This is the disturbing world map of internally displaced people [refugees] in 2012 (link to map below)
Want to know what I see when I look at it? …The shame of BALKANS! Why you ask?
Perhaps because I am a proud Czech American and thus have closer to European affairs.
No wonder!
I was a part of the Velvet Revolution in than-Czechoslovakia, I spent 3,5-hrs every day on a bus to and from Prague so I could demonstrate on Venceslav Square demanding the departure of the Communist party from power, I spoke up fiercely and alone at meetings when discussing course of actions in removing still-to-power-clenching communist leadership at my brand new place of work and town, I was a party to democratic political changes, city institutional reforms and democratization process of a medium-size town in Czech Republic.
I have always been involved in Czech political affairs, and because in the future I want to serve my people who so deserve learned leadership, I dutifully researched democratization process and studied politics, women’s studies, global health, regional development and administration at american universities – yes, at the seat of democracy.
Also, I was lucky enough to have a couple of internships at the European Parliament (EP), I know wonderful hardworking people there, but I’ve also seen the massive bureaucracy and the European Union (EU) machine led by Eurocrats, NOT by democratically elected leaders responsible and accountable to their people. So my interest seeing this map rests with Syria, as I worry about a possible slide to the 1990’s disaster and utter European disgrace in the Balkans.
While I understand the region maps and I know that Syria is farther away than the Balkans, since the region is clearly not under the American influence and due to the Monroe Doctrine the U.S. does not even put ‘boots on the ground’ in the vicinity, it stands to reason it falls under the European influence – since the region in question had been under the French influence in modern history. In 1920, a League of Nations gave France a mandate to administer the region of Syria & Lebanon. France divided Syria into administrative regions under the disguises of “decentralizing” government only to keep its power and influence over a strategically important piece of real estate. At last, France proclaimed Syria’s independence in 1941.
Fast forward 70 years and you are the beginning of this bloody and catastrophic civil war conflict where more than 2.4 million people were displaced in Syria by 2012, with another almost million people expected to flee this year (up to half a million by June 2013) and all be absorbed by Lebanon, Turkey & Jordan. This is tragic.
Only if and when Russia will get some brain power, and only after Putin
will stop computing how it will best serve him and only him, only then the UN Security Council (UN SC) can agree on a Resolution and a course of action by invoking Article 42 of its Charter stating that “if peaceful means have not succeeded in obtaining adherence to Security Council decisions,
it may take such action by air, sea or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security” (link to the UN Charter below)
Only then, and without the UN SC Permanent Members Russia and China Vetos, can the Security Council authorize the use of force allowing intervention and ‘boots on the ground’.
Now, whose boots and how it will be financed is another question…
What always disturbed me, ever since the massacres in the 1990’s at the Balkans, is the absolute inability, ineptness, and the total lack of any (real!) interest of the EU in these events.
As an European, it is simply unthinkable for me to comprehend they are still unable to get their committees moving fast enough – or at all, not sure – in order to
put their efforts together and lead or spearhead this (or any) effort!
The absurdity of this situation is that they do have time to pass stupid and useless EU legislations, such as banning calling Czech rum Rum (just using a simple example)!
What a waste of institutions, waste of time, and waste of so much money!
This is how it looks when the U.S. is not leading the world’s police action anymore. And for the world, get used to this! This is how it will look in the future when the U.S. is no longer the world police dog. Sorry, you can’t have it both ways.
People are dying and being massacred by their own government, 3 million refugees are exhausting the human, financial and material resources of neighboring countries, and we are sitting at home on our couches and are even bored to watch it on the nightly news.
I am NOT saying the U.S. should invade Syria, god no! I am simply calling for a real and constructive political effort to mobilize the international community, or in the instance of EU + EP [as this region falls in their influence because it is certainly not under American influence] – at least, mobilize your own community, the very community that pays your salaries and benefits(!) and help some people in need! People that, in fact, do not live that far away from the EU borders! (…yes, it is little far, but I am making a point here. The U.S. is way farther away….)
My Conclusion and the Balkans connection:
The catastrophic vision of history repeating itself not that far away from European borders, while “she” continues in her complete obsession with its rivalry between Germany and France, by Great Britain’s refusal to conform to almost any EU rule, all the way to Germany and France’s almost totalitarian rule over the new EU Member States, Czech Republic included, may indeed preclude the EU powers that be in recognizing an opportunity to strike and deliver an actual humanitarian help, action or initiative; an initiative that in the long run could prove to bring a great political capital and economic benefit for the EU.
Why is it that nobody sees or recognizes this… ?!?
Maybe they do – but that brings us back to the Eurocrats who are ruling their committees and all EU’s actions.
So Syrian refugees, tough luck!
See how Europe got to that deep black hole of shame when (not)dealing with the Balkan conflict?
It took, yes you guessed it, an American President, who mindful of the Monroe Doctrine, did not meddle into European affairs, used NATO, and did not put any boots on the ground. He sent air strikes.
P.S.
…Oh, and by the way, who was it that for past 2 years was working hard behind the scenes as not to look like the leader of this effort and sent millions in aid just few weeks ago? Yeah, Hillary and the U.S.
So, the score so far is Clinton and Clinton 1 : EU 0
marketa houskova |Educate Influence Make a Difference 