Washington's agenda involves
death squad diplomacy. Evidence mounts proving it. It's standard practice
in all US direct and proxy wars. It's how America treats its enemies.
Massacres and unspeakable atrocities are committed. Women are raped.
Civilians are treated like combatants. They're indiscriminately killed.
Others are targeted for opposing US aggression. Children are harmed
like adults. Prisoners are tortured. No crime's too gruesome to commit.
Lies, duplicity, and coverup follow. Media scoundrels bear direct responsibility.
Their hands are bloodstained like US officials, forces and proxy killers.
Vietnam's Operation Phoenix became a prototype for today's wars. It
included intimidation, kidnappings torture, and mass murder. At issue
was eliminating opposition elements. Terrorizing people into submission
was policy.
Southeast Asia tactics are replicated in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and
Syria. Barbarism defines US policy.
On July 11, German writer Jurgen Todenhofer confirmed the presence
of Al Qaeda insurgents in Syria. He met with them, he said. He holds
them and others like them responsible for mass terror attacks.
He described a "massacre marketing strategy." He called it "among the
most disgusting things that I have ever experienced in an armed conflict."
He added that Western media distort what's happening on the ground.
Viewers and readers know it's their stock and trade. They're paid to
lie. Journalists dedicated to truth and full disclosure need not apply.
On July 24, Asia Times writer John Rosenthal headlined "German intelligence:
al-Qaeda all over Syria," saying:
"German intelligence estimates that 'around 90' terror attacks that
'can be attributed to organizations that are close to al-Qaeda or jihadist
groups' were carried out in Syria between the end of December and the
beginning of July, as reported by the German daily Die Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung (FAZ)."
Die Welt and Bild published similar reports. All three name Al Qaeda
behind the May 25 Houla massacre. Russian journalist Marat Musin was
there. He said hundreds of "bandits and mercenaries" were responsible.
Washington's imperial tactics involve cutthroat killer atrocities. Human
lives have no value. Only wealth, privilege and dominance matter. US
officials don't keep body counts. Objectives are pursued lawlessly.
Rosenthal cited Die Welt contributor Alfred Hackensberger. Taldo is
part of Syria's Houla region. Insurgents controlled it for months, said
Hackensberger. They bear responsibility for Houla killings.
He visited the area. He interviewed an eyewitness. He left him unidentified
for his safety. He was at Qara's Saint James Monastery. Victims were
pro-Assad Sunnis, he said. Many people know what happened but won't
say "out of fear for their lives."
"Whoever says something can only repeat the rebels' version. Anything
else is certain death."
Hackensberger related similar stories. A former Qusayr resident said
Christians and others refusing to "enroll their children in the Free
Syrian Army" were shot. He held "foreign Islamists" responsible.
"I have seen them with my own eyes," he said. Pakistanis, Libyans, Tunisians
and also Lebanese. They call Osama bin Laden their sheikh."
A Homs Sunni resident told Hackensberger he witnessed armed insurgents
stopping a bus. "The passengers were divided into two groups: on one
side, Sunnis; on the other, Alawis."
Nine Alawis were decapitated.
Rosenthal said:
"That the German government would cite national interest in refusing
to disclose its information (publicly) concerning the circumstances
of the Houla massacre is particularly notable in light of Germany's
support for the rebellion and its political arm, the Syrian National
Council (SNC)."
It plays a quiet behind the scenes role, he added. Its foreign office
is involved in developing "political transition" plans.
So is former US Saudi Arabia ambassador Prince Bandar, reports Haaretz.
His close ties to the Bush family earned him the nickname "Bandar Bush."
For years he's been involved with Washington's Syria regime change plans.
He now serves as Saudi intelligence chief. He's also National Security
Council secretary-general.
His intelligence appointment involves "preparing for the next stage
in Syria," said Haaretz. His wife has Al Qaeda "connections." He's considered
"CIA's man in Riyadh." He's "known as a can-do" guy.
He spares nothing to achieve objectives. He participated directly in
America's Contra wars. He helped fund Central American death squads
and Afghan mujahideen fighters against Soviet forces.
He's active in current Washington plans to depose Assad. Like other
US allies, his hands are bloodstained.
In her daily press briefing, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland
condoned the murder of Syrian officials. She justified her position,
saying they "organize(d) Assad's military campaign...."
She tried having it both ways, adding "we don't condone violence of
any kind." She ignored Washington's direct role in orchestrating it.
US rhetoric about supporting human rights and other democratic values
rings hollow.
America is the world's worst human rights abuser. It spurns democracy.
It's intolerant at home and abroad. It's hardline, belligerent and repressive.
Saying one thing and doing another is policy. At the same time, it audaciously
points fingers at China.
On July 25, Bloomberg headlined "US Finds China's Human Rights Situation
Is Deteriorating," saying:
According to Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights,
and Labor Michael Posner, conditions in China are worsening. We have
human rights issues in America, he added. He left unsaid how US policy
spurns them at home and abroad.
Do as I say not as I do is policy. So is practicing wrong over right.
Interfering in the internal affairs of other countries blatantly violates
international and constitutional law.
Doing it by direct or proxy belligerence adds crimes of war, against
humanity and genocide. Justice Robert Jackson called aggressive war
"the supreme international crime against peace."
Convicted Nazis were hanged. America repeatedly gets away with murder
unaccountably.
A July 25 Washington Post article provided more evidence, saying:
Free Syrian Army fighters have safe havens in Turkey. In Antakya, they
"stride through its narrow streets sunburned and sweaty from the battlefield,
hoping to meet benefactors to provide them with money and arms."
"Salafi Muslims, who have come to offer help from the countries of the
Persian Gulf region, huddle over kebabs, their long beards and robes
conspicuous in secularist Turkey."
Ankara officials are largely tight-lipped. Little is said about "rebel
fighters" passing freely cross border to Syria and back. Military trucks
ferry weapons into Syrian territory.
Turkish authorities deny what independent observers confirm. Officials
claim only humanitarian aid is provided. At the same time, Hurriyet
daily headlined "PM declares Syria intervention a 'natural right,' "
saying:
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Syrian-based Kurdistan Workers
Party (PKK) elements give Turkey the right to intervene. "We will not
tolerate PKK cooperation with other organizations in the area," he said.
This, earlier hostile comments, and Turkey's provocative violation of
Syria's airspace suggest Ankara's looking for a pretext to intervene.
Washington calls the shots. Erdogan's a useful tool. He's complicit
in US regime change plans. Whether he'll initiate preemptive cross-border
attacks remains to be seen.
It's unclear if Israel plans getting involved. Recent tax increases
were announced. Mossad-connected DEBKAfilesays they're "steps towards
a $25-30bn war budget."
Israel already spends an enormous amount on militarism. Like America,
it does it at a time it has no enemies except ones it invents.
Between militarism, settlement construction, and corporate favoritism,
little remains for domestic needs mattering most to ordinary Israelis.
Whether Israel plans more war won't be known unless or attacks confirm
it. Threats alone don't signify policy. Netanyahu and other Israeli
officials make them often. On July 25, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said:
Israel faces "tough and crucial (security) decisions. I am well aware
of the difficulties involved in thwarting Iran's attempts to acquire
a nuclear weapon."
"However, it is clear to me that without a doubt, dealing with the threat
itself will be far more complicated, far more dangerous and far more
costly in resources and human life than thwarting it."
Israel may or may not be planning to confront Syria. On July 24, IDF
Chief of Staff General Benny Gantz was ambiguous about an alleged Damascus
chemical and biological weapons threat.
On the one hand, he urged caution. On the other, he said Israel might
"find itself in a wider conflict that it planned" if military operations
against Syria are initiated.
He left unexplained what he meant except to suggest attacking WMDs may
have unintended consequences. He added that IDF policy sometimes means
engaging in action. At other times, it's about holding back.
The Syrian pot is boiling. Both countries share a common border. Full-scale
war could spill over. Syria run by extremist elements means anything
going forward is possible.
Israel, Western states and regional allies plan regime change. Achieving
it might bring more than what they bargain for.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.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.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
Likud, Kadima, Labor, or new centrist party leadership hardly matters.
Israel remains hardline, belligerent, and repressive. Arab citizens
have no rights.
They and most Jews chafe under neoliberal harshness. Instead of improving
conditions, they're worsening.
Malcolm X once said "I see America through the eyes of the victim. I
don't see any American dream - I see an American nightmare."
Israelis face similar harshness. Remaining rights are eroding en route
to being lost altogether. Populist change demands sustained public rage.
Nothing else can work.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.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.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
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