The South African government’s condemnation of the bombing of Syria is justified because the West’s interventionist policies have again failed in the Middle East. It is time for us, together with the rest of the world, to step up and offer non-military solutions. It goes without saying that the use of chemical weapons is a horrific crime. But we do not know the full story of what happened in Douma, and there seems little interest among the pro-interventionists to ask basic questions or allow the UN to lead an investigation. We have been here before with the lies that led to the Iraq war, but that precedent does not seem to deter the West. Nonwestern countries must recognise that by turning a blind eye they relegate themselves to second-tier players. However, while governments and individuals across Africa and Asia are frustrated and angered by self-serving western actions, most remain silent. Without alternative initiatives and engagement from non-western actors, the West ends up mo...
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