On the heels of a successful Geneva agreement between the P5+1 and Iran, the announcement on Monday that the peace conference for Syrias civil war – the so-called Geneva II conference – will be held on 22 January is welcome news. But even if all sides actually show up to the meeting, there is considerable doubt as to whether a political settlement between the warring Syrian parties is possible at this stage. To increase the chances of success, the US and Russia should pursue a ceasefire among the regional supporters of the war as a precursor to Geneva II. Lets call it Geneva 1.5. The conflict in Syria is no longer a domestic struggle. It has become a regional proxy war, principally between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but with important roles played by Qatar, Turkey and Iraq. These external actors are fanning the flames of conflict and actively dissuading their Syrian allies from committing to Geneva II. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the brain nature gave me, thankful for the ability to think independently that I give myself permission to do, thankful for my ability to recognize injustice and be empathetic, thankful for the permission I give myself to avoid apathy and instead choose to engage in the active, ongoing pursuit of peace and social justice both of which bestow purpose and meaning upon my life and lastly, I am thankful for the ability granted to me by nature to express myself freely and, in so doing, help contribute to a common cause shared by many other activists to write a new historical narrative that helps drive the moral arc of the universe toward a place of greater peace and justice in our world.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 18:23:20 +0000