Outlaw Regimes Have Us Teetering on the Brink of World War 3

And the media is desperately trying to not notice

(originally published on Medium 4/30/2018)

‘Dead End’ — copyright Paul Randall

The weekend of April 28–29 2018, two blatant violations of international law in Syria could have easily triggered either a bloody wider war or even a species ending nuclear exchange. First, foreign forces illegally occupying Syrian territory attacked Syrian Army forces and drove them out of Syrian towns they had just retaken. Second, multiple unsanctioned strikes by a mysterious country killed many and were so violent that they triggered earthquake sensors in Europe.

Both of these attacks would have completely justified a commensurate response from the parties assaulted, including Syria and Iran, both capable of hitting back hard. If they had, an escalating cascade of strikes and counter-strikes would have likely ensued, to an uncertain and terrifying end.

Note the western media showed minimal interest in these stories, despite the possible horrific outcomes that could result. Probably because the international outlaws dancing around the Syrian powder keg with torches are the West and it’s allies.

International law isn’t vague on such matters, because if it was, those laws would be pointless. Nations aren’t allowed to attack other sovereign nations because they feel like it. There are no allowances for the seizure or occupation of another country’s territory without a UN mandate.

Respect for these basic precepts is fundamental to a rule based international order- without them, it’s law of the jungle, where might makes right. Every nation would both be free to assault any other nation on a whim and also constantly ready to preempt or respond to such an attack.

In Syria, these foundational rules of international relations have been completely, constantly disregarded by the supposedly enlightened, civilized western powers and their allies. The US, UK, France and Israel have attacked Syrian forces in Syria many, many times, without the slightest fig leaf of UN permission. The US and Turkey have seized and occupied sizable chunks of Syria (and Israel has not only occupied the Golan Heights for decades, they claim it now belongs to them), and attacked Syrian forces when they attempt to enter these parts of their own country.