In a letter sent on Sept 4 to Mr Putin in his role of host of the G20 conference, and published on Thursday, Francis wrote: "It is regrettable that, from the very beginning of the conflict in Syria, one-sided interests have prevailed and in fact hindered the search for a solution that would have avoided the senseless massacre now unfolding."
Through Mr Putin, Francis appealed to the G20 leaders gathering in Russia: "The leaders of the G20 cannot remain indifferent to the dramatic situation of the beloved Syrian people which has lasted far too long, and even risks bringing greater suffering to a region bitterly tested by strife and needful of peace.
"To the leaders present, to each and every one, I make a heartfelt appeal for them to help find ways to overcome the conflicting positions and to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution."
He added: "Rather, let there be a renewed commitment to seek, with courage and determination, a peaceful solution through dialogue and negotiation of the parties, unanimously supported by the international community. Moreover, all governments have the moral duty to do everything possible to ensure humanitarian assistance to those suffering because of the conflict, both within and beyond the country's borders." » | Tom Kington, Vatican City | Thursday, September 05, 2013
My comment:
The vainglorious Obama is going to find himself increasingly isolated in this rush to war with Syria. And inasmuch as he will isolate himself, he will isolate America too. People are weary of all these wars, especially so because they achieve nothing. They are not decisive. Wars should only ever be fought when absolutely necessary, when all else fails. This is not the case here.
Not everyone is convinced that it was Bashar Al-Assad who perpetrated the chemical attack on his people. In fact, many are convinced that it was the rebels who perpetrated it, in the hope of dragging the West, especially the US into the war in order to topple Bashar Al-Assad.
In any case, if America and France go in there and bomb Damascus to smithereens, what will be achieved, except more killing and suffering? Haven't the poor Syrians suffered enough already?
More than two million Syrians have been turned into refugees. And Bashar Al-Assad cannot be held totally responsible for this calamity, either. Barack Obama's talk of an assault on Damascus will surely have frightened very many Syrians into a decision to leave their country for safer havens. So how humanitarian is that?
We need to ask ourselves some fundamental questions here: What is to be achieved by military action? How much more suffering will military action cause? What are the risks of turning this civil war into a regional conflict? And what are the chances of a regional conflict turning into a world war? World wars have been started by far less in the past. And what can we expect to happen in Syria if Bashar Al-Assad is toppled? Won't it be worse for the Syrians? An Islamic theocracy might well be the ultimate outcome of such a military intervention.
And isn't it true to say that Obama wants to show his 'tough credentials' here? Isn't he trying to get this military action started for his own self-image? I wouldn't trust the man or his judgement.
It must be remembered that even if it was Bashar Al-Assad who perpetrated this crime against the Syrian people, military action will only make matters worse, and certainly won't stop the ongoing suffering; on the contrary, it will add to it.
And where is the money going to come from to wage this war? And what about the cost of the necessary beefed-up security back home in the US if hostilities break out? Where's the money for that going to come from? Moreover, if Obama really does want to keep his countrymen safe, it would be better for him not to entice bomb attacks on his homeland by rogues who will be hell-bent on seeking revenge.
That part of the world is a hornets' nest. It will be easily upset. And God only knows what will ensue. May God protect us all! – © Mark
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