Heart Breaking: As Syria Burns the Liberal World Order Watches On

Published February 22nd, 2018 - 01:33 GMT

Article 1 of the UN Charter reads: "To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace."

As the United Nations, United States and Security Council watch on, the Syrian tragedy continues - a contained conflict, dipping in and out of the headlines, destroying lives every single day. From the relative calm of our office in Amman, its almost difficult to fathom that less that three hours away by car the suburbs of Damscus (E. Ghouta) are being bombed, while Pro-Assad forces enter Afrin to confront Turkey.

Where is the "Liberal World Order"? When will the Syria situation, which began in March 2011, finally be resolved? Are the world's international institutions capable of providing leadership, given the images below?

 

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Blinded and seriously injured, baby Karim Abdallah becomes a symbol of Eastern Ghouta Siege /AFP

Parents in Syria's Ghouta search for children both dead and alive. /AFP Hamza Al-Ajweh

A rebel holdout under siege /AFP Ammar SULEIMAN

A makeshift hospital in Kafr Batna in Eastern Ghouta region, Feb 21st 2018 /AFP Amer ALMOHIBANY

Despite rebel shelling, students head back to high-school /AFP LOUAI BESHARA

Ring a Ring o' Roses? Legend says the song originally described the plague, specifically the Great Plague of London, or the Black Death. /AFP OMAR HAJ KADOUR

Not fit for purpose? The United Nations watches on. /AFP File

In April 2016, the United Nations and Arab League Envoy to Syria put out an estimate of 400,000 that had died in the war. /AFP Tal Cohen

Blinded and seriously injured, baby Karim Abdallah becomes a symbol of Eastern Ghouta Siege /AFP
Parents in Syria's Ghouta search for children both dead and alive. /AFP Hamza Al-Ajweh
 A rebel holdout under siege /AFP Ammar SULEIMAN
A makeshift hospital in Kafr Batna in Eastern Ghouta region, Feb 21st 2018 /AFP Amer ALMOHIBANY
Despite rebel shelling, students head back to high-school /AFP LOUAI BESHARA
Ring a Ring o' Roses? Legend says the song originally described the plague, specifically the Great Plague of London, or the Black Death. /AFP OMAR HAJ KADOUR
Not fit for purpose? The United Nations watches on. /AFP File
In April 2016, the United Nations and Arab League Envoy to Syria put out an estimate of 400,000 that had died in the war. /AFP Tal Cohen
Blinded and seriously injured, baby Karim Abdallah becomes a symbol of Eastern Ghouta Siege /AFP
Blinded and seriously injured, baby Karim Abdallah becomes a symbol of Eastern Ghouta Siege /AFP
Parents in Syria's Ghouta search for children both dead and alive. /AFP Hamza Al-Ajweh
Parents in Syria's Ghouta search for children both dead and alive. /AFP Hamza Al-Ajweh
 A rebel holdout under siege /AFP Ammar SULEIMAN
A rebel holdout under siege /AFP Ammar SULEIMAN
A makeshift hospital in Kafr Batna in Eastern Ghouta region, Feb 21st 2018 /AFP Amer ALMOHIBANY
A makeshift hospital in Kafr Batna in Eastern Ghouta region, Feb 21st 2018 /AFP Amer ALMOHIBANY
Despite rebel shelling, students head back to high-school /AFP LOUAI BESHARA
Despite rebel shelling, students head back to high-school /AFP LOUAI BESHARA
Ring a Ring o' Roses? Legend says the song originally described the plague, specifically the Great Plague of London, or the Black Death. /AFP OMAR HAJ KADOUR
Ring a Ring o' Roses? Legend says the song originally described the plague, specifically the Great Plague of London, or the Black Death. /AFP OMAR HAJ KADOUR
Not fit for purpose? The United Nations watches on. /AFP File
Not fit for purpose? The United Nations watches on. /AFP File
In April 2016, the United Nations and Arab League Envoy to Syria put out an estimate of 400,000 that had died in the war. /AFP Tal Cohen
In April 2016, the United Nations and Arab League Envoy to Syria put out an estimate of 400,000 that had died in the war. /AFP Tal Cohen

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