April 11, 2017

The children of Syria represent for all of us a place of terrible suffering and genocide.  We watch daily as the Russian and Syria armies devastate and ravage cities of Syria, as Aleppo, which currently is controlled at least in part by the Syrians who oppose Bashar Al-Assad.  Using the pretext of “bombing ISIS” the Russian and the Syrian army’s daily bomb civilian homes, hospitals, even bakeries in an effort to displace the people and gain territory for the Assad regime.  Instead of killing terrorists, they are in fact killing innocent children.

The US sent in 59 cruise missiles in response to what has now been proven to be a Sarin nerve gas (agent) attack on innocents.  According to BBC News, 89 persons died in the chemical weapons attack (which include 33 children and 18 women) launched from the Shayrat airbase by a Syrian Air Force jet that attacked Khan Sheikhoun.  Turkey, who treated some of the victims of the attack reports today that IMPA (isopropyl methylphosphonic acid), a break down product of Sarin nerve agent was identified in the blood and urine samples taken from victims.  This is the smoking gun of proof the Syrians and the Russians used chemical weapons on the innocent children of Khan Sheikhoun.  Symptoms of the attack include redness of the eyes, foaming from the mouth, constricted pupils, blue facial skin and lips, severe shortness of breath and asphyxiation.  The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) medical team supporting the Bab al-Hawa hospital near the Turkish border confirmed similar symptoms in eight patients brought to the hospital from Khan Sheikhoun.  (BBC News, April 7, 2017)

A fourteen year old girl, Miriam Abu Khalil who was awake and witnessed the attack told the New York Times that she saw an aircraft drop a bomb on a one story building.  The explosion sent a yellow mushroom could into the air that stung her eyes.  “It was like a winter fog,” she said.  Miriam sheltered in her home, but recalled that when people started arriving to help the wounded, “they inhaled the gas and died.”  (BBC news, April 7, 2017)

There is no way to describe this chemical weapons attack in any other words than “genocide!”  Both the Russians and the Syrian armies have committed War Crimes against Humanity (Bashar Al-Assad against his own people!) and should be brought to trial before the International Court of Justice (for War Crimes) as criminals and thugs.

Currently in Syria, the Russians operate Khmeinim Air Base, Hmeimim Air base (located in the city of Latakia in Latakia Governorate, Syria).  This air base shares some airfield facilities with Bassel Al-Assad International Airport, but these are only accessible to Russian personnel.  This airbase is currently leased to Russian for 49 years, with an option to extend another 25 years.  The Russians have installed a S-400 defensive missile system, which allows the Russians to defend air space from Southern Turkey to Northern Israel.   According to Wikipedia (2017), this airport has the ability to handle more than 50 military aircraft.

It is obvious the Russian strategy of expansion of military power under Vladimir Putin has entrenched Russia in Syria over the past 6 years.  The neglect of Syria by the Obama administration allowed Russia to consolidate its alliance with Assad as an alliance which not only supports Assad, but gives Russia a strategic airbase on the Mediterranean above Lebanon and Israel.  This is an ideal location to project Russian power over any area of the Middle East.  Much as Russia used aggression to achieve its goals in Crimea and the Ukraine, so also it is now doing so in Syria, projecting its long arm of terror as a way to counter US power in the Middle East.    The US also supports bases in the Middle East, including those in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Oman and several others.

The question which the children of Syria ask all of us is this: “Where is your humanity?”  The Russians and Syrians call a group of Syrian citizens “terrorists” because they oppose the government rule of Bashar Al-Assad and the Russian government who props him up in his now illegitimate rule as President of Syria.  Any ruler who deliberately gases his own people, as Adolf Hitler gassed more than 6 million Jews and many others has lost his right to serve as leader of his nation.  These are war crimes against Syrian civilians and children, and war crimes against all humanity!

It is not certain at this time what it will take to dislodge Assad from his position of power, and to see a legitimate rule of law restored to this troubled nation.  We know what Russia’s agenda is in this region.  What we are not sure is why Russia is allowing itself to participate and seek to explain away war crimes against humanity in its murder of innocent children and civilians with chemical weapons.  Russia now has the blood of these little children on its hands, even as Assad shares similar guilt before the living God.

Jesus spoke of the little children in this way, “Suffer the little children to come unto me!”  “As you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me!”  Jesus declares (the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25).   It is time all Christians across the whole world begin to pray for the safety of the lives of these little children and for the removal of President Assad from power, for he has lost any legitimacy in ruling the people of Syria, having moved to attack and even destroy his own citizens!  The real terrorist in Syria is no longer simply ISIS.  The real terrorist of the Syrian people is Bashar Al-Assad!  Putin’s hands are also stained in blood, and unless he repents and seeks God’s face, he too will fall under the judgment of the Living God for making war against humanity, as represented by these innocent little children, who belong to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Any leader who attacks and destroys his own people is no longer a legitimate ruler in the eyes of the Living God and of the citizens of the world!

There is much more to be said about these matters, as the rebels in Syria and ISIS have committed war crimes, too.  Until then, let us pray this Easter week for the innocent children who are being murdered and made homeless in Syria.  “O God, our Savior and the Savior of all innocents, in your mercies, hear our prayers!  Destroy those who destroy your children.  Eliminate from this earth those who seek to eliminate whole families and tribes of your people.  Remember what they have done to your people and to these innocent little ones and bring down upon their own heads what they have done unto others.  (Except they repent and seek Your face), as they have rolled a barrel bomb upon these innocent children, may it return a hundred times more and roll upon them,  for we pray in the strong and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Redeemer.  In Jesus’s name who lives and died, yet lives again we pray and for his sake and for these little ones.”  “Amen and Amen.”

“Amen!  We praise you, Lord Jesus Christ!  Glory be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen!”

The Voice of One among the Voice of the many children crying out to God from this earth.

“Amen!”