The Situation in Syria: An Analysis of the Role of External Groups and Sovereignty

As the civil war in Syria rages on, the international community faces a situation reminiscent of the one in Libya, where an unelected and largely foreign-backed group, the Syrian National Council (SNC), claims to represent the opposition forces. These individuals, many of whom are from outside Syria, assert that they are protecting the unarmed citizens of Syria and the country's resources.

It has been reported that the Syrian Opposition's Transitional National Council, led by Burhan Ghalioun, is an unelected body. Ghalioun, a professor of political sociology at the University of Paris, is of Syrian-French descent and currently resides in France. Notably, the creation of the SNC was announced not within Syria, but in Istanbul, Turkey. The full list of its members can be found here.

It is crucial for Western countries, along with the global community, to critically assess the statements issued by Syrian exiles in France, Turkey, the USA, Canada, and across the Middle East and Africa.

The uprisings that swept across the Arab world—often referred to as the "Arab Spring"—along with the civil war in Libya and the anarchist movements in Egypt, reveal two key objectives: the establishment of Sharia law as the state religion and the pursuit of control over the nation’s oil resources. The Arabic term "Sharia" translates to "a path to the water hole," and, in the contemporary context, it might be more aptly interpreted as a path to the oil resources.

Syria's oil and gas reserves remain a closely guarded secret under its government. At present, Syria produces approximately 401,000 barrels of oil per day, significantly less than the 662,600 barrels per day produced by Egypt, and far below the 1.789 million barrels per day produced by Libya. While oil production is relatively modest compared to these nations, it is still a vital resource.

Other groups, such as the Syrian American Council and the Free Syrian Army (FSA), which consists largely of defectors from the Syrian military, must also be considered. The phenomenon of military desertion is likely rooted in both clan affiliations and radical Islamic ideologies. When former soldiers abandon their posts, don masks, and engage in violent acts against their former comrades, they are committing treason. These individuals have betrayed the very people they once swore to protect, undermining the stability of the nation.

These deserters, by their actions, are subject to the laws of military justice. The international community must hold them accountable for their treasonous acts and killings. The United Nations and other entities that condone such actions, based on the belief that the elected Syrian government has "lost its legitimacy," essentially endorse the actions of an armed group attempting to overthrow a duly elected government. Such declarations are tantamount to a call for war by deserters against their legitimate government.

It is worth noting that only Libya and Egypt have formally recognized the SNC, two nations that themselves have experienced significant turmoil due to external interference during the Arab uprisings, leading to mob rule and anarchy.

Furthermore, the government of Turkey, which has a history of conflicts with the Kurds, Greece, Israel, and Iraq, has recently threatened to cut off electricity supplies to the Syrian people. This action is a violation of international law and the principles of human rights, as outlined in the United Nations Charter. Similarly, the economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other nations against Syria's government and people are equally problematic.

Given the experiences in Egypt and Libya, it is clear that the formation of unelected opposition groups and their recognition by external forces is detrimental to the stability of the region. Now, more than ever, it is imperative for the United Nations and its member states to adhere to the principles laid out in the UN Charter, which explicitly states that the organization should not intervene in matters that fall within the domestic jurisdiction of any state.

The ongoing civil war in Syria is a domestic issue, and it is time for external actors—including France, Turkey, the United States, Canada, Libya, Egypt, Iran, and displaced Palestinian groups—to cease interfering in Syria’s internal affairs.