Analytical Memo : Syria Crisis

Since the start of the Syrian civil war, over 250,000 people have been killed in acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The United Nations has recently declared acts of genocide and crimes against humanity to be occurring in Syria, yet a massive military intervention has yet to occur. The conflict has now begun to effect mainland Europe and western powers, as the rise of ISIS has become a threat to the whole of the international community. With Germany taking in millions of refugees, they have absorbed most of the inherent terror risk, but with the recent airport bombings in Brussels and the attacks in Paris, ISIS has shown that if they are not met in Syria with grand military force now, they can and will carry out these same terror attacks in the United States and other western countries including Canada and the United Kingdom. This paper will give a brief overview of the history of the current Syrian conflict starting in 2011, and will determine whether the United Nations and the international community has jurisdiction to intervene with military force under specific documents like the Rome Statute, the United Nations 2005 Outcome Document, the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by comparing the current Syrian conflict to the Libyan Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973. Lastly, this paper will provide options for Prime Minister Trudeau for Canada 's participation under the legal jurisdiction of

The Agency wishes to provide a summary of the current an ongoing situation with the rapid deterioration of Syria’s Civil War, which now includes multi-international coalitions supporting both sides of the civil war. This civil war also includes the spread and growth of ISIS aka ISIL aka Daesh’s influence across the globe and its continued spread of terror against all that oppose it. This briefing is designed to prepare the office of the Executive Chief to make well educated and decisive decisions for potential issues that will present themselves in coming days and over the next several years within the region.

With Russia’s recent move into Syria, the US is left scratching its head as to what to do about Putin, Assad, US-backed Syrian rebels, and Iran’s involvement in the melee. Until recently, the United States efforts in Syria have been focused on training “moderate” rebels in a bid to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and neutralize the ever-growing threat that ISIS poses. Russia’s recent air strikes in the region, coupled with the inevitable Iranian ground invasion, severely hamper US plans in the Syria. The effect this will have on US influence in the region is an issue, as well as what the eventual post-conflict results will have on US interests and allies in the region, particularly Israel.

A combination of factors in Syria, including but not limited to Bashar al-Assad 's regime and its practices against the Sunni majority, the rapid spread of ISIS and its atrocities against the Syrians, and other groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra have led to a civil war that has killed 250,000 people, displaced half of the population,

“More than 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives in four-and-a-half years of armed conflict.” (Syria: The Story of the Conflict). These horrific killings began when the anti-government protestors. After a short while, civil protesting became a full

In 2011, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s forces opened fire on the civilian population during a peaceful Arab Spring demonstration. Shortly thereafter, the civilian population took up arms and the unrest turned into an armed uprising. Over time, Islamic extremists from around the region joined the uprising while Assad released extremist prisoners predicating the formation of al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group. As the conflict continued, U.S.-friendly Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait began funneling money into Syria to aid the rebel forces. In response to the growing uprising and support from U.S. friendly

Just as the world’s geopolitical climate ebbs and flows, so does the National Security Strategy of the United States. Over the past fifteen years or so the United States’ foreign policy and security focus has been largely directed toward Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, with an intent directed at stabilizing the region. The National Security Strategy of 2015 continues to emphasize the need to combat terrorism and the role the United States will play in the fight against al-Qa’ida, ISIL, and their affiliates. More recently however an old and familiar face has surged back into the limelight and garnered the attention of United States strategists and policymakers. While the 2015 National Security Strategy lacks directly identifying any

In March 2011, the rebels and government official attacks escalated which resulted in a civil war. In both sides of the conflict, they used acts that violated human rights such as murder, torture, rape, disappearance, and blocking access to basic necessities for survival. According to ABC News, Alisa Weirsema, states that “Russia supported Assad’s presidency which conflicted U.S. from getting involved since it would have involved allegiance countries. The government continues to use chemical toxins and bombs. U.S. launched an airstrike radical groups such as ISIS. Death has increased exponentially especially in the last two years. Many people see refuge in neighboring countries like Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. Some decided to go farther to Europe such as Greece”. UNICEF and countries gave resources and shelter through out the civil even though the resources are limited. Some countries are becoming dreary and created walls to block more Syrian refugee from coming in. Millions of death causalities tolled in from civilian in crossfire, journey to refuge, and health conditions deteriorating. It’s becoming harder to survive in Syria and risky travelling by sea or foot.

Living in a world that is constantly changing affords us many advantages. One of those advantages is globalization. Globalization has allowed us share various aspects of our cultures, governments, and economies with other parts of the world through a unique process of integration. Unfortunately, globalization also comes with its disadvantages. The increased interconnectedness throughout the global community, has created world where the devastating events that occur in one place can have a huge negative impact in other places across the globe. This situation is referred to as a global issue, as it has the capability of affecting other parts of the world. One of the biggest global issues we are currently facing is the Syrian refugee crisis. The

ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is an extremist group that branched from the Sunni terrorist group, al Qaeda, specifically the Iraq faction. Although ISIS has primarily focused on initiatives in the Middle Eastern region, the recent killing of American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotlof following U.S. airstrikes targeting ISIS, has caused controversy as to whether ISIS is a threat to the United States. The first invasion of Iraq by the United States in 2003 gradually led to the conflict known as the Iraq War. After decades spent fighting, US troops are still on the ground in the Middle East today. Over the past few years, ISIS has emerged as a major player in the region, and has been brutally attacking its own country and people over the past year, attempting to take control of the entire states of Iraq and Syria. The growing influence of ISIS and their use of extreme violence has led to debate over whether the United States should send troops to help combat ISIS. In this report, we will determine if it is economically savvy or detrimental to send troops, if it is ethical to invade combat ISIS on the ground, and if it is politically prudent to do so.

Comparable to past catastrophic events throughout world history, Syria’s civil war began as a chain of significant circumstances which lead to eventual turmoil. Although the Arab Springs, a series of uprisings against dictators in northern Africa and southwest Asia, was the primary basis for the Syrian civil war, climate change induced drought was undoubtedly the inception that provoked the Arab Spring in Syria. Water is essential to human life aiding in agriculture production and livestock care as well as basic human nourishment. Without this life supporting element, rural people flooded to the cities in droves seeking their basic human needs. Along with millions of rural Syrians, Iraq refugees were also flocking to the Syrian cities for comfort and aid. With overcrowded cities, minimal resources, few jobs, and an oppressive government, Syria was doomed for rebellion and civil war, especially considering rebellions in neighboring countries was so successful. Peaceful protests for basic human needs and equal rights were met with aggressive opposition by government militants, which fueled more protests and more deaths. Ultimately, the record drought of 2006-2011 eventually caused the Arab Spring which lead to the Syrian civil war.

Breaking news! US strikes Syrian military airfield in first direct assault on Assad government (Vanden Brook paragraph 1.) Syria has been at war with itself for six years and dozens of countries are stepping in to “make a difference.” When Syria’s Civil War broke out in 2011, the U.S. aided the rebels with non lethal supplies but the assistance soon shifted to training, funding, and intelligence. The U.S. has a specific goal in Syria, to retain peace and veer away from the use of chemical weapons. Despite this “reasonable cause,” citizens are not responding well to the government 's action. The United States has been ineffectively involved in Syria’s civil war since the beginning and has

If America and the coalition wish to defeat the Islamic State and re-stabilize Iraq and the Levant, Assad should be funded and the FSA discarded.The continual conflict in Syria is one of the most controversial and misconcepted engagements in the modern era, because of media organizations spreading these truthless allegations and misconceptions. Most westerners view the Syrian Civil War as a fight between an evil regime led by the brutal and malicious Bashar Al-Assad, and Peaceful democracy seeking freedom fighters. The Syrian Civil War has been waging for over half a decade, and has gradually diminished into a war of attrition. The conflict was thrust into existence after Sunni-Arab Syrians became especially enthusiastic about the Arab Spring. The Rebel Bloc in Syria is often thought to have piggybacked off the momentary success of the Libyan Rebels ousting the Gaddafi Regime. However, contrary to the Libyan Rebellion, the War in Syria has been devolved into a legarthic war of attrition that spans multiple nations in the Arab World, and is dominated by a copious number of multi-goaled factions. One of these factions rose to relevancy in 2013. Several titles have been coined to reference it, such as Daesh, ISIS, and ISIL, but when referred to professionally, it is often called The Islamic State. The Islamic State has committed a genocide of which has displaced and massacred ethnic and religious groups that have inhabited Islamic State held territories prior to the Arab

One of the greatest challenges for the anti-Assad rebellion has been fighting a well-armed, well-supported Assad regime (Sorenson, pg. 13). The United States has provide arms and support to anti-regime fighters, but not nearly at the same pace as Russia and Iran have resupplied Assad. Also, rebels lack cohesion, as there are numerous anti-Assad factions that are attempting to overthrow the government, often times competing with each other. In order to bring the rebels together, and form a stronger rebellion against Assad, this course of action requires U.S. military presence on the ground. While I do not submit that the United States lead the attacks, we should instead embed ourselves with Syrian rebels, providing direct training and mentoring to the rebels, as well as providing support from aircraft and long-range artillery. Similar to operations in Libya, the U.S.-led air attacks can directly attack Assad himself, paving the way for a more successful rebellion. While we cannot possibly unite all of the rebel groups, we must show and provide a unified front for

Syria has gone through many adversities as a country and to this day struggles with the habitual effects of the Syrian civil war. The Syrian civil war began on March 15th, 2011, between forces who are loyal to the Ba’ath government and those who want to overthrow them. Multiple organizations are working together to