Letter to the Editor / THE HORROR OF SYRIA
By Roger C. Kostmayer
President Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, has been charged with using criminal gas and chemical warfare against women, children and the elderly 30 times over the last decade. All international efforts to stop this genocide have failed. Days ago, in the town of Douma, 48 or more civilians died from, and 500 others were victims of, chemical agents. Without a credible threat of punishment there will be no change, and the horrific bloodshed and dislocations will continue.
The immediate action should be to formalize a US led Syria coalition (France, Great Britain, Germany, Israel and our other NATO allies) instead of allowing Russia, China and Iran to use the UN to stall and frustrate any effort to stop the slaughter. The coalition should then destroy the Syrian airfields and air forces involved in any way with the chemical crimes, and create safe and no-fly zones in order to provide humanitarian relief. It would be made clear that any non-coalition military force, either in or approaching safe zones, will be considered hostile and be dealt with accordingly. In effect, this would protect most of the civilian population, put the coalition in control of Eastern Syria and reduce Assad’s role to Mayor of Damascus.
The fait accompli status would then be the basis for diplomatic negotiations, including Russia and Iran, that would determine how a new Syria would move forward without Assad.
Roger C. Kostmayer
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Yesterday was John Bolton’s first day on the job as the new national security adviser at the White House. He is a great deal more informed and adept at dealing with international debacles than Mr. Kostmayer and should be allowed to do his work without Monday morning quarterbacks nipping at his heels.