Washington
(AsiaNews) - "What happens
in Syria will resonate across the region and multiple dimensions... What these countries need is a figure
that will lead them towards a more tolerant society". This is the opinion of Philip J. Crowley,
former assistant and spokesman for the U.S. State Department and now a
professor at George Washington University. He served the
Obama administration from 2009 to 2011 . Interviewed
by AsiaNews, the U.S. diplomat describes possible future scenarios and the
consequences of the attack on Damascus planned by the United States with the
support of Great Britain , France, Turkey , Canada and the Arab League.
"In
Syria - says Crowley - there is more than one war being waged. There is the
conflict between the Assad regime and the Free Syrian Army, a proxy war between
Iran and Saudi Arabia, a shadow war between Israel and Hezbollah and al Qaeda's
war against the prevailing Arab order and the West. Obviously what happens in
Syria will resonate across the region and multiple dimensions. "
Added
to these regional problems is struggle between Russia and the United States for
hegemony in the Middle East. "Over the past 35 years, a number of regional
governments who were former Soviet client states have strengthened their
relationships with the United States at Russia's expense. This animates
President Putin's approach to Syria. Russia also has a deeply held belief that
regimes should not be overthrown by force and what happens with the internal
affairs of a country is none of the international community's business". According
to the former State Department employee, after the effects of the war in Libya,
Russia is determined to avoid a similar way out in Syria. "The
United States - he explains - believe that Assad has lost his legitimacy given
the mounting death toll and now the use of chemical weapons. The two countries
just look at Syria and reach different conclusions about the implications".
When
asked about the strengthening of al- Qaeda after 10 years of the fight against
terrorism, conducted first by George W. Bush
and continued by Obama, Crowley answered by quoting the results obtained in
recent years , but also admits mistakes, the high human and economic toll and
unforeseen scenarios . " I think, for
example, the present situation in Libya and in South Sahara - he explains -Ultimately this is a
struggle within Islam. More and more Islamic leaders have rejected al Qaeda's
narrow interpretation of a great religion. This is the struggle that counts the
most. The United States is trying to help counties strengthen their ability to
deal with al Qaeda off-shoots themselves. We can help but cannot do it by
ourselves. What we have done has been broadly effective, but it comes with high
costs and some unintended consequences".
For
the future of the Middle East, the former spokesman for the State Department is
hoping for a political transformation of the countries of the Arab Spring , to
allow the inclusion of all members of society, especially religious minorities.
To
obtain this result, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya are in need of moderate leaders
supported by the population, but so far no politician seems to have the
appropriate skills and consensus. " Right now - he says - the post-Arab Spring
Middle East is governed by a zero-sum mentality. If you win, I lose. This is
tragic, but probably not all that surprising. What these countries need is a
Mandela-like figure to lead them towards a more tolerant, inclusive
positive-sum civil society. These figures have not yet emerged. Tragically,
positive change does not occur overnight. It will be the work of a generation"( S.C.)