The world’s most powerful nation’s intention to strike Syria leaves a bad taste in the mouth, especially coming after similar interventions in Iraq and Libya.
An air strike on Syria will only escalate bloodshed. What Syria needs is a political intervention that will enable Syrians to decide their destiny.
With Russia supporting the current regime and the US and her allies supporting the rebels, this is bound to be a very ugly confrontation, with many casualties on both sides, more so civilians.
The US congress has a responsibility to debate and advise President Obama not to authorise military action. The US should respect the United Nations Security Council’s call to seek alternative ways of resolving the conflict.
{Francis Mutegi, Nairobi}
Plans to attack Syria over the alleged use of chemical weapons could turn out to be a costly blunder for the administration of President Barack Obama.
The fact that the UK House of Commons blocked a motion railroaded by Prime Minister David Cameron seeking permission to launch missile strikes against Damascus was ample evidence that this is a mistake of monumental proportions.
In hindsight, the No vote could have been influenced by history. The deception that preceded the war in Iraq and the subsequent loss of life in both Iraq and Afghanistan, where the US and UK have been bogged down in never-ending wars, is still fresh in people’s minds. The case for the invasion of Iraq has now been proved to be a lie — Saddam Hussein never possessed weapons of mass destruction.
{Khamis Mohamed, Nairobi}
It is laughable if not utterly outrageous and criminal to see the US and its allies raring to attack Syria.
President Obama has made a compelling case that the Syrian president’s regime used chemical weapons.
Observers warn that military action is not the solution and considering today’s situation in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tunisia and even Lebanon, this measure would only deepen the crisis. Military intervention can rapidly push the region into a new phase of unrest, the winners of which will be the same uncontrollable forces.
The government of Bashar Assad is only part of the problem, the bigger problem is the possibility of instability spreading beyond the borders of the Middle East.
Instead of planning military intervention, the world power should invite all parties in the Syrian crisis for a roundtable meeting.
{Moses Omusula, Nairobi}
The procrastination by the international community in responding to the Syrian crisis threatens peace and stability in the whole world.
The world is bound to suffer the consequences of the proposed military action. We are once again staring at another deadly, explosive war that will eventually have devastating ramifications on global economy and stability. Even before the first strike, oil prices in the international market have shot up.
{Enock Onsando, Mombasa}
