Violence is not the path to world peace

Re Trump declares ‘Mission Accomplished’ in Syria but chemical weapons remain, April 14

The attack on Syria by the United States and its allies is a great misfortune for many. Throughout the world men, women and children are being killed, tortured and subjected to the most heartbreaking cruelties.

Instead of shooting missiles in response to violence, we need to take a peaceful approach. Violence will not end violence — it only fuels the fire.

We, as well as the superpowers of the world, need to take a step back and realize the impact this is having on the world, or else it may be too late. Sahill Bajwa, Toronto

In the midst of political and societal unrest, where conversations condemning the ideological enemy of Islam is rife, hopeful leaders beckon the world toward reason.

For there to be international peace, nations have to deal with each other with justice. The U.S. attack bordered more on the aggressive than otherwise, pushing the world closer to unimaginable conflict.

So yes, President Donald Trump: “mission accomplished.” Murtaz Riaz, Toronto

War is not the solution to the crisis in Syria, but, neither is inaction. Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, has rightly stated that the ideal solution would be to stop the funding and arming of extremists who promote regime overthrow.

We need to stop pretending that these bombings carried out by the West won’t harm civilians. When has war ever restored peace? It only leads to more unrest and breeds more war.

Fifteen years after the Iraq invasion, we are now realizing that we were in the wrong. The same thing is happening with Syria and it seems that we haven’t learned anything from the past.

It is clear that blocks are being formed between countries and this makes a third world war imminent. In order for there to be international peace, nations must deal with each other with justice.

Otherwise, mankind is seemingly at the brink of a nuclear war. Fasih Malik, Calgary

Re How Syria came to be the most dangerous place on Earth, Walkom, April 14

What Thomas Walkom fails to note in his column is that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism failed to be renewed in 2017. Reason: Russia did not vote in favour of its renewal. The problem now is that even if the OPCW does find evidence of a chemical attack in Douma, it is not able to identify which party is responsible.

Syria may be a disaster, as Walkom states. But it is imperative during times of disaster for civilian lives to be placed front and centre in political discourse.

It is also the responsibility of journalists and civil society to demand that all parties fully comply with international humanitarian law. A political stalemate is not an excuse for political apathy, nor an excuse to stop demanding accountability from international actors. Kaitlyn Majesky, Toronto

With deep regret, we see Canada acquiescing to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decisions. Canada’s foreign policy should be determined in Ottawa based on Canadian interests, not in Washington according to the whims of an unstable president. These actions will have unintended consequences, and Canada should avoid participating. Mashoud Nasseri, Richmond Hill

Let’s look at some numbers.

Doctors Without Borders estimates that 10,000 Rohingya have been killed in Burma as of December.

CNN claims 400,000 Syrians have been killed since the beginning of the seven-year civil war.

BBC says about 40 citizens were killed in a gas attack last week, allegedly launched by the Assad regime.

The death of 40 now prompts the western powers to take action. What’s not making sense here? Alan Murray, New Dundee, Ont.