The Pittsburgh Patrika, Vol. 20, No. 4, July, 2015Proxy WarThe Syrian Axis Dividing the WorldKris Gopal, South Hills, PAe-mail: gutcut@comcast.netproxy war as defined by the Oxford Dictionary is a war instigatedby a major power, which does not itself become involved.ATypically proxy wars function best during cold wars, as they become anecessity in conducting armed conflict between two belligerents whilecontinuing cold warfare. Proxy wars are those in which the main actorsface conflict through the use of other means—proxies. These proxiesrange from aid and arms supplies to full use of troops, not simply the actof war itself; there are many ways for outside forces to contribute to warand conflict between entities other than itself. Proxy war is covert andillegal, yet still frequently used as a strategy today. The earlier conflictbetween the regime and the Taliban in Afghanistan (in 1970) and how thesuper powers, United States and Russia, were drawn into the conflict isa classic example of proxy war.Our history is replete with innumerable proxy wars from time immemorial— from the Abhyssinian-Adal war in 1529, from the colonialera to the present second Saudi-Yemen War. The list is too numerous tomention all.The present Syrian conflict is a proxy war at best, with the civiluprising in the country being manipulated by three super powers,China, Russia and United States of America. Syria is a complicated placeand an important player in Middle Eastern and global relations.First and foremost, Syria is the third arm of the anti-Israeli and anti-West, Iran-Hezbollah-Syria alliance, a Shia threesome that opposes the setof Sunni-led powers in the Middle East. Syria’s population is dominatedby Sunnis, but the Assad family, who are Shias, controls the country.In addition, Syria buys some $150-million worth of arms from Russiaevery year and hosts a Russian naval port on its Mediterranean Sea Coast.It has been lorded over by the ruthless Assad family for more than 40years, with democracy a forbidden notion. And it is situated at a continentalcrossroads, between the energy riches of Eurasia and the MiddleEast and the energy-hungry markets of Europe.Syrian conflict has triggered something more fundamental than a differenceof opinion. In sixteen months, the situation in Syria has mutatedfrom an uprising in outlying areas into full-scale civil war. Now it hasProxy War... ... Continued on Page 188
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