As some who follow my blogs know, my interests reach far and wide. While focusing on what I know best, such as local issues around homelessness and politics, I am determined to maintain a proper perspective and not ignore what is going on in the wider world, which any right thinking neutral would declare as more significant, even though that is often not reflected in people reading such posts.

I have long been following what is going on in the Middle East, covering many countries and not least Israel; movements, not least Isis, vested interests, not least Russia and Saudi; regimes, not least that of Assad, and of course refugees, all manifesting itself in all sorts of ways and presenting a wide variety of perspectives. Often it is a matter of the more I know the less I know I know. Rather than give up trying to understand, I feel I need to. Sadly, my faith in our politicians is limited and as for a just outcome we are still a long way away. When a week or so ago I read of possible solutions to the crisis in particular relieving the plight of refugees, especially those starving because they are besieged or being part of the bombing campaigns instigated by various factions, especially the Russians, I was alarmed to note the pieces I had noted for further study could no longer be found, although a simple Google search on the word “Syria” does come up with all sorts of disturbing hits.

One alarming report, which might well be deemed as sensationalist, has the title: “Limited Nuclear War Within 18 days as Saudis (and Friends) mass 350,000 troops, 20,000 Tanks, 2,450 Planes, 460 Helicopters for Syria Invasion”. Even the more measured BBC with its “Syria conflict: Pressure grows on Russia over civilian bomb deaths” or the Guardian with its “Syrian president Bashar al-Assad vows to retake whole country” and a whole host of other respected news media outlets considering all sorts of aspects and conflicts of interests, all point to a crisis that could well escalate in major world conflict as well as increasing the plight of refugees.

I post here by way of a stake in the ground. There is no shortage of relevant material to be read in order to gain a better understanding, and that I will do in the weeks ahead. While I am under no illusion my doing this will make any significant dent in resolving these issues or should be used as an excuse not to do the things I have some measure of control over and responsibility for, I will continue to watch and pray, and work toward right and just outcomes