For many thousands of Syrian refugees, Malta has become a haven as they fled the conflict in Syria which has been raging since 2011. Many of these refugees have settled in Malta and have established businesses locally.
The current situation in Syria may not at all be inviting for many of them to return to their country.
What mainstream media feeds its audience about the overthrown of regimes needs to be properly researched and sifted with a fine toothcomb and surely not taken at face value. News items must be examined from a historic geo-political and socio-economic perspective. The religious aspect must also not be sidelined for a clearer big picture of events.
Poor news coverage
News coverage is often poorly presented in many instances by mainstream media and the public is mostly ill-served as misreporting and disinformation with the absence of coverage of key polices. Most people are in the dark and are not in a position or prepared to be proactive in acting in their own interests to bring about a wholly different foreign policy.
This lack of media attention has been focused upon by Mark Curtis, the author of the book titled, 'Secret Affairs: Britain's Collusion with Radical Islam'. Using Curtis's approach and focusing on the recent overthrow of President Assad in Syria requires a deeper evaluation than that the one presented on the main news channels.
Superpower interests
The interests of the superpowers in the region cannot be ignored if an unbiased exposition of the present happenings is to be presented. Also, the mentality of the Arab mindset and culture is also required for a better understanding of collective behaviours.
It is evident that the interests of the United States (US) in the Middle East region are enormous. Syria alone is a stepping stone's distance to Russia. Hence, strategically speaking the US would be in a better position to influence the region if it has a stronger foothold in Syria. Citing one example, the current Russian naval and air force bases in Syria might be gone soon to the US's advantage.
Nationalism versus secularism and organised chaos
Another aspect that needs not to be overlooked is the Arab mentality in dealing with democracy. Experience has shown that where fundamentalist and radical factions exist only the strong hand of a dictator can stop a country from spiralling down in the social, economic and political chaos. We have seen this in Libya and Iraq. When dictators are overthrown, these countries find themselves in a much more serious predicament as civil war and unrest becomes the order of the day.
Although Al-Assad's departure is being celebrated by the rebels liberating Syria, the country was the only one in the region that allowed Christians to celebrate Christmas in the streets. Syria has among the oldest Christian communities in the world and is often described as, 'a cradle of Christianity'. Moreover, Christians were allowed to run orphanages and convents to live without fear. There is now uncertainty for Christians after Al-Assad.
The position of Christians will be precarious if the rebels call in Nationalism and Islamism which is practically the ideology of the Taliban and Hamas. Al-Assad, generally advocated for a secular regime, promoting a model that allows for some degree of religious pluralism within the framework of a secular state.
Mark Curtis argues that the British state has supported Islamic extremists since the early 20th century to further their foreign policy goals in the Muslim world. He claims that Britain's policies in the region, 'have been generally aimed at maintaining in power or installing governments that will promote Western-friendly oil policies.' Curtis also laments on the lack of media coverage of Britain's support for Syrian opposition in the ongoing civil war in Syria. Many times, Syrian opposition were used as stooges for Britain and the US. Hence terrorism and radical groups often serve the interests of Western powers in the region to ensure their interests in the region. There is now the danger that the rebels controlling Syria would join with terrorist groups in the area.
Possible outcomes for Syria
Although the future of Syria and the region are unpredictable, one may assert that several possible outcomes can be considered.
If Iran increases its position to acquire nuclear weaponry, Israel may attack Iran and this could cascade into a wider war and even a world war with the involvement of Russia and North Korea and Iran on one side and the US, NATO and Israel on the other.
Another possibility is that the rebels controlling Syria can become an existential threat against Isreal, drawing the US and the West into the conflict.
While it is hoped that the rebels will seek to administer Syria in a responsible manner, Dr. Jim Denison in one of his daily articles (a special edition), titled, 'What does the Syrian conflict mean for the world?' states that one of the possible scenarios, which he titles as 'Scenario D', the following would hopefully come to pass:
- The rebels govern Syria responsibly
- Iran sees the folly of building a nuclear threat against Israel
- Russia, already embroiled in its invasion of Ukraine, decides to stay out of the conflict
- Israel can conclude is conflict with Hamas, rescuing the hostages and moving into a stable relationship with its Palestinian neighbours.
- Saudi Arabia then joins the Abraham Accords, helping to rebuild Gaza and create a 'new Middle East.'