Syria: Dust, Rubble, and Mirrors

Not for the first time, the Middle East is in turmoil.

Once again, outside forces are stirring up trouble and trying to obscure the truth behind the plumes of acrid black smoke billowing from the bombed out buildings.

The screams of the injured and dying, drowned out by the rattle of machine gun fire and mortar shells exploding.

These screams are not heard at first hand by the devious and venal politicians who are behind the scenes and behind the never-ending bloody slaughter.

It doesn't matter which "side" is more to blame, because at the end of the day, no one can change what has happened to tens of thousands of people who only want to be left to live in peace.

There are never winners of these bloody conflicts. Only mass casualties.

There is a propaganda war going on through the media, pushing various agendas as if they were the injured parties.

The media, if they had any integrity, would refuse to print, publish, or broadcast any of the shit these self serving smug scumbags have to say. In these situations, no one tells the truth.

The USA, led by a lobotomised chimp, are intent on bombing something somewhere in Syria, which might or might not punish President Assad.

In order to make this look like they aren't going alone, they are trying to get the UK to join in this doomed to failure foray into the unknown. Of course, Prime Minister may or may not decide to take part. She's very indecisive. *She might possibly agree to hold President Trump's hand again, to steady him as he launches his G.W Bush impersonation on Syria, a country he couldn't find on a map of Syria!*

The Russian government has said that they will shoot down any missiles directed in the vicinity of Syria or Australia, depending upon Trump's grasp of geography.

The last thing this world needs is Putin and Trump going head to head in a who-has-the-biggest-rocket competition. Because we know who's winning that argument.

This current mess is due to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria, which has killed hundreds of innocent people. Of course, Russia has denied their involvement in this, as has Assad. Although Assad has a history of attacking his own citizens in a variety of unpleasant ways, in which to make them compliant.

I don't really have an opinion on who did what to whom, or what they did what they did, if in fact they did anything at all. Does this sound just a wee bit complicated? The truth is, no one will ever know what exactly happened.

Plenty of political wonks and government officials from all sides will trot out their version of reality, but I would rather poke my eye out with a blunt hammer than believe any of them.

The truth is buried along with the thousands of people who had no choice or say in this matter. They were just used as bargaining chips in this vast, disgusting game of international death chess.

I can only hope that wise heads will prevail in this case, but knowing there are very few people with this attribute involved here, I can't see it ending well.

Syria is a shattered country. Only a diplomatic solution is going to be of any use to the people. Homes have been obliterated. Businesses razed to the ground. Children have been orphaned. Parents left mourning their dead sons and daughters. Entire cities blown apart by bombing and rocket attack.

Let the Syrian people rebuild their shattered lives and homes. Let them do this in peace. It's not much to ask.

*As it turned out, Prime Minister May decided to metaphorically hold the hand of the Orange Turnip.*