Strike Countdown: ‘Syria Has Become the Great Tragedy of This Century,’ Polls Reflect Americans’ Opposition, Gold Up, Fleeing Refugees Hit More Than 2M (VIDEO)
As U.S. President Barack Obama continued to rally on giving justification to the importance and necessity of a military strike against Syria, the American people have likewise let out their collective voice be heard against the punitive action.
Two national polls, although organised separately, nonetheless showed one glaring result - the people of America are not in favour of the U.S. striking Syria.
In the poll conducted by ABC News/Washington Post released on Tuesday, only a measly 36 per cent of the respondents said they support a strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his troops. A different poll by Pew Research Center showed an even lower number of supporters for military action, an only 29 per cent.
We are not the world's policeman. Stay out of Syria unless there is a broad international mandate & coalition.
— Screw the NRA (@Richpf) September 3, 2013
"Three-quarters believe that U.S. airstrikes in Syria are likely to create a backlash against the United States and its allies in the region and 61 per cent think it would be likely to lead to a long-term U.S. military commitment there," Pew Research said in a release as it explained why Americans are opposed to action against Syria. "Meanwhile, just 33 per cent believe airstrikes are likely to be effective in discouraging the use of chemical weapons."
Not only that, it will further wreak havoc in Syria.
As of Tuesday, estimates gathered by the United Nations (U.N.) showed the two-year-old Syrian civil war had forced more than two million to flee their country, with over 4 million others displaced within its borders.
"At this particular moment it's the highest number of displaced people anywhere in the world," Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, told reporters in Geneva, further noting the numbers could grow to 3.5 million by end of the year if the conflict continues. "Syria has become the great tragedy of this century -- a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history."
Video source: Youtube/NewDOCUMENTARIES
Ban Ki-moon, U.N. Secretary-General, continued to issue warnings that any attack against Syria without Security Council support and approval or a sound case for self-defense is illegal.
"As I have repeatedly said, the Security Council has primary responsibility for international peace and security," Mr Ban said at a news conference. "The use of force is lawful only when in exercise of self-defense in accordance with article 51 of the United Nations Charter and or when the Security Council approves such action."
Mr Obama had said that he is not asking America for approval to go into war with Syria but merely allow him and his government to "degrade and deter" Syria's capability to use chemical weapons.
On Tuesday, Mr Obama seemed to have amassed the support he's been wanting from John Boehner, Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Eric Cantor, House majority leader. The development immediately pushed prices of yellow metal safe haven gold to jump 1.4 per cent.
"When we see headlines that are supportive for a possible attack on Syria, you see gold catch a bid and the U.S. equities pull back their gains," Michael Matousek, head trader at U.S. Global Investors, was quoted by Reuters.
Although "I take note of the argument for action to prevent a future use of chemical weapons... we must also consider the impact of any punitive measure on efforts to prevent further bloodshed and facilitate the political resolution of the conflict," Mr Ban said
"Remember what Goering said after WWII - Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country," netizen Big Mama said in a comment posted at Mother Jones portal.