Syria -- Thirty Years Ago Seems Like Yesterday

Thirty years ago, the Syrian government headed by Hafez al-Assad launched an all out attack on the city of Hama, a stronghold of the Sunni opposition. Assad was an Alawaite Moslem as were the overwhelming majority of his government. Syria, however, is about 75% Sunni, and the Alawaites comprised only about 11% of the total population. (Most of the remainder are Druse.) Assad had decided to put an end to the opposition once and for all. During the weeks that followed, artillery and planes totally destroyed the city. After government forces finally came into the city, anyone believe to be part of the opposition was executed. The death toll was never known for sure, but it is estimated to have left between 10,000 and 40,000 people dead. It was the end of the opposition in Syria for decades.

Now, the Syrian dictator is Bashir al-Assad, the son of Hafez. He is trying to follow in his father's footsteps. Hama is once again a center of opposition. According to the Jerusalem Post, "this past week, dozens of prisoners were dumped throughout the city, shot in the head execution-style, an indication that Bashar Assad’s regime is trying to send a message reminiscent of his father’s deadly assault on the city."

Thirty years ago, the world was mostly silent as the slaughter went on. Syria was a client of the old Soviet Union, so the Cold War structures prevented action. The USSR protected Assad and did not care if he killed his own people. Now, the USSR is gone. The world has a chance to speak out against Assad and his murderers. Every day the killing just continues. Every day, we hear nothing from Washington. Obama is too busy campaigning to care about all these people being killed. Here's the question: As the USA, do we really believe that each man is endowed by his Creator with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, or is that just something we say? If people are being systematically deprived of their lives by a half crazed government in Syria, do we not have an obligation to speak out. We do not have to use military force, but we sure as hell have to say something. Where is Obama?