Writer Mathew Tamasi weighs in on Syria’s recent use of chemical weapons
By: MATHEW TAMASI
Staff Writer
Syria’s recent use of chemical weapons has made everyone more aware of “the red line.” The red line refers to the United Nations’ international rules. I like the idea of banning things worldwide if it deserves to be banned, but I think the U.N.’s red line needs to be updated or removed. Why are concentration camps not more offensive than using chemical weapons? It is well known that North Korea has many political prisoner camps where people are slaved and tortured. Why is there no call for strikes against North Korea? I would rather be killed by a chemical weapon and slowly die a miserable death than live in a concentration camp my whole life and get tortured for breaking any rules. The real reason is North Korea would be a messy conflict, while Syria is torn apart by civil war, making a quick strategic strike a lot easier.
Even though countries like North Korea get away with horrible crimes, Syria gets targeted because more people can get behind banning chemical weapons for some reason. The last time chemical weapons were used in 1988 by Saddam Hussein, no one did anything. Chemical weapons are hard to use properly in warfare, and the way they kill people is horrific, so the idea of banning them is understandable, but people are not paying attention to the more horrible things going on. Even though Syria was targeted and threatened, there was a lot of controversy even within the countries that were ready to take action against Syria.
Why do we have these rules if enforcing them is optional? If the U.N.wants to have international law, then they need to target all the atrocities happening in the world, not just the ones that are easy to fix. Personally, I think it would be cool if the UN combined its forces and made sure all outstanding crimes against humanity were avenged. Unfortunately, I do not think this would be possible, which is why I think the United Nations would be better off giving up the idea of international law, and simply do its best to keep the peace.
