These hideous killings in Syria have got to stop.
But who’s going to stop them? And how?
Vicious thugs in that country have been shooting to death entire families in their homes, including babies and children. The photos are unspeakably awful – little children lying in pools of blood, massive bullet holes in their heads, their dead eyes open wide with the horror of what they had just witnessed. The butchers even killed every animal they found in the city.
What kind of fiends could do such atrocious acts?
These particular killings of at least 32 children happened in the Syrian city of Houla. The slaughter was apparently perpetrated by a militia loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. As usual, Assad said he bears no blame for that massacre and the many others that have taken place by murderous thugs. Assad also denies he has anything to do with the rampant imprisonment and torture of men, women and – yes – children. Such torture includes rapes, beatings and the use of electrical shocks. Such atrocities are attempts to intimidate the Syrians, most of whom want Assad toppled.
Assad is a vicious liar. He will do anything to retain his corrupted powers.
After the Holocaust during World War II, the outcry was “Never again!” But with sickening regularity, insane butchery keeps happening again and again. The United States and European countries cannot serve as constant police in this world, swatting down every homicidal dictator who comes down the path. It would be nice if we could.
In Syria, diplomacy has been tried; the United Nations has tried; a ceasefire was immediately broken by Assad and his henchmen. Although there are United Nations observers in Syria, there is nothing they can do to stop the bloodbath. Russia is a big part of the problem and is complicit in the killings because it has blocked international attempts to pressure Syria into stopping the violent rampages. Russia has trained Assad’s massive army and is supplying its arms.
Most European countries have expelled Syrian ambassadors and diplomats. Boycott measures are being taken. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is calling for the United States to arm the rebels fighting against the Assad regime. Some have called for immediate military intervention. The trouble is, the use of armed forces by other countries is likely to make the situation even worse.
It’s a sorry state of affairs when all the good people in this world have no choice but to stand back and watch helplessly as such unspeakable terrors take place. And what’s worse is dictators like Assad know that; they know our hands are tied.
We can only hope once Assad and his thugs are toppled – a certainty some sweet day – they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent for crimes against humanity.
Author: Dennis Dalman
Dalman was born and raised in South St. Cloud, graduated from St. Cloud Tech High School, then graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in English (emphasis on American and British literature) and mass communications (emphasis on print journalism). He studied in London, England for a year (1980-81) where he concentrated on British literature, political science, the history of Great Britain and wrote a book-length study of the British writer V.S. Naipaul. Dalman has been a reporter and weekly columnist for more than 30 years and worked for 16 of those years for the Alexandria Echo Press.