The recent Russian proposal, for Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons to be destroyed by an international body such as the United Nations, has been welcomed by the government of Syria.
Many skeptics around the world, trusting neither the Russians nor the Syrians, are suspecting many loopholes, but if the proposal ever comes to fruition then the presidents of Russia and Syria would likely be candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize.
This may seem somewhat outlandish, until we recall that 2009’s Prize was handed to none other than President Barack Obama for his soaring rhetoric in the previous year’s presidential campaign.
During that time he promised to end wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, and approach world problems completely differently from his unpopular predecessor, George W. Bush.
In his 2009 inauguration address, Obama pledged to replace the clenched fist with an open hand to those who disagreed with U.S. foreign policy.
For weeks now there have been threats and rumors of threats of war and rumors of war coming from the White House, all aimed at Syria, the rogue state not complying with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which has been ratified by 189 countries.
Never mentioned is that leading U.S. allies Israel and Egypt are among only seven countries who have not ratified the UN Treaty.
Before scoffing at the thought of Russian and Syrian presidents sharing the coveted Peace Prize, maybe readers of The NEWS should remember that it was instituted in the name of Alfred Nobel, who, as the inventor of dynamite and one of the world’s largest manufacturer of armaments, had earned the unwelcomed soubriquet of “Merchant Of Death.”
We should also remember that actions speak louder than words
Bernie Smith
Parksville