A cease fire has been agreed upon in Syria by Russia and the United States and accepted by Damascus. But a measure of uncertainty exists on the effective scope of this measure, especially because of the low index of enthusiasm from Washington on the success of the initiative.

From zero hours of this Saturday, the hostilities were to end between the Syrian Army and armed groups of opponents, although the terrorist gangs that operate against the Government in virtually the whole country have not given any signs of being ready to accept the end of hostilities.

These terrorist groups include the so-called Islamic State, the al-Nusra Front, the Islamic Army, and the Army of Conquest.

The cease fire will allow humanitarian groups to provide aid to the population, who have suffered severely because of the atrocities committed by the irregular bands.

In Washington, however, Secretary of State John Kerry said his country will conduct alternative military operations if the cease fire fails and if what he termed the political process in Syria does not advance.

In Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Sajarova said the Secretary of State’s words go against the spirit of the agreements reached between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barak Obama and place a pessimist burden on the needed success of this peace initiative.

Since March of 2011, Syria is suffering an internal conflict financed and stimulated by Western powers and some Arab States, which has already left a quarter of a million fatal victims and millions of displaced civilians, according to United Nations estimates.

Syria is also the victim of economic predators that are illegally syphoning crude oil from Syrian fields and clandestinely transporting it to Turkey, where it is sold at bargain prices.

Terrorist groups encouraged by Western sources have spread death and chaos not only in Syria, but those predators carry overseas their murderous felonies, extended even to nations in Western Europe, such as France.

Interest certainly exists in bringing this conflict to an end. Yet, peace-loving nations will have to press hard to stop the terrorist bands from further spreading death and destruction, death and destruction which have overflown the borders of Syria and threaten to further spread.