Current Events
Civil War
An important event that has been
happening in the recent history of Syria is the civil war. This civil war is
based upon the huge divide that exists between the government and the people of
Syria, who are tired of the way the government handles the country. According
to abcnews.go.com, the war saw its first battle in the Arab Spring activism in
Egypt and Tunisia in 2011, where protests were acted in the streets to voice
the public unhappiness with the government and the reform that they wanted to
see. The government acted in retaliation “with extreme measures, including the
kidnapping, torture, and killing of protesters” (abcnews.go.com). From then on,
the civil war has only escalated. An article by the Huffington Post depicts the
trauma in the country: “The death toll may now be well over 150,000. Prisons
and makeshift detention facilities are swelling with men, women and even
children. Death by summary executions and unspeakable torture are widespread.
People are also dying from hunger and once-rare infectious diseases. Whole
urban centers and some of humankind’s great architectural and cultural heritage
lie in ruins. Syria today is increasingly a failed state” (huffingtonpost.com).
ISIS
One
major event that is in the news recently is the spread of ISIS, the Islamic
State in Iraq and Syria, a group that is taking over land in Syria and Iran in
order to create an Islamic state – a caliphate – that covers both countries. Until
recently, ISIS had had land in both Syria and Iraq, but no way of connecting
the two, when on Thursday they gained control of the Albu Kamal border
crossing, and now can create a route for weapons and soldiers (cnn.com). ISIS has already
captured several oil fields in Syria, creating more chaos in a country that is
already in great turmoil. ISIS has been known for their social media efforts in
creating terror as well as support, which is something that is a new tactic in
this kind of warfare.
Sources:
posted by Josh Owl @ 6:31 AM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
I cannot wrap my head around that the government would respond to protests by kidnapping, killing, and torturing protestors. I could understand arresting protestors or maybe injuring some if the protestors were violent. I am saddened to hear as to how high the death toll is now. I am just guessing that the government is trying to break its people by letting them starve to death and by letting them die of horrible diseases. I am surprised that other countries have not stepped in to help the people of Syria or to even help the government of Syria. As to why the government has not tried to reason with it’s people because when a country is divided it is easy for another country to intrude. Once again, this makes me feel blessed to live in a country that gives people a voice and a country that allows for it’s people to vote for laws and leaders. I was shocked to learn that children are in prisons as well. What do children do to be put into Syrian prisons? How did the ISIS gain control over the Albu Kamal border crossing? Hopefully, Iran and Syria will put a stop to this before the ISIS becomes even more powerful. Syria's government seems like they are shooting their nose despite their face. Even though they do not want to reason with their people, they should so they can focus on becoming a stronger country and fighting the ISIS. If Syria does not, then those holding government jobs might lose them anyways if another country or terrorist group is able to take over Syria.
There are Syrians I know who reject the idea that the current war in Syria is a civil war. They think of it, rather, as a regional and even international war fought within the borders of Syria.
My Saudi friends have told me of the Syrian leader placing children in ovens. You don’t want to belie this but I found sources to these types of stories. All of the Middle East feels passionately about everything that goes on there, though the whole world should, it amazes me more governments don't get involved. The other depressing thing about what is happening there; because of the violence in Syria is the loss of archeological sites that go back to the dawn of civilization. In “10 Historical And Cultural Sites Destroyed By War”, three have been lost to current events in Syria and Iraq.
1. LOST 2011: Apamea is on the bank of Syria’s Orontes River. It was it was originally where the kings of the Seleucid Empire lived. Then it became a home to Romans. Under the Romans it grew to a population of 500,000.
2. LOST APRIL 2013: The Great Mosque of Aleppo was within the historic Al-Jalloum district. The largest mosque in the area were thought to hold the remains of Zechariah, father of John the Baptist.
3. LOST 2003: The Baghdad’s National Library in 1920 the library was established. It held more than 12 million books, manuscripts and carved stone tablets, detailing the long history of the area.
American troops have even contributed to some of the historical losses in Iraq. Setting up bases and operations near historical or culturally important sites drew action to the areas. American snipers using tall historical sites as points to shoot from caused them to be bombed. It is all incredibly sad people dying and a history that can never be restored dying right along with them.
As far as ISIL in Syria I admire the Syrian people for standing up against their terror. Part of the reason ISIL moved into Iraq was because the Syrian people revolted against ISIL rule, they didn’t welcome them as saviors to throw out the current leader.
‘Syria: 'Children Burned Alive In Front Of Their Mothers' Report Activists In Homs”
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/03/12/syria-children-burned-alive_n_1339554.html
“10 Historical And Cultural Sites Destroyed By War”
http://pentagist.com/top-5-cultural-historical-sites-destroyed-war/
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