West must not dictate
THE condemnation by the South African government for the bombing of Syria is justified because interventionist policies from the West have again failed in the Middle East.
It’s time for us together with the rest of the world to step up and offer nonmilitary solutions.
It goes without saying that the use of chemical weapons is a horrific crime. But we do not know the full story of what happened in Douma and there seems little interest among the pro-interventionists asking basic questions, or in allowing the UN to lead an investigation.
We have been here before with the lies that led to the Iraq war, but that precedent does not seem to deter western leaders, as they seek yet again to rush to claim the moral high ground.
Non-Western countries must recognise that by turning a blind eye, they relegate themselves to second-tier players. It is rather astounding that after the failure in Iraq and Libya, the West has chosen military intervention again, what is just as disappointing is that the rest of the world continues to turn a blind eye.
It is time for non-Western countries to recognise that by not getting proactively involved in international diplomatic efforts on these big issues, they relegate themselves to second-tier players, and allow Western leaders to define what “appropriate” and “responsible” actions are.
But while governments, as well as individuals across Africa and Asia, are frustrated and angered by self-serving Western actions, most remain silent.
And without alternative initiatives and engagement from non-Western actors, the West ends up monopolising the discussion. It is now time for politicians and diplomats in other parts of the world to seize the initiative and stop accepting their second-class status in the affairs of the world.
Western nations may resist the erosion of their influence. Remember how the West dismissed the brokering initiative of the AU in Libya and instead resorted to military intervention?
It is a firmly held view in Western political and diplomatic circles that the rest of the world is unqualified to play any role in such crises.
And in allowing the West to dictate terms is last century’s norm. Sol Asmal Cape Town