Mr. Speaker, as we in Canada fret about an unreformed Senate or corruption in our cities, the people of Syria are living out a genuine nightmare, one of suffering and death. Bashar al-Assad, his army and secret police have abandoned every pretense of restraint. They have bombed their own schools and massacred entire families and village. By all available accounts, they have used chemical weapons.
Up to 100,000 people have been killed, most of them civilians. What do we say to Abu Obeida, an opposition organizer in Aleppo, who organizes secret classes for 150 young girls in the basement of a mosque?
How do we explain international inaction to those mourning women raped and killed in Homs? Only concerted international action can stop the conflict in Syria. Those blocking such action of the Security Council are accountable to the Syrian people for their mistakes. Those who would arm a brutal regime with sophisticated missiles or terrorists from Hezbollah or al Qaeda to wage proxy wars will have to account one day to us all for visiting such bloodshed, radicalization and repression on a proud and innocent people.