Nearly 18,000 have died in Syrian prisons since 2011 - Amnesty International
cbc.ca/news/world/syria-prison-deaths-1.3725840
cbc.caPosted Aug 18, 2016, 3:34 AM UTC
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cbc.caHow will this information change the conversation around ISIS and terrorism from it's current "black vs white" talking point status?
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Could you please expand upon how you think this article relates to Canadian politics?
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There is a rhetoric among conservative that fighting ISIS is important for Canada and the world.
“The Prime Minister likes to say he cares about diversity, but there is nothing that threatens diversity more than ISIS – whether it is the rights of women, cultural and religious freedoms, or the rights of gays and lesbians. When our friends and allies are attacked, when our values are threatened, when human rights are trampled, and human dignity is crushed, it is our fight. Taking this fight to the enemy is part of a proud Canadian military history, one which the Prime Minister has repudiated with today’s decision.”
Fighting ISIS means supporting the Syrian government, who have killed thousands in prisons as the report suggests. If true, our policy on the "war on terror" is deeply flawed, as we are trading one terror for another.
My question to the community is, will this information make a difference, or will taking points win?
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Fighting ISIS means supporting the Syrian government,
I strongly disagree with this premise. Fighting ISIS is not equivalent to helping out the Syrian government. One can oppose both the actions of the Syrians and ISIS; they're not the only players on the board in the area, and even if they were, eliminating ISIS would not mean capitulating to Assad's regime.
Frankly, I think you're the one who seems to be viewing treating this as a "black versus white" issue. It is perfectly reasonable to treat one group here as dark grey and the other as even darker grey.
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Absolutely we can combat both regimes. But I don't believe that's what's happening. And I don't believe the political discussion is moving in that direction.
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Considering "Prisons" mostly currently means "POW camp" in Syria this isn't surprising.
Also considering that the country is bankrupting itself for the war effort, I am certain feeding POW's or treating their injuries ranks insanely low on their priority lists.
The only solution is an end to the Civil War and the gradual freeing of these prisoners according to some final settlement to the conflict. But this seems very, very far away to me!
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