been accused of using chemical weapons which led to the deaths of nearly 1,300 people. Unfortunately, a NATO intervention in Syria will not end the crisis but rather will escalate the problem and lead to further violence and killings. If the US decides to intervene militarily in Syria then it should be ready to face the consequences. Moreover, external intervention in a sovereign country is against international law. The world has been witness to the consequences of such actions in Iraq. The US is also not in a position to start another war, particularly one which can escalate and lead to major international crises. The flames of war in Syria can spread to Lebanon, Iraq and Iran. Moreover, Israel will also not remain completely free from its consequences. The most important aspect is that were the resources that could be used for war be utilized for peaceful purposes that would by itself lead to peace and prosperity in the country. The US and Britain should not repeat their mistake of going into a war without being backed by a UN resolution.
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Hindustan Express (Daily Hindustan Express), New Delhi
Editorial, 29 August 2013, Thursday
16. Preparation for Possible Strikes
A possible military intervention in Syria is under intense discussion in the media. The statement by the American Defence Secretary has evoked a call for caution the world over. The issue of the use of chemical weapons has not yet been confirmed but it seems that the US has made up its mind. The team of UN experts is still investigating whether chemical weapons were used in Syria or not? They are not mandated to investigate the source of such use of chemical weapons. The problem is that both sides have blamed each other for using the weapons.

If the US intervenes in Syria without proper investigation then it would be a repeat of the mistake it committed in Iraq. Reports have suggested that preparation for a military strike in Syria with the aim to remove the current regime has begun. The problem is the lack of any legal or moral justification for military intervention inside Syria. Since it is not yet clear whether the regime used chemical weapons, there can be no legal justification for intervention. Moreover, any intervention in Syria will further complicate the situation rather than resolve the crisis.

Though Russia and China are against external intervention in Syria, their stand does not ensure against American intervention based on precedent. On many occasions, the US has ignored concerns of the major powers and the UN to carry out military attacks on sovereign countries with Libya being a glaring example. Though Russia and China have not supported the UNSC resolution on Libya, they had not vetoed it and the subsequent course of events in Libya is well known. Thus, it cannot be argued that the US will not intervene in Syria because of the opposition of some international powers.

This is not to argue that President Bashar al-Assad is not responsible for whatever is happening in Syria; he has to take the entire blame over bloodshed and killings in Syria. He is acting in self-interest rather than in the interest of the nation. But this does not call for American intervention because it will further complicate the situation and lead to further bloodshed. The experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya call for caution and the need for finding a non-military solution to the crisis in Syria.
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Roznama Rashtriya Sahara (National Sahara Daily), Delhi
Editorial, 29 August 2013, Thursday
17. War Looming Over Syria
The US and Britain have refused to learn from their past mistakes. Both are yet again ready to forget the consequences of military attack in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are preparing for military strike in Syria. Undoubtedly, the Syrian crisis has led to unprecedented bloodshed in which more than 100,000 people have been killed in Syria. This, however, does not demand a military intervention because it can lead to further bloodshed. Moreover, the war in Syria can spread to neighbouring countries. The situation is very bad inside Syria and the reported use of chemical weapons has further complicated it. The Syrian regime has denied any use of chemical weapons by its forces while the Western reports have insisted that lethal chemical weapons have been used in Syria. Though the UN inspectors are still investigating, the US seems to have come to the conclusion that the chemical weapons were used by the Syrian regime. Syria on the other hand has insisted that no chemical weapons were used by its forces. Syria has also claimed that the US is trying to influence the outcome of the UN inspection. The situation in Syria, however, has gone from bad to worse. One of the UN inspectors was targeted by unidentified assailants, but he was saved. It is not yet clear how Russia would react to external military intervention in Syria. Past experiences show that Russia has avoided confrontation on such issues and have confined it to verbal condemnation. On the other hand, if Iran decides to come to the aid of Syria, then the flame of war in Syria could spread to the entire region. The problem is most of its neighbours do not have very good relations with Syria. It is not just the sectarian issue but an issue of geo-politics in the region where most of the countries are American allies while Syria remains a Russian ally. But a military intervention will affect the neighbourhood. It will further fuel anti-American sentiments on the Arab streets. It will also affect the international oil market and lead to rise in prices. India that depends on the region for its energy needs will be badly affected by the rise in petroleum prices as its economy is already struggling with inflation and price rise. India will do well to work against military intervention in Syria to avoid more economic trouble.
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The Siasat Daily (The Politics Daily), Hyderabad
Editorial, 29 August 2013, Thursday
18. Preparations for War on Syria
The US and Britain have started preparations for a military strike in Syria. They have found an excuse for military intervention in the form of chemical weapons used by the Syrian regime to kill its own people. The preparations are on full swing and British Prime Minister David Cameron is in constant touch with President Obama. Both the US and Britain have mobilized their war machinery and they are closing in on Syria. The role of the United Nations has been ineffective in the entire crisis and it has chosen to remain muted and act like an American puppet. Nevertheless, the two powers have stated that they do not intend to take unilateral action and that they will take the world into confidence before taking any action. The problem is that such statements do not help because a majority of the international community is against war; but for the US the world has traditionally comprised only of its own allies who tend to toe its line blindly. The US has not done anything to stop the potential use of destructive weapons by other countries in the region. The international community is in favour of a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Syria and it is important that use of force is avoided in this case.

The imperialist powers have found support from some of the Arab countries who want to destroy Syria. It can lead to further problems and fire can spread to their own countries. The excuse of use of chemical weapons cannot be substantiated by independent sources. The attack, which has caused more than a 1,000 deaths, even if it was a chemical weapons attack, does not warranty the use of force because that will lead to even more deaths. This is not to argue that the Syrian regime which has killed its own people should not be held responsible for it and should not be prosecuted for it, but it can be done without the use of force to avoid more killings.

If the US and Britain have started to prepare for a strike on Syria, Russia has also actively been working against any use of force in Syria. It has warned of retaliation if force is used in Syria. It is important that diplomacy is used to avoid war and to find a resolution. The Russian statement will further escalate tensions. It is also important that other countries also work against the use of force to resolve the crisis and pave the way for diplomatic interventions rather than military ones. It is important at this juncture to work against further bloodshed in Syria and find a diplomatic and negotiated solution to the crisis.
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Compiled and Translated by Md. Muddassir Quamar

Md. Muddassir Quamar is a Doctoral Candidate at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.  Email

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy.