The latest Gallup poll suggests that majority of Americans, who initially supported the Iraq and Vietnam wars; feel that their country made a mistake by sending their troops to fight those wars. Currently, the US is considering attacking Syria for violating human rights by using chemical weapons on its own people, based on the 1925 Geneva Convention that prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons in warfare.
Gulf News readers were given the opportunity to debate on our Facebook page this week – they discussed whether any nation has the right to impeach the sovereignty of another country, especially with military strikes. Or is this decision subject to the violation of human rights? We present a selection of their views.
Be a hero, not a bully
T he US has absolutely no right to meddle in other countries’ affairs if their involvement is not being asked for. In my opinion, they are way in over their heads. Just because they may have helped a nation or two in the past, it doesn’t give them the authority to interfere in any and every international affair. We all have witnessed the number of deaths previous US interventions have caused. If they put their foot in every issue, aren’t they also subject to violation of human rights? With their current mind-set, they are being more of a bully rather than the hero. Let the UN and other such bodies sort out their roles first, and then if they ask for America’s involvement that would be their time to move in.
From Mr Nitsuga Shoj
UAE
Prove it
Use of chemical weapons is unacceptable. So is a unilateral assault on a sovereign country by another country, especially when there is no transparency in the process of evaluating the reason for the assault. Years ago, the US told the world that they are striking Iraq because of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). But where are Iraq’s WMDs? Even at that time, I remember, Colin Powell convinced the world that Iraq should be invaded. But later we all realised the reason for the military operation. The US is now saying Syria needs to be invaded. My question is, if the US is so sure Syria has used Sarin gas on its citizens, why is it so difficult to prove it? The allies of the US are reluctant because there is no proof. Yes, Sarin was used. But who used it? If you want to destroy the country, then strike. If you want build it, negotiate peacefully.
From Ms Sheeza Ali
UAE
Violating human rights
This is a good question for a debate. It is wrong and unethical to violate human rights. During the Iraq war, the Americans decided to attack Iraq, bypassing the decision of the United Nations. They had their own agenda. This led to more deaths and financial loss for Iraq. A military strike is not a solution, it is also a violation of human rights.
From Mr Ragavan Krishnamachary
UAE
Self defence
No, the US does not have any right to interfere in what is going on in Syria, unless it is harmful to their own security or men. They should not strike Syria, it will only lead to another war.
From Ms Sharan Bhatia
UAE
Save the world
No nation has the right to decide the fate of another country, let alone invade it. Doing so is indeed a disgrace to humanity and against all international norms, laws and practices. It is a sheer violation of human rights and can amount to endangering the world at large.
From Mr Zaki Khalid
UAE
Losing credibility
At this point the Syrians have no rights left. We need to help those who can’t help themselves. We are not weaklings. If we don’t act now, we have more chances of another attack like the 9/11 tragedy.
From Ms Susan Kam
UAE
Get the facts right
No nation has the right to interfere in the political situation of another nation, until and unless strong evidence suggesting that the government violated human rights are presented to the world.
From Mr Ragavan Krishnamachary
UAE
What about the UN?
Why does the US have to intervene in another country’s business? Why on Earth is it always the US? In my opinion, the UN is not doing what it is meant to do.
From Mr Ahmad Shumayal
UAE
Save innocent lives!
The current situation in Syria is one of the worst ever situations known to mankind. There have been wars in other countries, but in Syria the number of children who have succumbed to death is enormous. There will never be an end to the debate about this, but the fact is that Syrians continue to suffer. Innocents are given a merciless death. I don’t know what the solution to this is. Their future is in darkness. But I hope the sufferings will come to an end soon.
From Ms Soumya Mohanty Vilekar
UAE
No solution
Carrying out military strikes on any country is clearly a violation of human rights and an unjustifiable act, regardless of the circumstances. If what Syria did is against human rights, then by attacking Syria, what the US will do is no different. They will be held equally guilty. No war can be brought to an end by such military interventions. It will only worsen the situation across the globe.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Don’t kill more people
How I see it — Bashar Al Assad killed his people in hundreds. If the US strikes, Obama will be killing thousands for the sake of those hundreds.
From Mr Talha Farukh
UAE
Mere spectators
Of course, if the US attacks Syria, it is not a violation of human rights. They have a legal permit and a UN permit, but moreover, they are the US after all. The US can do anything it wants on our planet Earth. Sadly, we don’t have a superman in the Arab world to teach the bad guys a good lesson. All along we’ve been spectators. All we do is keep saying that nothing can be done.
From Ms Fatima Al
UAE
War is no solution
I do not think that another war is the answer to Syria’s situation. If we look at the previous invasions by the US, none of the wars achieved what they were meant to achieve. Decades later, those countries continue to struggle. But at the same time Syria cannot get away with using chemical weapons on its own people. That is definitely wrong. But still, I don’t think another war is a solution to the Syria problem.
From Ms Cristina Amira
UAE
Insufficient evidence
For sure, the world should not turn a blind eye to the use of chemical and nuclear weapons in any country. But, it is more important to first confirm and present evidence about who used the chemical weapons. When it comes to Syria, there still is no evidence that the chemical weapons were used by Al Assad on his own people.
From Mr Davor Kelentrić
UAE
Why?
I don’t understand why Americans think they rule the globe. In my opinion, Americans themselves are terrorists, who are excellent at programming populations. It is shameful!
From Mr Yohennes Muyoyu
UAE
Let them be
Let Syria fight their own wars. No nation has that right to invade another country unless they themselves are being attacked by them. Syria is not attacking the US, therefore, I don’t see any legitimacy in bombing them.
From Ms Remi Anthony Michael Majeski
USA
The other side
As I respect all the comments above, in my opinion these views would be very different if it were your husband, daughters, sons and loved ones being poisoned by one of the most horrific weapons imaginable.
From Mr Brad Trumpy
UAE
World issue
Any one nation doesn’t have the right to impeach another nation — the world, as a society, has the right to react. But that right has to come together with certain conditions, responsibilities and limits — based upon incontrovertible evidence and poof.
From Mr Wolf McKillian
UAE
Different agenda
The US wants to prove that ‘might is right’. I think the US is slowly trying to dominate the Middle East and gain power. I think this is their policy against Muslim countries.
From Mr Aarif Khan Pathan
UAE
Talk it out
I think the US should insist on a political dialogue rather than a military strike.
From Ms Anu Alapatt
UAE
Editor’s note: What is your opinion on the issue? Share your experience at readers@gulfnews.com or our Facebook page
