Performative Action on Assad Regime Won't Work
While the latest congressional bill to strengthen sanctions on the Assad regime is commendable, there appears little political will to actually punish the perpetrators.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee recently introduced the Assad Anti-Normalization Act, meant to strengthen sanctions against the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian backers. This comes on the heels of a regional upheaval in which the Arab League reinstated Syria as a full member, and countries are rushing to normalize ties with the brutal regime. While the introduction of the bill is commendable, there appears to be little will at the executive level to prosecute the regime that has literally killed hundreds of thousands of its own people. Rather, some rumors suggest the Biden administration might actually be toying with the idea of normalizing ties.
One cannot blame the despotic rulers of the Middle East for their about-turn regarding the Assad regime. First, they are not bastions of democracy themselves (though not genocidal either). Second, they took their cue from successive American administrations, who were least interested in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Feeling abandoned, and facing pressure from China and Russia, the rulers could only resist so much. The Arab street, of course, does not agree with this normalization but they cannot do much about it.
It is now widely known that the Obama administration preferred Iran deal over seeking redressal of Syrian atrocities. Iran, which has been the main backer of the Assad regime from day one, has exploited the inaction to its full advantage. Its Shia proxies, including Hezbollah, have often led the massacres, ethnic cleansings and other crimes against humanity. Russia filled whatever gaps were left in this sick dance of death, flattening entire cities and displacing millions.
All of these crimes against humanity should have warranted a concerted global effort for justice, but instead we got appeasement from the governments and praise from the “anti-imperialist” left. The Trump administration does not need much elaboration here, for its isolationist, America-first policy only emboldened the Assad regime.
The Biden administration appears to be following the Obama doctrine on Syria, ignoring the mounting evidence of war crimes. It would also have doubled down on the Iran appeasement policy, had it not been for the brave citizens of Iran who have thronged the streets to challenge repression.
In sum, performative actions like tabling a resolution on Syria won’t work. This is not to disrespect the intentions of the good Congress members. They might have genuine intentions to help Syrians, but they can only go so far. It all boils down to executive will, which has been non-existent for a long time.
Despite the gloom, this is not the end of the road. Syrians should no longer be allowed to suffer in silence. There is only one option left: taking it to the main street to fight for justice. A sustained grassroots movement for bringing the perpetrators to justice is the only way forward.
Photo by Ahmed akacha