Syria: then and now

Posted By David Bosco Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 6:41 PM Share

Asked to compare the international community's current response to Syria to the world's response in the 1970s (when Hafiz al-Assad killed thousands), Ken Roth of Human Rights Watch makes an important and easily overlooked point:

What's interesting is that Hafiz al-Assad massacred in Hama at least 10,000 and the world barely noticed. There was little if any reaction. Today when his son is embarked on a similarly brutal strategy the world is outraged. People are imposing sanctions, they are imposing embargos, withdrawing ambassadors and isolating the regime. So the world has come a long way. I don't think one can equate the international reaction today at all with what happened with the Hama slaughter of 30 years ago. That said, so far the reaction isn't sufficient. And I think the challenge is not one of indifference, the challenge is of taking the deep concern that does exist and continue to ratchet it up until this killing stops. And hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later.

Human rights organizations, activists, the media, and some national and international officials have in the past several decades engineered an enormous change in the way the world views violence and atrocities. Amidst all the debates and disagreements about tactics, strategy, and rhetoric, that should never be forgotten.