The European Refugee Crisis

The Western  media has described the mass exodus of African, Asian, and Arab  people as a migration crisis. This is not an accurate description. While it is true there is an act of movement, there is a specific reason for mass travel. These Arab, African, and Asian people are refugees. The majority are by definition. There has been for some years economic migrants making their way to Europe. Libya under Qaddafi was controlling the flow of migrants. Their purpose was not asylum, but to find work outside the impoverished countries from which they came. This mass wave are people feeling war, terrorism, and the results of NATO intervention. The term refugee can be defined as " a person forced to leave their country due to war, persecution, or natural disaster." The major reason for this evacuation was because of ISIS, the Syrian Civil War, Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, and the aftershocks of western interference. This is major blowback from military operations in the Middle East and North Africa. Europe has to deal with thousands of people, causing division in the continent. The refugee crisis will grow as long as the West seeks military intervention. 

          ISIS has conquered large amounts of territory in both Syria and Iraq. This Sunni Muslim terrorist organization was formed out of fighters attempting to depose Bashir Al-Assad. It has been speculated that their early successes were due to former Baathists. Ostensibly, many Saddam Hussein era officials were collaborating with this group. Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri a general and pivotal former regime member was believed to be fighting alongside ISIS. At there height ISIS carved an immense amount of territory and was ready to march to Baghdad. During this campaign ISIS engaged in ethnic cleansing and brutal repression. Kurds and Yazidis were victims to murder and forced removal. Yazidis were trapped on Sinjar Mountain by ISIS until a rescue could be mounted. So far, it has mostly been the Peshmerga and the Iraqi Army attempted to stop the spread of ISIS. The Iraqi Army was too weak to stop the group. It was weakened further by not collaborating fully with the Peshmerga. Iraq was becoming a worse war zone than during the US occupation. Iraqis were fleeing  to Jordan and other Gulf states. 

Iraq was no longer a safe place to stay. The United States responded by conducting airstrikes in Iraq and northern Syria. This did not produce an ISIS defeat. President Obama realized that sending ground troops would exacerbate the situation. Instead the method was to get the Peshmerga more involved and provide military advisers to the Iraqi Army. There seems to be a stalemate and it appears that ISIS will be a part of the Middle East for a longtime. The US airstrikes only add to civilian death. Iraqis find themselves in a precarious entrapment. They are either under siege from ISIS or US attacks from above. These were major push factors in the mass migrations.

It appears that ISIS loses some territory, but then reemerges in sanctuaries in the north of Iraq. The Gulf monarchies have now banned together to fight what it refers to as Daesh. It is a general term for terrorist groups that appears in Saudi, Kuwati, Qatari, and Emirati newspapers. This has induced a new wave of political repression and violence. This new Gulf coalition has escalated war to the point it is causing mass displacement of populations. Iraq could eventually collapse into three different countries. This would only encourage more people to leave. 

        The Syrian Civil War has been waged for five years. There is no end in sight. The only way this war could end is through a diplomatic solution or defeat of one of the belligerents. The West wants a military solution with Bashir Al-Assad removed. Russia wants to see a diplomatic solution, but realizes the West will attempt regime change. It was not a secret that Russia was giving military assistance to Syria. This is one of Russia's most important allies in the region. The fall of Bashir Al-Assad would give the US an opportunity to establish a puppet state. The arming of rebel factions such as the Free Syria Army has also induced populations to desert their land. Homs and Aleppo have been areas of intense combat. The destabilization has caused the growth of other terrorist organizations such as the Al-Nousra Front. Turkey allowed Syrians to enter into its territory during the worst fighting. Taking these refugees  was not an act of altruism. This was a way for Turkey to gain more influence in the Middle East. It is an overall policy of New Ottomanism. This foreign policy stratagem is designed to increase Turkey's power, while making Arab states more compliant. The US and Russia are a hindrance to this goal. There is a level of contention with Turkey even though it is a NATO ally. The United States was making claims that Turkey was not doing enough to counter ISIS or Bashir Al-Assad. Turkey became vexed with this accusation considering it was one of  the first nations to accept refugees. When Turkey decided to become engaged, it broke the truce with the PKK. Disorder has allowed Turkey to attack the Kurdish resistance and eliminate it for good. This is done all under the cover of war against ISIS.  

   

Many refugees have little safety in Turkey. Germany due to its stable economy is preferred over other EU countries.  

If the US bombings continue that will create even more refugees. Bashir Al-Assad removal would increase the portion to astronomical levels. Russia and the United States are engaged in geopolitical competition in Syria. Turkey disapproves, because it believes that as a regional power Syria is its sphere of influence.The US will have to adopt a mediation approach like Russia. Military force will only result in an extended conflict and failed state. 

      Another catalyst for refugee exodus is Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. The Houthi movement not connected to ISIS is being compared in the same manner. The Houthi movement developed in Yemen due to the reaction to government corruption and poverty. There was no legitimate reason for Saudi Arabia to become involved. There were claims of decreasing border security that were not fully verified. Currently, Saudi Arabia has amassed a coalition consisting of The UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain to attack Yemen. An estimated 1,000  coalition troops have been killed. The casualties of the Yemeni population are much higher. Yemen lost much of its stability with the fall of Ali Abdullah  Saleh. He was forced into resignation by the GCC. The agreement was that he could leave the office of president of Yemen and not face criminal prosecution. This was at the height of the Arab Spring and Saleh wanted to avoid a fate similar to that of Hosni Mubarak .The Gulf monarchies were already interfering with the internal affairs of Yemen before the war broke out. It seems that the former president still has a desire to return to politics. It has been alleged that Saleh has been collaborating with the Houthis. The coalition is fixed on inserting a client regime that will serve its interests. Civilian populations were already victim to US drone attacks. Now, Saudi Arabia uses cluster bombs to disperse Houthi positions. This will create another mass of refugees. Syrians went to Jordan and Turkey in large numbers  when the civil war escalated. Lebanon has become host to many Syrian, Iraqi, and Yemeni refugees. The Gulf monarchies are not immune from this mass movement of people.  

Very few Middle Eastern countries can provide resources to refugees. This is why going to Europe seems like a better option.

    

Yemen also has the added burden of Somali refugees. Somalia since 1991 has been a failed state. There is no government or one strong enough to counter Al-Shabab. When Somalis arrive in Yemen they find themselves stuck in limbo. The refugees that do escape Yemen still find themselves in a dangerous predicament. The Middle East has become a massive war zone and traveling through there could mean death. If it is not by people it could be the elements. Refugees travel by boat, on foot, and by train to escape violence. 

        The refugee crisis has roots based in the intervention in Libya. France, the UK, and US sought to overthrow Qaddafi. Under the cover of responsibility to protect these western nations armed Islamist extremists. NATO started a bombing campaign to weaken Libya's ability to stop invasion. Qaddafi's assassination signaled that Libya was headed toward disorder and decline. Ethnic cleansing was occurring and Islamist militias were terrorizing the population. This resulted in a flow of migration that would increase exponentially. This was ignored by the press, because it did not fit into a particular narrative. The myth is that these rebels were freedom fighters and NATO was providing humanitarian assistance. This was chattered by the poor conditions on the Lampedusa Island Refugee Center. Overcrowding, prison like structure, and limited sanitation was the beginning of the refugee crisis. From 2011 to present Libyans, Tunisians, Egyptians, Nigerians, Somalians, Ethiopians, and others have made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.  

      

Refugees are usually treated like criminals.

Italy had to cope with the increase in refugee traffic. Malta was experiencing the same problem. There was a clear unequal amount of labor  that southern Europe and the Balkans were doing, which the western European countries were not. For three years France and the United Kingdom have refused to take refugees. Considering they are responsible for part of  the North African destabilization it demonstrates a malevolent nature. These countries are willing to destroy, but not rebuild. So far, there has been limited financial assistance to Libya . The US has done nothing even though it was one of the powers involved in the NATO intervention. The Obama administration has stated that it willing to take Syrian refugees, but made no mention of  North  or Sub-Saharan Africans. It is certainly known that this would not have happened if NATO did not wage war. 

         The repercussions of military action has caused more division in the Eurozone. There is tension between Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Western Europe . Victor Orban  Prime Minister of Hungary said that the refugee crisis was "a German problem." Countries such as Serbia, Poland, Austria, and Hungary do not approve of mass migration through their borders. As the months progressed many European leaders refused to recognize the refugee crisis. The alternative term for this crisis was called a migration crisis. This is incorrect due to the fact these populations were forced to leave or face death. The UK and US do not seem enthusiastic about taking refugees. France has made little commitment at the moment. Relations will decline between the US and its European allies due to international policies and continued NSA spying. What is also dividing the Eurozone is disagreements over economic policy. Immigration will just cause further problems as Eastern Europe and the Balkans take on most of the burden. Germany will have to figure out how to house, cloth, and assimilate incoming populations. 

        The crisis does not end with refugees reaching Europe. They face the danger of right-wing extremists and xenophobic political parties. As much as European countries attempt to present a humanitarian image to the world, the situation is different. Islamophobia, anti-Arab racism, and anti-African racism are common belief systems held by European populations. While there were a few Germans that welcomed refugees, they are a small minority. Immigrant groups that have come to Germany have either faced violence or some form of discrimination. The Turkish and Vietnamese that reside in Germany have faced racist abuse. Sweden's right-wing has been gaining political support making immigration a major talking point. The struggle is not over after the long journey. Cultural conflict, racism, and challenges finding employment  will be other problems refugees face in Europe. The only way to control and end the crisis is with a change in policy. This means ending NATO interventions. The arming of the Gulf monarchies should cease. Bashir Al-Assad should not be removed, because further destabilization would occur. Only when this happens the flow of refugees will stop.