This is with reference to the article “Ousting Assad must to defeat Daesh” (Aug. 31) by Hassan Barari. Saudi Arabia has been calling for the removal of Bashar Assad since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. Had the world acted on Saudi advice, the situation would have been very different in the region. Assad’s atrocities paved the way for Daesh and the rest is history. I find it surprising that the global leaders are still weighing up the pros and cons associated with the removal of the Assad regime. The Syrian regime forces have turned almost the entire country into ruins. Poor civilians who could not flee the war are caught in the crossfire between the regime forces and the Daesh militants.
Such conditions are conducive to the growth of extremist tendencies. I wish the world realized this fact before it is too late. — Omar Sial, Dammam
The Syrian conundrum
