Ian: Could you please introduce yourself.
David: Yes, my name’s David McIlwain. I am a resident of Victoria and I became involved with some local Syrian community near the beginning of the Syrian war in 2011, and then became involved with a movement called (AMRIS) Australians for Reconciliation in Syria which has been set up by Syrians to encourage reconciliation between people and the taking up of amnesties.
Ian: When did Australia first become involved in the humanitarian disaster that the Syrian war has become?
David: Well, if you are cynical, you could say that Australia was involved in creating the humanitarian disaster by supporting these exiled opposition groups and supporting the US and other allies who basically created this war on Syria in pursuit of their own interests, so it’s deteriorated into the terrible situation it is now because of the ongoing support of the West, and Australia is still involved in the same way.
