Trouble in Syria has been raging for a while now, but six days after the chemical attack which killed 355 civilians there (the figures come from Doctors Without Borders), the Maltese government has briefly snapped out of holiday mode, put down its cocktail, got off its sun-bed and released a statement....then picked up its cocktail again and returned to its sun-bed.
We were told that the government is “shocked” at what has happened. We were also treated to the perspicacious observation that “the war in Syria has burdened many citizens and created a humanitarian crisis in neighbouring states as refugees flee”. Because, what do you know, we don’t read the news and need a statement released through the Department of Information to keep us abreast of events.
The government statement goes on, telling us that chemical weapons have been “condemned the world over for nearly 100 years” – a fascinating way of putting it; you can imagine somebody sitting at his desk trying to track down the first recorded instance of a condemnation of chemical weapons, and shouting “Sibta, Chalie!” Oh, and the government also told us, just in case we were born yesterday and spent the interim in an isolated cave in the middle of a Borneo jungle, that there “is agreement that such weapons should never be used in conflict” but regrets that there is “no agreement on what course of action the UN should take”. UN members, our government said, should “reach an agreement based on a mature debate which weighs all short and long term effects of such measures”. The Maltese government is “conscious of the effect of any measure on a region already drowning in problems”. I had a brief cringe at that literal translation from Maltese, but there you go: l-aqwa li nerqu fil-problemi.
In any case, we have been reassured that Malta will be “closely following development, taking part in the discussions in international fora” – presumably if the key persons in question can tear themselves away from their vacations – and “in the fight against the use of chemical weapons according to Malta’s international obligations”.
I don’t know about you, but that statement sounds like a half-hearted exercise in fence-sitting to me. Six days after the chemical attack, somebody must have thought (or had it suggested to him) that something had better be said and that the Maltese government can’t carry on pretending that Syria isn’t happening.
The fact of the matter is that the United States and its allies, including Britain, could well attack Syria within days. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has said that US forces are “ready to go” with the support of European and Middle Eastern allies. The poison gas attack was the trigger for this reaction, and President Bashir Al-Assad denial has obviously not been believed. Something like that could not have happened without his say-so.
Last Monday in Istanbul, Syrian opposition leaders were told by diplomats from states angered by Syria’s attacks on civilians that there will be action to stop further attacks, and that the Syrian opposition should prepare for peace talks in Geneva.
Washington has said already that it holds Assad responsible for a "moral obscenity" for which he will be held to account. Russia, which supplies arms to President Assad, and Malta’s new best friend, China, are objecting, which could have influenced the Maltese government’s delayed and ineffectual statement. It will be interesting to see whether Malta dances to China’s tune on this one.
Even the Arab League has issued a statement far stronger in every way to Malta’s, holding Assad's government responsible for the chemical attack. In Saudi Arabia, the Syrian rebels' leading regional sponsor is the foreign minister (who will soon be encountering Malta’s brand-new octogenarian ambassador to that state). He has called for "a decisive and serious stand by the international community to stop the humanitarian tragedy of the Syrian people."
The BBC asked Chuck Hagel whether the US is ready to strike Syria “just like that”, and he responded: "We are ready to go, like that. We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfil and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take.”
Turkey has called Syria’s poisoning of civilians a "crime against humanity" and said that it demands an international reaction. The Syrian government has continued with its denials but yet obstructs United Nations inspectors.
Cameron’s response has been slightly more cautious, saying that there should be “an appropriate level of retribution for using chemical weapons”. Of course, that can be interpreted either way. "Our forces are making contingency plans," his spokesman told the press, saying that the response would be "proportionate".
Whether or not China is on our tail and has bought our loyalty with promises of a free report on a bridge and heaven alone knows what else, it’s time for some strong moral language of our own. It’s incredible the way we always end up sounding so very wet and lily-livered and, under this particular government, like people who are just slightly disapproving of what our friends are doing. Compare to the US Secretary of State, who said: "President Obama believes there must be accountability for those who would use the world's most heinous weapons against the world's most vulnerable people. The indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons is a moral obscenity ... And despite the excuses and equivocations that some have manufactured, it is undeniable."
It’s not going to be pretty. Damascus says it will hit back if attacked. Syria’s foreign minister said: "We have means of defending ourselves, and we will surprise them with these if necessary. We will defend ourselves. We will not hesitate to use any means available."