'People analyze what is happening in Syria, ask questions they didn't before' - activist

Russia has suggested that Syria puts its chemical weapons under international control, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday. Now specialists are preparing a "workable and clear" plan to carry out this proposal, while a number of countries supported it already. The Voice of Russia discussed Russian initiative with Susan Dirgham – an activist and a member of Australians for Syria group.

What do you make of this current situation that the US arguing right now that if Syria actually fulfills its obligation to get rid of chemical weapons, they will delay this? What do you think about that?

It is very-very unpredictable. It is really hard to know. But I think it is very that their threat to have a military strike against Syria has brought out a lot of attention from church groups, from peace groups. And people are analyzing what is actually happening in Syria. People are asking questions that they didn’t ask before. So, I think it is going to be very difficult for the American administration to continue in the same vein. I noticed that you said that Human Rights Watch has said that it is almost certain that the Syrian Government was responsible for the chemical attack. That is the Human Rights Watch that is saying that, but there are lots and lots of other people saying that that’s not true at all.

Do you believe that taking chemical weapons out of Syria would actually solve the problem?

I think that it is very that we’ve got a breathing space. Most of the countries have chemical weapons. This is just being used as a way of getting at Syria. I agree with other commentators that have said that it is a false flag. There was a push for something to happen before there is an investigation, because if it is found out that these children are actually victims not just of the chemical attack but of the rebels, that they could have been children that were kidnapped from Latakia during the massacres there – the world will be shocked and appalled. It is really totally unpredictable what can happen to the US administration if they are pushed into a corner and they have to somehow explain how they can support the rebels that massacre people, kidnap the children and then kill them with chemical weapons.

Has the Australians’ perception of what is happening in Syria changed over these years?

The media here has been I think quite irresponsible in its reporting of Syria. It trusted to a large extent the sources like Al Jazeera which is very committed to anti-Syrian Government line and the view of Qatar. People were also influenced by the war propaganda from other sources like the Guardian. There’s been lots and lots of rhetoric, lots of slogans but very little analysis. But I think people, if you ask them, they agree that you have to have a diplomatic solution. They agree that they can’t trust America. But people are so busy with their lives that they don’t generally do the research, they don’t do the thinking. Most people here think in terms of the Assad regime versus the rebels. But it is not. It is the Syrian people versus terrorists.

Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_09_10/People-analyze-what-is-happening-in-Syria-ask-questions-they-didnt-before-activist-4628/