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From Our Own Correspondent: Syria and Ireland

Syria and Ireland

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Syria and Ireland

Kevin Connolly on history lessons for meddlers in Syria; Kieran Cooke on summer festivals.

Pascale Harter with insights from correspondents abroad. Kevin Connolly reflects on what history could teach would-be meddlers in Syria; Kieran Cooke joins the crowds at Irish summer festivals.

Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers from around the world, presented by Pascale Harter. 

In this edition:

The perils of precedent
Big budget, high stakes: what could be the cost of foreign military intervention in Syria? War has now spread to almost every corner of the country. Three thousand Syrians were reportedly killed last month alone. In the outside world many people believe that something must be done to stop the killing, and point at the no-fly zone imposed on Libya as one possible model for international action. 

But Kevin Connolly argues that we might do well to look far further back for relevant lessons from history - to some figures from the very distant past - to truly grasp the risk of power games in this particular part of the world.

From bog-snorkelling to cowpat bingo
In Ireland, emigration is now at its highest level for 20 years. Many young people are persuaded that in the current climate opportunity lies elsewhere. For those who stay, it can be tough when all the talk is of bailouts and cutbacks. So what to do for fun? Kieran Cooke found out, by joining in some of the festivals arranged for a bit of light relief from the economic crisis engulfing the Eurozone.

(Image: A young Syrian refugee looking out from a bus. Credit: REUTERS/Umit Bektas)

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