For nearly two years, Washington waged terror war on Syria. Death squad proxies are used. They recruited largely from regional countries.

Some come from Europe. America supplies small numbers. They invaded Syria. They want Assad toppled, so they say. They're manipulated to believe he must go. They want Islamic extremism replacing secular governance.

They're reigning terror on defenseless people to achieve it. Assad loyalists are targeted. Scores die daily. No one's sure how many. For sure it's many thousands.

On January 16, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) headlined "Foreign and Expatriates Ministry Calls on UN and UNSC Member States to Condemn Massacre against Aleppo University Students and Terrorist Crimes in Syria."

Students, employees, and others seeking refuge were slaughtered or injured. At least 87 died. Another 150 or more were injured.

On January 15, terrorist rockets struck. A university dormitory was targeted. It was used as a shelter. Terrorists bombarded it.

They've committed numerous other similar attacks and atrocities throughout the country. SANA said 2,362 schools were destroyed. Many innocent children and teachers were killed.

Washington and supportive Security Council members don't condemn terrorism. Nor does the UN Human Rights Council. It said nothing about Monday's attack.

It blames Assad for death squad crimes. It's done it throughout the conflict. It's complicit in Washington's war on Syria.

SANA called on Security Council and other UN member states to condemn terrorist crimes. It wants Aleppo martyrs recognized. It wants guilty parties held responsible.

There's "no excuse for states which are practicing double standards and supporting terrorism in Syria while they condemn it" elsewhere.

Hypocrisy defines Washington's agenda. Complicit NATO partners and regional allies share guilt. Conflict shows no signs of ending.

Union of Syrian Students President Dr. Ammar Sa'ati expressed condolences for victims and surviving family members. He condemned the cowardly attack.

He pointed fingers the right way. He said Syrian students know what Western media won't explain. They know who's friend and foe.

Ba'ath Arab Socialist Party leaders condemned attacking university students. They called them evidence of political and moral bankruptcy.

Responsible parties have no legitimacy. Killing and destruction is the only language they know. Outside forces direct them. Washington, complicit NATO partners, Israel, and other regional allies bear full responsibility.

Syria's Ministry of Higher Education said:

''This coward terrorist act targeted one of the beacons of science and education in our country, in an attempt to stand in the face of spading the message of our universities, institutes and educational centers.''

Syria's General Command of the Army and Armed Forces called Aleppo's massacre a "coward(ly) criminal act."

It exacted revenge on Aleppo residents. Doing so reflects perverse wickedness. Western-sponsored Syrian massacres and others like them elevate depravity to a higher level.

Russia condemned the Aleppo attack. A Foreign Ministry statement said:

"We strongly condemn the mass killing of innocent citizens in Syria, stressing that the international community should take a similar uncompromising stance towards terrorism."

Department of Information and Press Deputy Director Maria Zakharova said:

"We particularly note that this terrorist attack took place in an atmosphere in which normal life had begun to gradually return to the majority of the city's districts."

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was unequivocal. He condemned death squad terrorism. He denounced spurious media reports, saying:

"I saw on CNN that they say that the Syrian government forces are the ones which committed this terrorist act in Aleppo. I cannot imagine more repulsive and unscrupulous talk than that."

Other scoundrel media reports turned truth on its head the same way. They do it all the time. BBC cited "conflicting reports of air raids and two explosions on the ground."

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) was its source. It's an illegitimate UK-based pro-Western propaganda tool.

It pretends to support human rights. Its reports lack credibility. They're later proved false, grossly exaggerated, or misleading.

The New York Times quoted from an opposition Facebook page. It claimed "Syrian Air Force MIG fighter planes" targeted Aleppo University's campus. They launched "two missiles three minutes apart."

They "destroy(ed) buildings and caus(ed) massive destruction in the surrounding roads."

Unnamed sources were cited. They "speculated that the university was hit by accident, or argued that both sides in the conflict were to blame."

The illegitimate Syrian National Council (SNC) 2.0 (National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces) was quoted, saying:

"The regime used heavy weapons to bombard Aleppo University students while taking their exams, killing dozens of them."

"By committing unprecedented heinous atrocities, the regime hopes to see hatred and destruction in Syria before its demise."

AP said both sides blamed the other for Aleppo University's attack. Reuters said the same thing.

It added that dozens of countries asked the Security Council to refer Assad and other Syrian officials to the International Criminal Court (ICC). At issue is prosecuting them for Western crimes.

Moscow believes Aleppo's attack was revenge for other defeats terrorists suffered. Students were targeted on their first day of exams.

Death squads frequently attack Aleppo. Various parts of the city are targeted. Residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, schools, and other areas are struck. Civilians suffer most. There's no place to hide.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, strongly condemned what he said took scores of lives and injured hundreds.

Addressing a January 15 Security Council session, Syria's UN ambassador, Bashar al-Jaafari said armed terrorists "reached dangerous levels in terms of quality and quantity."

"The suspicious goals which some countries seek to achieve by supporting terrorism and extremism in Syria have started to appear on the surface."

"We always say that the terrorist groups in Syria seize the opportunity whenever a Security Council session is held to carry out terrorist acts in Syria, and this is what happened today for the 10th or 20th times."

"How many foreign terrorists of those operating in Syria from across the border were previously involved in killing and injuring citizens in several other countries, and how many of terrorists operating in Syria would move in the future to other areas just like what happened in the recent past and what is happening today."

"Those who think they could bring the jinni out of the bottle of terrorism and control it are mistaken because those who mess with terrorism will be hit by it sooner or later."

"Some influential countries have foiled taking any tangible measures to combat the terrorism targeting Syria."

"No Syrian can be convinced that what these armed groups, which are prompted by petrodollar and a huge amount of hatred and lack of patriotism, are doing in terms of starving the Syrian people and depriving them of home and security to suffer cold and disease and force them to seek shelter in refugee camps is a 'spring' seeking reform and freedom for the Syrians."

"The suspicious goals which some countries seek to achieve by supporting terrorism and extremism in Syria have started to appear on the surface."

"Israel is using the existence of armed terrorist groups in the separation zone in the occupied Syrian Golan as an excuse to build a 42 km wall along the ceasefire line."

He concluded saying that "ignoring of the violations committed by some countries has become shameful and the exploitation of the Syrian blood for implementing political terrorist agendas has become flagrant, wondering."

"How could moves be taken to fight terrorism in Mali while, at the same time terrorism in Syria is being backed, armed and encouraged?"

On January 14, Iran's Fars News Agency headlined "President Assad Orders Commanders to Target Israel, US Interests 'If Assassinated.' "

He believes Washington ordered him killed. Something similar to assassinating Gaddafi is planned. US Special Forces and Salafist extremists are assigned the job.

"Syria's top army commanders told (Assad) that 'foreign hostile states will strive to assassinate him instead of launching a military attack on Syria,' " said Fars.

Western and regional states' "spy agencies….smuggled hi-tech missiles into Syria to provide armed rebels and terrorist groups with a chance to target (Assad's) likely residence."

If he's killed, he ordered robust retaliation. Legitimate targets include US bases, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan.

Regional war might follow. NATO may intervene. Moscow may defend its regional interests. On January 12, Press TV headlined "Russia warships near Syria, signal to US: Vyacheslav Matuzov."

Political analyst Matuzov said their presence is significant. Concentrating near Syria's coast sends a message.

"I think that it is a very clear signal to the NATO leadership, to United States of America that Russia….is ready to (take appropriate) steps to provide necessary measures to prevent negative developments in political side, in geopolitical side, in Middle East, in Syria and in Caucasus."

"I am sure absolutely that these exercises are connected politically, very closely with American policy that is encouraging military groups to intervene in Syria through Turkish territory."

"Russia will not approve any violations of international law anymore because it (ignored) American behavior in Libya, in Iraq, in Yugoslavia, in many other places."

"I think that now Russia came to the conclusion, no other place will be permitted for the United States."

The ball is in Washington's court. It's up to America to rethink its regional policy, he added. Russia wants international law respected.

It's especially concerned about protecting its interests in areas close to its borders. It knows Syria is a stepping stone to Iran.

If America controls the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, Russia and China become the last line of defense. They'll be largely alone to prevent US global dominance.

Expect neither country to roll over and permit it. Expect them to defend what's too vital to lose. Expect trouble if America tests them.

What's possible ahead bears watching.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

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