THE American ambassador to the Soviet Union before the Second World War, Jonathan E Davies, wrote in his book Mission to Moscow: ‘Blessed with two friendly neighbours, Canada in the north and Mexico in the south and two oceans, Atlantic in the east and Pacific in the west, America doesn’t have to worry about invasion. So America needs less soldiers and more diplomats to help other nations to resolve their conflicts peacefully. But if they decide to resolve their conflicts through military means, they will have to do so on their own. Call America when you are ready for peace.’
But history tells us that two oceans and friendly neighbours could not stop Japan from carrying out a surprise attack on Peal Harbour and since then America needed more soldiers than diplomats to keep peace. During the Cold war, America’s military presence stopped the Soviet Union from conquering Western Europe. America’s military might stopped North Korea from invading South Korea. But after two exhausting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States seems to be returning home, leaving the world to sort out their conflicts.
In Syria, the United States is trying to resolve the conflict by diplomatic means. While the Syrian regime is slaughtering its own people for demanding greater rights, the United States has shown little interest for military intervention. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton is working round the clock to convince Russia to persuade its Syrian ally to agree to a ceasefire, allowing the United Nations to organise an election. But she seems not realise that Bashar Assad has no interest in peace until the revolt is crushed. Without US military support, the Free Syrian Army cannot defeat Assad’s forces. So, the Syrian conflict will be protracted and extremely bloody. The only hope lies in a mass mutiny in the Syrian army, forcing Assad to give up power. The United States has become a spectator in the Syrian conflict as the slaughter of the civilians goes on. Diplomacy can do so much when tyrants rule.
Mahmood Elahi
Ottawa, Canada