Strategic Notes on Syria (I): Assad first

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura and US Secretary of State John Kerry address news conference following Syria talks in Vienna, 30 October 2015 (US Department of State). Everyone seems to be looking on a different direction in Syria.

Note: the purpose of the Strategic Notes on Syria series is to convey semi-independent thoughts concerning the Syrian civil war and the Islamic State. Given both the magnitude and the dynamism of what is currently happening in Syria, it would be impossible to treat the issue on a single post. Therefore, each note will deal with an specific part of the crisis. Nonetheless, all shall be related as pieces of an strategic approach towards Syria.

The 13 November attacks in and near Paris have created a new sense of urgency amongst Western countries to destroy ISIS once and for all; a sense of urgency that is even higher than during this summer's Refugee crisis (which is still ongoing, by the way). It is this urgency that is forcing Western governments to ask themselves the difficult questions which arise when confronting the extremely difficult reality on the ground in Syria.

One fear I have

One fear I have is overlooking what would seem obvious warning sings which eventually lead to disaster. This may very well be the case these days for the situation in the West Bank.

Our oldest ally

President Barack Obama listents to remarks by President François Hollande during State Arrival Ceremony on the White House, 11 February 2014 (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

"Our oldest ally" is one of those diplomatic idioms which may seem empty, but in reality have a deep meaning. It is a charming way of referring to France by US diplomats, remembering how revolutionary France was the first to support American settlers during the US War of Independence. It has been carefully used whenever relations between the two have been at its highest. As a show of respect and sympathy, this set expression has been used extensively in the aftermath of the 13 November Paris attacks by President Obama (twice), Secretary of Defense Carter and Secretary of State Kerry. However, I would dare to say that this has a truly political meaning too, to the point it may shortly become the "special relationship" of the 21st century.

Prologue

Photo by NASA astronaut Scott Kelly

Dear reader,

Welcome to my blog. What you are seen is the product of a long thought process, and also of a long history. Indeed, this website was created back in February 2014, while I was on Erasmus in Paris, but I never went on to publish a single post. Back in the summer of 2013, I partnered with Borja Lucas to establish a blog as part of ADHUE, but that process was not successful either. Earlier, I used to published regular posts on social media, even if those were mostly personal. In addition, I have written extensively for academic purposes (publishing those works was the original purpose of the blog as I conceived it, but not anymore).

So why now, why again? Simply put, because I love writing. It is something which just makes me serene and also forces me to think twice about my arguments. Also, because I love sharing what I may know. For a few months now I have been increasing my digital footprint in both twitter and linkedin, but I have felt the need for a place where to express myself in more than 140 characters; frankly because it seems pretty naive to me to try to understand International Relations and the world in a few, adjective-free sentences; let alone to make any prospective analysis. But also because I just miss writing.

A blog, if taken seriously, is nothing but a long-term process. But I believe there is no better moment to start than now. Isn't there already enough to discuss? I think there is at least as much as to overcome my reluctances. Of course, this blog is also part of my professional career (I hope that a big one), but it is not an artificial effort, simply because there can be nothing artificial in doing what you love.

So hope you enjoy this blog as much as I will enjoy writing it. Moreover, I hope my ideas force you to challenge yours, and in turn you force me to challenge mine. In the end, strategy is a logical, intrinsically human endeavour.

Wish me luck. 

Yours sincerely,

Enrique de Vega.