Ancient cities and World Heritage sites across Syria have been turned into wastelands of blood-soaked rubble littered with infants' shoes and toys. Almost 300,000 Syrians have been killed and 11 million displaced. If there is one person to blame for the four-year-long tragedy it is Bashar Al-Assad, who instructed his army to slaughter his own citizens rather than heed his people's call to step down. He put his chair before his country and he is responsible for the influx of terrorists. Al-Assad is the greatest war criminal of our time, and as long as he is in Russia's embrace he can sleep soundly. He is assured of immunity because, firstly, Syria is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and, secondly, he is confident that the United Nations Security Council cannot refer him to The Hague thanks to Russia's power of veto. Russia makes a mockery of international laws and institutions set-up to hold leaders to account for crimes against humanity.
What concerns me most is how impotent the international community has become, both diplomatically and militarily. Al-Assad's future is being used as a bargaining chip in this disgraceful geopolitical power play in which Syrian lives are considered collateral damage.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's defence of Al-Assad has nothing to do with warm personal chemistry between the two leaders. His longevity is dependent purely on his usefulness to Moscow's interests:
* Preservation of Russia's naval base in the port of Tatus – its only deep water base on the Mediterranean.
* Compliance with the demands of Russia's prime regional ally Iran seeking to maintain Syrian state control over the capital, the Mediterranean coast and areas of central Syria serving as a conduit for Iranian weapons destined for its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah.
* The necessity of proving to Moscow's allies that they will not be abandoned when the chips are down and also to encourage regional partners allied with the West to shift into Russia's sphere of influence.
* Projection of Russian power in the Middle East through the agency of an informal Russian-Syrian-Iranian (and a potential Iraqi) bloc.
Unfortunately, President Barack Obama's hesitancy to stop the bloodshed some years ago following the regime's use of chemical weapons, the ineffectiveness of year-long US-led coalition airstrikes against "Islamic State" and his unwillingness to put boots on the ground left a vacuum for Russia to fill. Obama's ‘Syria strategy' has been marked by failure. America's programmes to train and arm ‘moderate' rebels have had to be binned because without heavy weapons they were no match for the better-armed terrorist groups. Since Russia seized the initiative, the US is trying to play catch up with ramped up airstrikes and the insertion of a 50-strong contingent of Special Forces set to work alongside Kurdish and Arab fighters battling "Islamic State". The White House has no plans to assist opposition forces fighting to bring down the Al-Assad regime, as deduced by an irate Senator Lindsey Graham recently while grilling Secretary of Defence Ash Carter and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford on the administration's objectives during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing recently. Western leaders, including President Obama, have at one time or another affirmed that Al-Assad is the problem and insisted he must step down. But in light of Russia's military intervention, they are softening their stance, suggesting the Syrian President can take part in a transition leading to a transitional government in which top regime figures will be free to participate.
Syrians have given their blood and sacrificed their parents and children to be free from a tyrannical regime. They have a right to a say in their future, but they have been shut out of negotiations. Not a single Syrian was invited to participate in the recent talks in Vienna, not even as an observer. The foreign ministers of 16 countries, including the enemy of Arab states Iran, sat around the table to discuss Syria's destiny. It was a complete waste of time as some attendees were only there to block any progress.
Iran, the biggest threat to regional stability, was dignified with an invitation. That should have been a warning. It had no intention of compromising, evidenced by its verbal attacks on Saudi Arabia, which the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian accused of playing "a negative role", while threatening Iran's withdrawal from the peace efforts should they be found to be unconstructive. Good riddance!
Syrians will be able to choose their next government at the ballot box, according to US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who told reporters after their bilateral meeting that all Syrians both inside and outside the country – including refugees – will get a vote. Is this a joke? How can they propose something so ludicrous? It is likely to be years before free and fair elections can be held. Let us not forget that regime barrel bombs still fall and over 40 terrorist and militant groups control large swathes of Syrian territory. Syrians need closure before they can move forward with a process of forgiveness and reconciliation. The idea that Al-Assad will be permitted to walk scot-free and enjoy a life of luxury in Tehran is unacceptable for those who have lost everything at his hands. Too much time has been wasted and worryingly we now know that the idea of an "international community" is just a meaningless concept. Self-serving countries trumpeting their values while juggling for influence and gain without real concern for humanity translates to our world having evolved into a dog-eat-dog planet, where those with the biggest bombs rule.
Khalaf Al Habtoor is a businessman and chairman of Al Habtoor Group. Al Habtoor Group is a Dubai based cooperation with extensive business interests in the region and worldwide, including: hospitality, education, automotive and real estate.
