11, September
2015 Refugees
Pope Francis,
Angela Merkel, and the Austrian government have shown real leadership in
extending a warm welcome to refugees escaping conflict zones. Many ordinary Germans and Austrian Good
Samaritan families have demonstrated enormous compassion for those seeking
refuge. Thus far, the US. has admitted only 1,500 Syrian refugees. There is a
real danger that economic refugees seeking a better life might join the exodos
creating a stampede that is likely to overwhelm Western Nations generating
compassion fatigue or outright hostility. What
has largely been ignored is Saudi Arab’s deafening silence. They have a common religion, and enormous
wealth which would allow easy access to absorb a million refugees.
What can be
done to slow down the exodus?
Hundreds of
women in Syria are calling for a cease-fire, international protection and
evacuation of the wounded. At a minimum,
a no-fly zone should be created in the south of Syria to halt the devastating
impact of barrel-bombs. This could be enforced by U.S. Naval ships in the
Mediterranean. The no-fly zone would create pressure on the Syrian regime to
negotiate. “If they can’t use their aircraft, they will know they can’t
survive, and that will bring them to the negotiating table,” said Reza Afshar,
a former British diplomat.
Under pressure
from Putin, Assad has reluctantly agreed on power sharing. However unpalatable,
the U.S. should accept Russia’s role in bringing about a cease fire which could
lead to an end to hostilities.
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