Syria crisis: A Cold War ablaze? By Abdullahi Suleiman Otiwe

The establishment of the United Nations was a response to the World War II which broke out due to the inability of the League of Nations to prevent another World War after the first. On its establishment, the UN was viewed a giant stride with the assurance that nations would unite for world peace and against their common enemy or enemies unlike the League of Nations which was criticised as a team formation whose primary goal was to fight another war. No doubt, the war came and the world fought bitterly.
Having realised the failure of the League of Nations, nations united for the maintenance of world order. The prevention of World War III has been argued the greatest achievement of the UN but that is not to say we are not experiencing wars in the world today. And the existence of these wars the UN itself is much aware but has decided to give them different names such as Cold War, Civil War, Genocide, Crime Against Humanity and War Crimes.
Although the UN has recorded success in so many cases, it has also failed on many occasions as to the reality upon which it came to be. Hence as nations begin to count on its successes, they have also reflected on its failures while calling for reforms.
It is important to remark that after the end of the World War II, what followed immediately was a Cold War which lasted more than the latter and was far terrible than any World War in history. However, no one undermines the roles of the UN in the provisions of humanitarian assistance to victims of the war and its roles in seeing to an end of conflict in the world. Notwithstanding these, the principal members of the UN are to blame.
What is a Cold War?
Cold War simply is the fight for ideological supremacy by the developed countries. They fight not in physical combat but using weaker nations. They will assist any nation that stands by their ideologies by providing security muscles and military weapons. This is known as a proxy war often fought by the West represented by the US, UK and France against the East by Russia.
The Cold War has spared no continent and Africa is not an exception. Indeed, the fall of Somalia is a perfect example of what it has cost Africa. The US has been accused also of felling the Gaddafi’s regime through Cold War.
The potential danger posed by Cold War has also gone to question the relevance of the UN asking such as; “what could be the relevance of the UN if it cannot protect the weaker nations as promised by its Charter?” And if this perception is anything to go by then the UN will, no doubt, suffer from global condemnations. This is the reality on ground today.
Although it is believed the Cold War ended in 1990 but it is difficult not to discredit this belief in view of the ongoing global politics. This is because recently the US, UK and France lunching of missiles against Syria has been the height of global political discourse. The world population central concern has been on this aggression displayed by the principal members of the UN who like the proverbial leaders are to lead by example. This aggression, indeed, has been feared by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guteress as a Cold War in the shadow.
Interesting to know is that the US has backed the opposition of Syrian government of Bashir Al-Assad while Russia has backed the latter. But these two countries have much to profit from the war than the Syria government and ordinary civilians who are the victims.
As the Cold War between the US and Russia has always impacted the world security negatively, it is time for the weaker nations to continue mounting pressure on the UN for the Security Council reform in order to help address some of the world problems. And this is essential as the Cold War actors are the Security Council permanent members who have nothing to lose. If nothing is done as things currently stand, the Big Five will continue to cook crisis for the world.
It will equally be ridiculous for anyone to believe in the success of goal 16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals whose targets are Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. However, if nations must be held accountable to sustainable peace and strong institutions, the UN too must have them reflected in its system. This is because charity, it is said, begins at home.
Otiwe writes from Lokoja, Kogi state.