Shameful int’l reaction

There has been yet another chemical attack in Syria, this time on Douma in Eastern Ghouta. Bombs dropped by helicopters were seen conducting the attack. Reports say that no less than 80-90 people died in the attack, many of them children.

The TV images on the attack cannot hide what has happened. Yet, the same scenario on the use of chemical weapons is being repeated. Damascus denies any such attack and Russia is backing up the Syrian denial.

The question that remains is how many more chemical attacks must be waged before the rhetorical condemnation of the deployment of chemical weapons in Syria invites a more determined action by powerful capitals, especially those which issued clearly worded warnings to Damascus against the use of chemical weapons.

Damascus is in a hurry to finish up whatever is left of opposition in Eastern Ghouta and, as usual, nothing is off limit to pursue this goal. Moscow is, as usual, standing by Damascus no matter what.

In the eyes of Moscow, Damascus can do no evil. Pure and simple. This outrageous serial must end, but how.

The US Department of State issued a statement in the aftermath of the recent attack, saying that the world must stop chemical attacks in the future. In other words what is done is done!

Of course, such a statement, and similar ones coming from other major capitals, do not and will not end the carnage in Syria. This shameful international reaction will not go unnoticed or without a price.

Last year, US President Donald Trump reacted swiftly to a similar attack by ordering a missile attack on the Syrian base from which the chemical attack had originated. This time, Trump is not only silent, but he has repeated what he declared a few days ago, that he wants to wash the US’ hands off the Syrian conflict. Let's leave the Syrian mess to others, he said.

Well, if that is not an invitation to Damascus and its backers to do what they choose to do in Syria, we do not know what is. So much for the credibility of the US.