2012-02-05, 01:08 PM
(This post was last modified: 2012-02-05, 09:01 PM by CommanderJinn.)
It's probably because of the large lack of transparency regarding Syria, as well as the unforeseen consequences that comes with regime change. The West more or less acted the same way during the Cold War era regarding dictatorships in South America and Africa. Many of them were fully endorsed by the States, even with human rights abuses and the existence of totalitarian or single party regimes.
The media eat up freedom fighting and civil war like babies do candy. They love this stuff but truth is that it's never going to be as simple as they seem. Afterall, according to the recent YouGov poll, more than 50% of Syrians don't want to see Assad step down. However the romanticism that comes with war and the west's fetish with being the shining white knight allows for a grand opportunity for misinformation to be spread.
While Syria has it's own problems regarding civil liberties and human rights, many other countries share similar issues but are never condemned (ie Saudi Arabia). And if recent history has taught us, replacing a linchpin only causes a power vacuum that leads to much less desirable effects (ie. Iraq and the subsequent rise of insurgence).
I admire your idealism, but uninformed idealism is tragically bigotry.
The media eat up freedom fighting and civil war like babies do candy. They love this stuff but truth is that it's never going to be as simple as they seem. Afterall, according to the recent YouGov poll, more than 50% of Syrians don't want to see Assad step down. However the romanticism that comes with war and the west's fetish with being the shining white knight allows for a grand opportunity for misinformation to be spread.
While Syria has it's own problems regarding civil liberties and human rights, many other countries share similar issues but are never condemned (ie Saudi Arabia). And if recent history has taught us, replacing a linchpin only causes a power vacuum that leads to much less desirable effects (ie. Iraq and the subsequent rise of insurgence).
I admire your idealism, but uninformed idealism is tragically bigotry.