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Diplomacy or military intervention in Syria? 7 opinions from around the globe.

It could quickly become an international crisis

  • By Whitney Eulich Staff writer

The Jordan Times
Opinion: Osama Al Sharif, political commentator and journalist in Amman
Secret war in Syria 

The New York Times recently reported CIA agents are working in Turkey to steer weapons toward potential arms recipients in Syria. In the absence of a foreseeable political exit from the 15-month-old Syrian crisis, this move may not come as a surprise, but the Obama administration's most recent efforts could have larger implications.

“[The] CIA’s involvement means that a secret war is now being waged between the US and its allies, on the one hand, and Syria and its backers, which include Iran and Hezbollah, on the other.”  But if Syrian violence explodes beyond its borders, the present divides could “could easily develop into an open warfare. This affects all parties including Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iran and Iraq....Arming the rebels will push the Syrian crisis to a new milestone that could lead to a protracted civil war.”

The Damascus regime is in control at the moment, but “[i]f the US decides to step up its involvement and provide the opposition with much more than non-lethal aid, Syria could quickly turn into an international crisis.”

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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