TUNIS, Tunisia – Chemical weapons caught the interest of those in the developed world intent on finding an urgent solution for the civil war in Syria.
We cannot deny the fact that the war and death germinated in this area was fed by hatred, censorship, violence and abuse of human rights.
From my own prospective, in Tunisia, former President Ben Ali was ousted because of his corrupt government and nepotism.
The so-called Arab Spring marked the determination of people who were fed up with being slaves for a dreadful system.
Syrians are the same as Tunisians – on an infatuated search for democracy and liberty. These values and reasons for revolution are not only essential but fundamental.Belonging to the Muslim world, I really know how the war on the Taliban and terrorism– led by the United States Army in Iraq and Afghanistan – affected us.
Most of the Tunisian youth are against the U.S. intervention in Syria, as they believe that when the Americans depart, it will leave Syria worse than it is now, vulnerable to attacks by terrorists, much like what happened in Iraq.
This ghostly and not crystal-clear conflict involving jihadist rebellions, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s loyal military forces and so many other third parties only victimizes Syrians. These poor people are trapped in a ghoulish rivalry while a soundtrack of political speeches that are nothing more than gibberish plays in the background.
“War on terror” is like saying killing for peace is justifiable; though U.S. President Barack Obama promised that a strike on Syria wouldn’t be like America’s previous mistakes in the region.
As an exchange student in a program sponsored by the U.S. State Department, I learned that Americans are exhausted by increased taxes and that the country itself is overwhelmed with demands for reform of both the health care system and immigration policies.
I think the U.S. should not get involved in the masquerade in Syria as it will worsen the human tragedy already taking place. Syrians are the only ones who are going to pay if the U.S. military is involved in such gimmickry, even it is wrapped in peace and democracy.
Even the media in Tunisia focuses on the Syrian crisis as it relates directly to attracting youth to fight to topple Assad and his followers.
Meanwhile, many Tunisian men and women are lured into the trap of thinking that Heaven will be their reward if they take part in a holy war to defend the Islamic world from outsiders.
On the contrary, some Tunisians have already lost their lives from joining in the fighting in Syria. I fear more will die if the Americans get involved.
Peace, not violence and cruelty, is the true Islamic value.
Ahlem Ben Mohammed Nasraoui is a Junior Reporter for Youth Journalism International in Tunisia.
