Minor break as superpowers destroy Aleppo

Russia unleashed an intensive bombing assault on rebel held areas of Aleppo this morning – bringing the total killed in the recent escalation of bombing to over 400. Russia followed the attack by announcing that it and the official Syrian Government would suspend further bombing until after Thursday’s temporary ceasefire.

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s Defence Minister, has urged everyone still in the eastern part of Aleppo – rebels and civilians alike – to use the break in bombing and the coming eight hour ceasefire to leave the city via the humanitarian corridors set up in previous brief ceasefires.

This makes the purpose of the bombing a mystery. If Russia was bombing Aleppo in order to halt opposition to the Syrian Government by killing those who are rebelling, why are they urging rebels to leave Aleppo and (presumably) disperse to other parts of Syria? Is Russia bombing Aleppo to destroy the city – in order, perhaps, that it can offer to fund rebuilding of the city if and when it returns to the control of the Syrian Government, thus keeping that Government beholden to it?

Aid agencies have welcomed Thursday’s unilateral ceasefire and promised to use the time to get aid into the city. At the same time, they have expressed dismay that the ceasefire has been restricted to eight hours, believing that a 12 hour slot is needed to allow people to get out of and away from the city, as well as to get significant amounts of aid into the city.

In the meantime, the world looks on at this senseless slaughter, apparently unable to stop governments retain power by slaughtering opposition forces and civilians.

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