Syria – mackaycartoons

Tuesday December 10, 2024

December 10, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

December 10, 2024

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 10, 2024

The Fall of Assad—A Milestone with Challenges Ahead

June 14, 2000

The end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule in Syria marks the fall of one of the most brutal and kleptocratic regimes in modern history. For decades, Assad maintained power through violence, corruption, and fear, overseeing a system that prioritized personal enrichment and oligarchic control while Syria’s people endured economic stagnation and political repression. His crimes against humanity include some of the darkest chapters of the 21st century. Chief among them was the use of sarin gas in Ghouta in 2013, which killed over 1,400 civilians, including hundreds of children, and similar chemical attacks in Douma and other towns. These atrocities, along with systematic torture, extrajudicial killings, and targeting of civilian infrastructure, demand that Assad be brought to justice at The Hague.

October 20, 2023

The fall of Assad’s regime should be a moment of hope for the Syrian people and the world. It eliminates a linchpin of regional instability and weakens the axis of Iran and Russia, both of whom propped up Assad to extend their influence and wage proxy wars. Tehran and Moscow now face significant setbacks, as Syria’s descent into chaos was a crucial element of their geopolitical strategies. The loss of a loyal ally also strains their broader plans to undermine Western influence and protect their regional interests.

News: From Trump and Turkey, to Russia and Iran — Syria’s regime change has huge global consequences

August 24, 2011

Yet optimism is tempered by the lessons of recent history. The fall of other autocrats—such as Muammar Gaddafi in Libya and Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen—has shown that the end of tyranny often leads not to peace, but to fragmentation. Already, Syria’s future is in question. The forces that toppled Assad remain fragmented, with unclear intentions. Will they work toward a pluralistic democracy, or will the vacuum be filled by militant Islamists or fractious warlords? The spectre of Syria becoming another Libya or Yemen looms large, and with it comes the threat of worsening humanitarian crises and regional instability.

News: Trump has big plans at home, but Syria shows why he can’t escape the world’s problems

October 10, 2019

Adding to the complexity is the stance of President-elect Donald Trump, who has signalled a reluctance to engage. Trump’s dismissal of the crisis as “not our fight” and his stated preference for American disengagement risk leaving Syria’s future to be shaped entirely by other powers. While his instinct to avoid another costly military intervention is understandable, a complete abdication of U.S. influence would be shortsighted. Syria’s fate affects global security, refugee flows, and the balance of power in the Middle East.

July 25, 2012

However, engagement does not need to mean boots on the ground. The U.S. and its allies have diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian tools that can help steer Syria toward stability. Coordinating international aid, mediating among rival factions, and ensuring accountability for war crimes—including Assad’s use of chemical weapons—are ways the U.S. can support Syria’s transition without direct military involvement. Ignoring this moment, as some readers and commentators have noted, risks exacerbating the chaos and allowing the most ruthless actors to dictate Syria’s future.

February 23, 2018

The fall of Assad is a victory against tyranny, but it is only a step on the path to rebuilding a shattered nation. Syria’s people have suffered enough under his rule and deserve the chance to chart their own course. It is incumbent upon the international community to ensure this pivotal moment leads to peace, justice, and the beginnings of a stable, inclusive government. Whether Assad himself faces justice for his crimes will be a key test of that effort and a signal to other despots that impunity is no longer an option.

This past weekend, the world woke up to something many thought they’d never see: the sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal dictatorship. After over five decades of the Assad family’s grip on Syria, the regime crumbled as its two lifelines, Russia and Iran, finally pulled out, distracted by their own mounting crises. It’s a moment that feels both overdue and precarious, a mix of cautious hope and the dread of what’s next.

I’ve been drawing Bashar Assad for more than 25 years, watching his transformation from an awkward heir apparent to one of the Middle East’s most notorious autocrats. Back in 2000, when the younger Assad inherited power from his father Hafez, there was a brief flicker of optimism that maybe, just maybe, he’d steer Syria toward reform. He was, after all, “from my generation,” two years older than me—a fact that still unsettles me as I think about how differently our lives turned out. It took about five minutes for that hope to evaporate. My first drawing of Bashar captured that cynicism. Twenty years later, it’s not smugness I feel about being right—it’s exhaustion at the cost of his reign: a half-million lives lost, cities turned to rubble, the mass displacement of Syrians, and atrocities like barrel bombs and sarin gas attacks on his own people.

Now that he’s toppled, the map of Syria looks like a surreal Christmas cookie—splintered into countless zones of control, each a proxy for international players or local factions. Russia and Iran, Assad’s chief backers, are the obvious losers here. Their investment in this dictatorship hasn’t just failed; it’s left them weaker on the global stage. For Iran, it’s a blow to its regional influence. For Putin, it’s another humiliation in a year full of them. The rubble of Assad’s Syria is now their shared legacy.

And then there’s the United States, where President Trump seems blindsided by all of this. His long-standing preference for “staying out of the Middle East mess” is being tested in real time. It’s hard to imagine him being thrilled about having to recalibrate American policy—or frankly, even getting briefed on it. You can practically hear him grumbling, “This isn’t my problem,” as he reluctantly puts his golf clubs away.

In many ways, Assad’s collapse feels like the fall of Mubarak or Gaddafi—a dictator toppled, a power vacuum created, and a nervous world watching to see which warlord, faction, or proxy will claim the spoils. Yet there’s a unique tragedy to Syria, a country that has been so relentlessly broken by both its rulers and foreign meddling that it’s hard to imagine what “stability” even looks like anymore.

One thing is certain: whatever comes next, it cannot be worse than Assad’s reign. But then again, we’ve said that before, haven’t we?

This animated making-of clip of the Dec 10, 2024 editorial cartoon introduces an attempt at trying out an AI generated Trump voice. Yes, I know, it needs work… volume up please. Enjoy! Enjoy!

– The Graeme Gallery

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Friday November 10, 2023

November 10, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday November 10, 2023

Opinion Piece: Vladimir Putin’s Exploitation of the Mideast Conflict

October 20, 2023

Vladimir Putin’s calculated manipulation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly his recent engagement with Hamas, raises serious concerns about his true intentions and further diverts attention from his aggressive actions in Ukraine. By using the turmoil in the Mideast as a means to stir up more problems and keep the world’s attention diverted, Putin is able to continue his bloody conquest of Ukraine without facing the full scrutiny and condemnation it deserves.

The visit of the Hamas delegation to Moscow, less than three weeks after their attack on Israel, is a clear display of Putin’s provocative strategy. This move is seen as a deliberate attempt to bolster Russia’s influence in the Middle East, at the expense of stability and peace in the region. It is concerning that Russia, with its troubled history of anti-Semitism, is willing to engage with a group that has been involved in acts of terrorism against Israel.

Opinion: Hamas’s Oct. 7 birthday gift to Putin

September 13, 2013

Furthermore, Putin’s increasingly close ties with countries like Iran and Syria, both of which are hostile to Israel, strain Russia’s relationship with Israel. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried to develop closer ties with Putin, Russia’s support for Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its military involvement in Syria have created significant tensions between the two countries. Putin’s actions only serve to complicate an already fragile situation in the region.

The timing of the Hamas delegation’s visit, amidst the crisis in Gaza, further exacerbates the strain between Russia and Israel. Israel has rightfully condemned Russia for hosting the Hamas delegation, as it undermines efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This event, along with the escalating situation in Gaza, is likely to worsen relations between Russia and Israel, adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.

News: Ukraine war: Zelensky says Israel-Gaza conflict taking focus away from fighting

October 18, 2022

While it is evident that the turmoil in the Middle East may benefit Russia by diverting attention from its conflict in Ukraine, there are potential risks if the conflict in the Mideast escalates further. The limited time and attention that global leaders can allocate to different problems may result in other countries, such as Ukraine, feeling neglected. This could lead to a deterioration in Ukraine without much effort from Russia, as resources and support are redirected to the Middle East.

It is crucial to recognize Putin’s exploitation of the Mideast conflict for what it is: a calculated strategy to maintain and expand Russian influence at the expense of stability and peace in the region. The international community must remain vigilant and condemn Putin’s actions, holding him accountable for his aggressive actions in Ukraine and his attempts to divert attention through involvement in the Middle East. It is only by addressing and confronting these actions that we can hope to bring about a more peaceful and stable world. (AI)

Friday May 11, 2018

May 10, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday May 11, 2018

The world is nervously watching as the gloves come off between Iran and Israel

Israel says that it’s done with strikes on Iran — for now. France fears an escalation. Iran has its finger on the trigger. But, really, it’s Russian President Vladimir Putin who sits in the hot seat.

July 15, 2015

Where once the US would have been the brake on spikes in Syrian violence, there is a real possibility President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is greasing the wheels towards a wider regional war.

In recent months, the world’s top diplomat, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, has warned that Israeli and Iranian tit-for-tat strikes in Syria could quickly boil over to a regional conflagration.

Overnight, rockets fired by Iranian forces from inside Syria toward Israel triggered a forewarned robust response from Israel’s military — targeting Iranian military assets in Syria.

Since early February, when Israel says it shot down an Iranian drone laden with explosives that was launched from Syria, the Israeli Defense Forces have increased retaliatory strikes in Syria at Iranian targets.

Some of those strikes are reported to have killed several Iranian fighters. Yet until this point there had been no Iranian retaliation.

The sudden surge in the exchange of rockets Wednesday night — on the heels of Trump’s exit from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — hints that Iran has suspended its strategic restraint.

If so, the likelihood that the Iranian-Israeli confrontation will escalate increases. (Source: CNN)

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Tuesday April 17, 2018

April 16, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday April 17, 2018

Macron, Trudeau deepen ‘bromance’ in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed their common vision and the strength of their personal friendship as they met in Paris on Monday.

May 9, 2017

The two young leaders, both progressives in their 40s, exchanged a hug on the steps of the Elysee Palace and spoke warmly of their ties afterwards at a press conference that ended with them leaving the room with their arms across each other’s backs.

Macron and Trudeau see each other as natural allies in a world increasingly shaped by right-wing nationalism which has gathered strength in Europe and the United States, as well as in Russia, Turkey and China.

“We have an extremely close convergence of views,” Macron said during the press conference, which came after a working lunch and talks with Trudeau.

Trudeau, speaking mostly in French, ended his remarks lauding the “friendship” between the two leaders — a contrast with the often difficult relationship he has with his North American neighbour, US President Donald Trump.

“Canada, France and Europe are extremely aligned,” he said.

Talks included trade, the war in Syria and an upcoming summit of G7 countries which will be hosted by Canada in June.

Trudeau and Macron’s first meeting as leaders came in May last year when they were photographed together at a meeting of G7 countries in the dreamy setting of Taormina, a hillside town in Sicily.

It led to widespread commentary about the “bromance” between the two married liberals – as well as jokes online that they looked like they had gone to Sicily for their wedding photographs. (Source: New Straits Times)

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Friday February 23, 2018

February 22, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 23, 2018

Families struggle to survive in Eastern Ghouta, under siege

A four-day-long bombardment by Syrian government forces is reported to have killed more than 300 civilians in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area. Here, people living there tell their stories.

February 20, 2014

The enclave – home to an estimated 393,000 people – has been under siege since 2013. But pro-government media say a major military operation might soon begin to clear rebel factions from their last major stronghold near the capital Damascus.

The relentless air and artillery strikes are leaving civilians, particularly women and children, in a state of fear and forcing them to seek shelter underground, where they are largely deprived of food and sanitation.

“We are living in a basement, underneath a half-destroyed house,” Asia, a 28-year-old student and mother-of-three whose husband was killed in an attack while he was on his way to work, told the BBC.

“My daughter is sick. Her hair is falling out because she is so afraid.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, says the government and its allies have carried out more than 1,290 air strikes on the Eastern Ghouta and fired 6,190 rockets and shells at the region since mid-November, when hostilities between government and rebel forces escalated.

Between Sunday and Wednesday alone there were reportedly about 420 air strikes, and 140 barrel bombs were dropped by helicopters.

UN war crimes experts are also investigating several reports of rockets allegedly containing chlorine being fired at the Eastern Ghouta this year.

The recent surge in casualties means that more than 1,070 civilians, including several hundred children and women, have been killed and 3,900 injured in the past three months, according to the Syrian Observatory. (Source: BBC News)