To Cure the Economy

One hears a great deal about the dangers of the situation in Syria these days. Right now, the Syrian Government is attacking rebels in the city of Aleppo.  Recently the massacre in Houla made world news. Whether it is styled as "civil unrest" or "civil war" isn't particularly relevant; whatever it is, Syria is a dangerous place to be.

CNN recently ran an opinion piece titled "Syria's Christian Conundrum."  The author, noting that she was a Christian herself, expressed perplexity and disappointment that the majority of Syrian Christians had not embraced the "prospect of democratic change... [to] an open, democratic, inclusive, secular and religiously tolerant society" which, she believes, should arise after the fall of Assad. Yet the kidnappings and forced conversions of Christian women in Egypt, being reported in Christian news sites (but not the mainstream media) gives the lie to the delusional belief that democratic governments rather than Islamist governments rise to power in these Middle Eastern countries.

Consider the nations like Egypt and Libya, and Iraq, and Afghanistan, in which the West actively sought to assist or by force of arms bring about the rise of "open, democratic, inclusive, secular, and religiously tolerant society." Or such nations as Turkey, and Pakistan, and a whole host of other nations in the Middle Eastern region in which open and democratic governments were encouraged. In all of these, where there have been elections, the people have chosen to move toward Islamist fundamentalist governments; where there have not been elections, the leadership has embraced the same Islamist fundamentalism.

That is precisely why the U.S. must not become involved in Syria: too little certainty that any involvement can produce a result which has any benefit for the United States- or the West. For example, some reports attribute the massacre to Assad's regime, but others to internecine warfare between the rebels.  Similarly, Libyan Islamists are moving into Syria to assist the Free Syrian Army. Can it be assumed then that the Free Syrian Army is seeking democracy rather than Islamism?  The rise of Islamists means not only another nation rising in opposition to the interests of the U.S., but oppression of women, children, and minorities of any ideology or ethnicity.

Of course, the fact that Syria is a Russian ally, and that U.S. interference in Syria risks direct military confrontation with Russia, should serve as some disincentive as well.

Given all of that, one would assume there is no reason to go to war in Syria. Yet there seem to be many who are beating the war drums, suggesting there may be those who would prefer war. Not from any patriotic or nationalist drive, nor from any motives to pursue freedom, or compassion for that matter.

After the crash of 1929, America slid into an economic depression. The world economy depressed as well, with conditions becoming so intolerable in some countries, notably Germany, that maniacal despots like Hitler could rise to power. Financial conditions only marginally improved until the advent of World War II drove the engines of industry into high gear and gave rise to a tide of prosperity which lasted for decades after the war.

In other words, there may be those who believe a good war is needed to cure the economy. That may sound cynical, considering the human cost of war, and hopefully it will prove to be no more than cynicism. Yet it is difficult to find any other reason for the push to enter Syria, as there are no other perceptible benefits to America. The United States needs to stay out of Syria.