Frankly, one wonders if the author of this piece is actually aware of what is going on in Syria and how that fits in a long-standing campaign by the Americans and their Israeli allies to destabilise and fragment Syria into a series of mini-emirates.

One wonders for example how the author can write about Syria without reference to Seymour Hersh's important piece published in 2007. Or how he can write without referring to Israel's longstanding role in destabilisation, including but not limited to the illegal occupation and annexation of the Golan Heights.

Or how he seems completely unaware of basic tenets of international law that Obama frequently parrots and then ignores, as Richard Falk tellingly analysed in a piece in Al-Jazeera published on 8 May 2013.

Perhaps the author could expand his reading to Robert Fisk and Pepe Escobar (the Independent and Asia Times respectively) for an insight into the current war. It may come as a surprise, but most of the so-called rebels are foreign sourced, financed, armed and trained by the US, UK and their Gulf and Turkish proxies. They do not have the remotest interest in a "democratic" Syria.

The real situation is both more complex and very different than this article would have us believe. A resolution of the problem is not helped by Australia, in its usual gutless manner and notwithstanding membership of the Security Council remaining absolutely silent (as does the author) on the latest acts of blatant international terrorism and breaches of international law by the regime in Tel Aviv.

Thanks, James O'Neill, for playing the light of truth and reasoning on this incessant barrage of Project for the New American Century propaganda against yet another secular Middle Eastern country standing in the path of Eretz Israel.

Syria broke away from French Imperialism and eventually formed its own independant banking system in which the Govt Banks could create from nothing the money to equal increases in their productivity.Libya did the same.

This is all about a world of Banksters wanting to rule the planet by creating our new money for growth as debt.

Syria is also an ally of Iran who do likewise and have lots of oil.

Start connecting the dots or we too will go the way of Cyprus and Greece.

"We are sure the University’s student body is also horrified and offended by such statements...The University supports and encourages the free expression of diverse views and open debate on campus but it must be lawful, respectful and responsible. "

The author should be commended for bringing the apparent UNSW top administration's double standards in religious free speech into the open. The above statement on the university website illustrates the administration's hypocrisy -- after virtually ignoring Tharunka's grossly disrespectful , irresponsible and obscene depiction.

"As one student posted on the Tharunka Facebook page last month:

Would you dare represent even a symbol of Islam (such as the crescent) or Judaism (the Star of David) in such a blatantly offensive manner? Of course not."

Sadly, this student's posting is an accurate reflection of the double standards currently applying.

Apologies. The above was inadvertently posted to the wrong OLO paper.