Imagine the distress of a child who grows up in a family
that appeared ideal in every way. Now a young man and wishing to give the
children of the world a similar kind of upbringing, he does research on the bad
things that can happen to a family, intending to find ways to mitigate them.
But while doing the research, he discovers that his own family lived through
dark chapters, some of which can still flare up without prior notice.
The editors of the Weekly Standard are about to live through
that kind of scenario. They wrote a piece describing the United Nations as a
horrible institution, believing that the world organization allowed the Syrians
to get away with bad behavior. What they do not know––because they were not
around when it all happened––was that if the Syrians are getting away with
something today, it's because Israel ,
which happens to be the Weekly Standard's moral and ethical North Star, had
established the bad example long ago.
The editors' piece describing the relationship between the
United Nations and Syria
came under the title: “The U.N. Covers for Syrian War Machine” and the
subtitle: “What kind of 'ceasefire' allows a rogue regime to bomb civilians?”
It was published on February 26, 2018 in the Weekly Standard. Here is the
passage that tells what is so upsetting to the Standard's editors:
“That Syrian government forces should lay siege, only hours
after the passage of the ceasefire, to rebel-held neighborhoods tells us
something we already know: U.N. ceasefires are worthless … Actually, worse than
worthless. The Assad regime is using the ceasefire as cover to destroy
potential opposition … ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates may pose a threat to law
and order in Syria ,
to the extent law and order still exist, but it's hard to see how an aerial and
ground campaign is a counterterrorism operation.” There is so much to peel off
in here; we begin from the beginning.
First, the Weekly Standard editors say this: “something we
already know: U.N. ceasefires are worthless.” They don't say what exactly it is
that they know, because if they knew the full truth, they'd be so shocked they
couldn't write that editorial. So let me tell them the history of what
transpired as I was old enough to witness the events when they unfolded. I
realize this may shock the editors, even distress them, but all I can say is
this: So be it; they asked for it.
The first time it happened that someone disobeyed a UN
resolution was 1967. It happened that Israel
had launched a surprise attack on Syria
with the intent of seizing the city of Quneitra ,
capital of the province of Quneitra on the Golan Heights .
Despite several Security Council resolutions and other UN pleas to end the
fight and observe the called-for ceasefire, Israel continued to forge ahead
till it seized the coveted city. It kept it for 6 years till the city was
liberated by Syria
in 1973. Since then Israel
made a mockery of the UN General Assembly resolutions, while America 's veto
protecting it, made a mockery of the Security Council resolutions.
Second, the editors say this: “The Assad regime [wants] to
destroy potential opposition. ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates may pose a threat to
law and order in Syria ,
but it's hard to see how an aerial and ground campaign [will do that.]” Note
that the editors chide the government of a sovereign country for working to
destroy ISIS and al-Qaeda, which the Jewish
editors treat as a legitimate “potential opposition.” Do you now see why Israel– –the North Star of most American editors
and politicians, and the self-described ally of America– –is considered to be the
natural ally of terrorists?
Not knowing what history will be brought to light by their
piece, the editors of the Weekly Standard ended their discussion with the
mention of a news item and a commentary about it. Here is the item:
“Syria
was given chairmanship of the U.N. council on the 'subjugation, domination, and
exploitation' of people. The council is supposed to deal with 'decolonizing'
Gibraltar and the Falkland
Island
And here is their commentary: “Or perhaps it isn't so
strange: The Syrians at the U.N. know plenty about the 'subjugation,
domination, and exploitation of innocent people”.
What these editors will never grasp is that Syria
and not Israel
was given that chairmanship because the job of the council is to deal with the
subject of colonialism. Syria
is suited to do the job because its hands are clean in the sense that Syria is not
colonizing someone. Israel ,
on the other hand, is still colonizing a piece of the Golan Heights as well as
the West Bank of Palestine .
Because it is in the colonies that subjugation, domination and
exploitation happen, Israel
– that has known plenty about that for half a century – will never qualify to
sit on the council anymore than a serial rapist will ever qualify to run a
shelter for victims of sexual aggression.