Foreign Digest: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan

Syrian Civil War Update

            The Syrian Civil War has now raged for three years, leaving over 150,000 dead.  There have been many injured and left homeless, while a multitude have sought refuge in other foreign states.  Syrian Dictator Bashar Assad, who remains unpunished for using chemical weapons against innocent civilians, continues his indiscriminate conventional attacks in residential areas that oppose his tyranny.  Meanwhile, although there has been progress in eliminating the Syrian stockpile of chemical weapons, about half of it remains. 

More Protests against Venezuela’s Dictatorship

            There have been more protests against the authoritarian Chavist regime of Nicolas Maduro, which have been met with more oppression and violence by the dictatorship.  The imprisonment of a major opposition figure for political purposes was one of the latest sparks of the demonstrations.  Venezuela has been wracked by high inflation and crime, in addition to suffering under tyranny. 

           

Afghan Presidential Election

           The turnout in Afghanistan’s presidential elections has been high, despite violence by the Taliban intended to disrupt the elections.  President Hamid Karzai is term-limited to two four-year terms, meaning Afghans are elected a new president.  Karzai is expected to allow Afghanistan’s first peaceful transfer of power. Security, corruption and the economy are major concerns, but one area of agreement among the candidates is the need to sign the status of forces agreement with the United States that would provide for the continued presence of a significant force of American soldiers after most units withdraw later this year.  I commend the Afghan people for their courage, resolve and commitment to representative government.