Ambassador’s propaganda on Syria was wearisome
“What and whom is Russia defending in Syria?” Have Your Say, April 11.
The Russian ambassador is certainly right to condemn president Trump’s hypocritical concern for murdered babies in Syria while ignoring them elsewhere. But his letter studiously ignores the obvious truth that Russia is in Syria partly to protect strategic Tartus, its sole and vital Mediterranean port, and has continually used its veto to prevent any sane discussion of Syria at the UN Security Council.
Moreover, Putin himself has stated that there are around 2,500 Russian nationals in Syria fighting against the Assad regime, concluding it is better to fight them there rather than back home. Russia can claim to be “defending truth against hypocrisy” – a wearisome sound-bite by the way – but the rest of us may prefer a more balanced analysis.
Barry Kenyon
