Farid Ghadry-When Robert Wood, spokesman for the US State Department, condemned the kidnapping and detention of the Kurdish human rights activist Mashaal Tammo on August 29, Syrian dissidents breathed a sigh of relief. The news within the circles of all the Syrian dissident groups travelled fast and far because it reminded them that someone still cared about their plight. Someone was paying attention.

While many are thankful for this public support, still many are skeptical and mindful of what the future holds for their country. Whether they live in the heart of Damascus or in the back country of Australia (It is estimated that up to 15 million Syrians representing 75% of today's population, have been expatriated by a despotic regime intent on causing a hemorrhaging brain drain because of its brute force), Syrians are questioning the wisdom of the last 5 years, whether it's theirs or the international community's.

What went wrong? They are asking.

If the situation in Iraq held to account those who are in high office and whose intense experience of 9/11 prompted them to help spread freedom in the Middle East, one can argue that Iraq is under control and its bright future will shine even a brighter, warmer light unto their legacy.  

If the spread of Islamic extremism is causing leaders of the international community to have second thoughts about freedom and democracy in the Middle East, one can argue how can moderate Muslims drown the voices of extremism if they are on the sidelines watching the most dangerous process of transfer of wealth and protection of power in the history of mankind working methodically to uproot your civilization and our heritage.

If Arab dictators provide stability as many have argued for over 40 years of US policy, then why Sudan, Algeria, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are unstable mostly because of the rise of Islamic extremism or violent secular regimes?  The response by the Arab League to the condemnation of one of their own, al-Bashir of Sudan, whose hands drip with the blood of Darfur, should send shivers down our spines in shedding light on what stability means in the Arab world of today.

If the opposition in Syria or Iran or anyplace else is cause for concern for the international community because of ideology or actions, then we would argue that the cost-benefit analysis of the status quo be it secular or religious violence, be it despotism or oppression, be it lack of development or technological advancement on par with the rest of the world  far outweigh the cost of change, which can only improve with time as self-empowerment interlace with the natural will to be free. Let us not forget that al-Qaeda, the symbol for extreme religious malcontent emboldened by the lack of self-rule and due governance, was born in the bosom of one un-free Saudi Arabia. Where is the stability in that?

The mistakes Syrian activists and dissidents made in the last 5 years are ours to confront and ours to correct. Above all, we have demonstrated our humanity the same way we attempted to confront the difficulties we faced against a regime fully equipped to deal with our struggle. And no amount of excuses of who, why, what, and when can be replaced with our acceptance of responsibility for an equal, if not more, number of mistakes and gaffes. However saddened we are to see Syrians shackled by the fate of a merciless regime, we are even more saddened by our failures to save our people. No matter, the struggle goes on.

The will for change is ours to ignite and ours to stifle. Above laziness, lack of risk taking, and fear from the unknown lie a history book yet to be written about courage, empathy, and fortitude of which the first phase, represented by its cover and which was illustrated by President Bush, epitomizes the future of Iraq. While many are judging the book by its cover before the masterpiece illustration is finished, many can read the whole book in their minds and marvel at how it ends. If Arab and Persian activists and promoters of freedom, who have no more talent than international policy makers, can clearly read the book in its entirety today, then one can argue that the international community is as fearful of the killing machine of our dictators and therefore it is unwilling to help write the book.

We, Syrian activists, will be posting soon the following wanted ad in newspapers around the country.