The changing nature of war

I was reading an article today from 1998 about international theory. The contemporary consensus was that globalisation meant that social and economic forces were superseding traditional great power politics. This is undoubtedly the case today. As shown by the ongoing economic crisis, the power of the 'markets' as controlled by global capitalists is devastating and seemingly immovable in the face of governments worldwide.

What some scholars concluded to the scepticism of the article's author was that this would lead to fewer wars between nations. Looking around these scholars were correct that there would be fewer traditional wars fought between states. Where they were wrong was in their optimism: groups and actors are fighting and oppressing each other as much as always but in new (and in some cases old) ways. States worldwide are murdering and torturing those whose interests they are supposed to represent while so-called liberal democracies such as the US and the UK are complicit in barbaric torture practices. Traditional rules of war and humanitarian principles are abandoned in the pursuit of the war on terrorism, a word so vague it can be used to a apply to any actor or group a state deems as behaving or believing contrary to its interests. Thus Syria's forces describe those they oppress as terrorists.

History teaches us to be optimistic about the end of current struggles but not to expect whatever comes next to be any better.

Nothing will be normal in Syria until Bashar al-Assad steps down

The Syrian authorities are currently trying to distract observers by diverting attention to US involvement, accusing them, almost laughably, of 'seeking to rekindle violence'. The intentions of the US should not be the focus of people's attention at the moment. That should be reserved entirely for the appalling way Syrian authorities have continuously slaughtered their own people, including many children, for the last 9 months.

It is time for Bashar al-Assad to realise that he and his regime have already lost. The violence against his own people has been too extensive, the repression too brutal, and the reaction from opposition too determined for him to ever feel or appear to be the legitimate leader of Syria again.

Attempts to divert attention to the US won't make a jot of difference.

Come quickly, it's an emergency!

On 2 November Syria agreed with the Arab League to a set of proposals which included the immediate cessation of the Syrian regime's violence against protesters which has been ongoing since March. The UN estimates that at least 3,500 people have been killed by forces acting on the order's of the country's president Bashar al-Assad.

Despite this, on Sunday and Monday the violence continued, with at least 11 people being killed yesterday including two children.

The Arab League's response? To call an emergency meeting... for Saturday.