Washington's longstanding
policy is regime change in Iran and Syria. At issue is replacing independent
regimes with client ones and securing unchallenged control of valued
Middle East resources.
On February 4, Russia and China vetoed a largely one-sided
anti-Assad resolution. A previous article called him more victim
than villain. Yet he's falsely blamed for months of externally
generated violence.
In fact, he confronted a Western-backed armed insurgency replicating
the Libya model. By so doing he acted responsibly against a heavily
armed insurrection.
Imagine a similar scenario in America. Local police, National Guard
forces, and Pentagon troops would confront it violently. Combined,
they'd way exceed Assad's response.
Mass killing would follow. Western media scoundrels would approve.
In contrast, the New York Times calls Syria's self-defense
state-sponsored "butchery."
Its position substitutes disinformation for truth and full
disclosure. They're scrupulously avoided to misinform, misrepresent
and betray readers. It's longstanding major media policy. The Times
featured it longer than others.
Since violence erupted last March, Syria was blamed for
Western-backed insurgents against him. It's part of Washington's
"New Middle East" project to control North Africa, the Middle East
and Central Asia to Russia and China's borders.
For over a decade, regime change plans targeted Iraq, Afghanistan,
Lebanon, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Syria, and other countries
outside the region.
Replicating Libya's model is Washington's template for future NATO
aggression. Whether it's employed fully in Syria remains to be seen.
So far, heavily armed insurgents entered from regional countries.
Anti-government violence followed. Trapped between warring sides,
civilian casualties mount. No end of conflict approaches. In fact,
the worst is yet to come.
On February 5, Israel's Mossad-connected DEBKA/file said Russia put
"Rapid Reaction Force (aka Spetsnaz) units in Black Sea bases on
(alert) to set out for Syria to defend Damascus."
Russia's determined to avoid another Libyan-style intervention. In
response, Obama said Washington, key NATO partners, and Gulf allies
will (in DEBKA/file's words) "redouble their efforts to unseat
Bashar Assad."
On February 4, an official White House statement said:
"Assad must halt his campaign of killing and crimes against his own
people now. He must step aside and allow a democratic transition to
proceed immediately."
Fact check
Since WW II, no combination of nations caused more slaughter,
destruction, and human misery globally that America. Moreover,
Washington won't tolerate democracy at home or abroad.
"Assad has no right to lead Syria, and has lost all legitimacy with
his people and the international community. The international
community must work to protect the Syrian people from this abhorrent
brutality."
Fact check
International law prohibits interfering in the internal affairs of
other nations, including determining the legitimacy of their
leaders. Moreover, Syria's "abhorrent brutality" is entirely
Western-backed. It was absent until Washington, key NATO partners,
and rogue regional despots intervened, notably Saudi Arabia, and of
course, Israel's very much involved.
"We must work with the Syrian people toward building a brighter
future for Syria....The suffering citizens of Syria must know: we
are with you, and the Assad regime must come to an end."
Fact check
Long-suffering Afghans, Iraqis, Libyans, Somalis, Bahrainis,
Yemenis, Palestinians, and many others elsewhere understand the
horrors when America intervenes. So do Syrians. They abhor
Washington led meddling in their internal affairs and want no part
of it.
In fact, a mid-December Qatar Foundation-funded YouGov Siraj poll
found 55% of Syrians back Assad. It contradicts Western discourse of
majority opposition. Except for the London Guardian, the findings
were unreported in the West.
On February 4, Global Research editor Michel Chossudovsky explained
"armed opposition groups" operating in Syria. They include the
Western-backed Syria Free Army (FSA) "involved in criminal and
terrorist acts."
They're killing civilians and security forces. They're reigning
terror blamed on Assad. They're destroying state assets, including
fuel pipelines, trains and vehicles carrying fuel, as well as
buildings and other targets.
Their ranks include elements similar to Libyan insurgents, including
"Al Qaeda affiliated" militants, "Muslim Brotherhood" members, and
"Salafists. Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia" support them. So do
other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States and Jordan.
Largely the same countries behind the Syria draft resolution backed
Resolution 1973 against Libya. Once passed, war followed
straightaway.
They include sponsor Morocco and co-sponsors:
Washington, Britain, France and Germany (the so-called NATO Quad -
the key four) plus Portugal and Turkey;
all six GCC states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman,
UAE, and Bahrain plus Jordan and Libya;
Colombia; and
Togo - its UN envoy Kodjo Menan holds the rotating SC presidency
during February.
Russia and China stood firm against them. Washington's UN envoy
Susan Rice accused both countries of holding the Security Council
"hostage." Responding, Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said:
The Security Council decision "should be exactly such because some
influential members of the international community, including those
sitting at this table, from the very beginning of the crisis in
Syria undermined the opportunity of political settlement calling for
change of the regime and setting the opposition against the power
without shunning provocation and forcing for armed means of
fighting."
He added that the draft resolution didn't reflect "reality in
Syria," nor did "co-authors" adopt Russia's amendments to "distance"
themselves "from (culpable) extremist groups" behind the
insurrection.
On February 7, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov, and Foreign Intelligence Service chief Mikhail
Fradkov will meet Assad in Damascus.
On February 5, a Foreign Ministry statement said:
"Russia, including in interaction with other countries, is firmly
set to seek the quickest stabilization of the situation in Syria
along the paths of the quickest implementation of longstanding
democratic transformations."
Moscow also urged Arab League foreign ministers to continue their
monitoring mission and report accurately on what they find. Russia
and China stand firm against another "Libyan scenario."
A Final Comment
Washington and key NATO partners plan intervention with or without
Security Council cover. Doing so violates fundamental international
law that prohibits interfering in other countries' internal affairs,
except in self-defense if attacked.
Syria threatens no one. Neither does Iran. Yet both are targeted for
regime change. Plans are longstanding. With or without UN support,
they're coming.
Expect the worst in 2012, preceded perhaps by false flag cover
blamed on Assad. The strategy's used as needed. It's an America
tradition to enlist public support for war.
Electoral politics may influence timing, especially in a close
presidential race. According to the latest February 4 Rasmussen poll
findings, "Romney now ties Obama 45/45." Moreover, "uncommitted
voters (12% of its sample) have a distinctly sour take on the
President," though months remain until November.
Expect unfolding events to attempt to improve Obama's chances,
including perhaps war by scaring most people to support it. It's
generally effective when tried. In a close election year race, odds
favor it.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
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