On January 6, Assad called
for "comprehensive national dialogue in the near future." He rules out
negotiating "with a puppet made by the West."
He advocates responsibly engaging opposition elements and other political
parties.
"Syria wants peace and reconciliation," he stressed.
"(A)rmed groups must halt terrorist acts."
Since early 2011, Washington waged war on Syria. Proxy deaths squads are
used. They're recruited abroad. They're heavily armed, funded, trained
and directed. They infiltrate across borders.
Syria was invaded. Nothing civil reflects protracted conflict. Syrians
depend on Assad for protection. He's vilified for doing his job. He's
blamed for death squad crimes.
Propaganda wars target him. Media scoundrels are merciless. They march
in lockstep with imperial US policy. They turn truth on its head. Doing
so violates fundamental journalistic ethics.
They do it anyway. They're paid liars. They mock legitimate journalism.
Their reports and commentaries don't rise to the level of bad fiction.
They embarrass themselves shamelessly. More on their comments below.
Assad's speech was comprehensive, thoughtful, and responsible. He addressed
what needs to be said. He correctly called foreign death squads "armed
criminals, terrorists, enemies of God, and puppets of the West."
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland lied. She turned truth on
its head. She ignored Washington's responsibility for nearly two years
of conflict.
She accused Assad of "yet another attempt by the regime to cling to power
and does nothing to advance the Syrian people’s goal of a political transition."
"His initiative is detached from reality, undermines the efforts of Joint
Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, and would only allow the regime
to further perpetuate its bloody oppression of the Syrian people."
She called legitimate self-defense "brutaliz(ing) his own people." He
"lost all legitimacy," she claimed. He "must step aside to enable a political
solution and a democratic transition that meets the aspirations of the
Syrian people."
She ignored rule of law principles. No nation may interfere in the internal
affairs of others. America's Constitution prohibits it.
She denied reality. Most Syrians support Assad. They condemn foreign invaders.
They deplore Western meddling. They alone should decide who'll govern.
The Syrian National Coalition for the Forces of the Opposition and the
Revolution (SNC 2.0) said Assad's speech:
"confirms his incompetence as a head of state who realizes the grave responsibilities
he carries during this critical time in Syria’s history."
"Furthermore, it demonstrates that he is incapable of initiating a political
solution that puts forward a resolution for the country’s struggle and
an exit for his regime with minimum losses because he cannot see himself
and his narrow based rule except as remaining in power despite being rejected
by his people and his traditional allies."
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called his speech "just repetitions
of what he's said all along."
He "no longer has the representative authority over the Syrian people."
Davutoglu and likeminded Turkish officials are imperial tools. They're
lead Washington attack dogs. They shamelessly betray their own people.
They violate international law in the process.
EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton is no better. She insists that
"Assad has to step aside and allow for a political transition."
UK Foreign Minister William Hague called Assad's speech "hypocritical.
Deaths, violence and oppression engulfing Syria are his own making. Empty
promises of reform fool no one."
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle claimed Assad's speech contained
"no new insights."
Robert Fisk called Assad's speech his "most important" one. He addressed
his people, Syria's army, and fallen martyrs. He praised supportive nations.
He stressed Syrian unity. "I will go one day, but the country stays,"
he said. He wants independence from foreign control. It matters most.
Conflict nonetheless continues. Syria may end up entirely ravaged when
it ends. Body count totals may rise exponentially. Washington takes no
prisoners.
Patrick Seale told Al Jazeera:
"If the fighting continues - and it shows no sign of stopping - then I
fear my predictions are very, very gloomy."
"Syria, a major Arab country after all, faces the possibility of dismemberment,
fragmentation, (and) partition."
The possibility is very real. Syria may replicate Afghanistan, Iraq and
Libya. It may be entirely destroyed. Hundreds of thousands may die. Washington
bears full responsibility.
Ahead of Assad's speech, the Washington Post condemned Obama's failure
to intervene. It's "one of his greatest failures," it said.
Post writer David Ignatius is a reliable imperial ally. On January 4,
he proposed a "way out of" aggressive war he called "civil." Aggression
is aggression is aggression. Nothing "civil" reflects it.
He wants Assad ousted. He supports foreign death squads. He equates them
with freedom fighters. Doing so betrayed his readers.
"As with everything affecting Syria, time is running out before the country
collapses into an anarchic failed state."
"What Syria needs urgently is a path to a new government based on the
rule of law."
Syrians alone should choose their government. Outside interference is
illegal. Washington prioritizes it. So does Ignatius. He supports imperial
lawlessness. He, like America, spurns rule of law principles at home and
abroad.
Assad prioritizes peaceful conflict resolution. He wants all nonviolent
parties engaged responsibly. Media scoundrels claim otherwise.
On January 6, The New York Times headlined "Defiant Speech by Assad Is
New Block to Peace in Syria," saying:
He sounded "defiant, confident and, to critics, out of touch with his
people's grievances."
Ignored was strong Syrian backing. The longer conflict continues, the
greater his internal support. The Times didn't explain.
Assad "sounded" like he did in winter 2011, "dictating which opposition
groups were worthy and labeling the rest terrorists and traitors."
He called a spade a spade. A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist.
Western-recruited death squads ravage the country. Syrians deplore them.
They depend on security forces to rout them.
The Times left core issues unaddressed. It ignored reality. It pointed
fingers the wrong way. It blamed Assad for death squad crimes. It falsely
claimed most Syrians "demand change."
It quoted the usual anti-Assad sources. Propaganda substituted for truth
and full disclosure. Times editors prioritize it.
The Washington Post was no better. On January 6, it headlined "Syria's
Assad is defiant in rare speech," saying:
Assad "dashed hopes that a negotiated settlement to the nation's civil
war would be feasible anytime soon."
His speech "offered no hint that he is prepared to surrender power, negotiate
with his opponents or halt his crackdown on armed rebels."
So-called "rebels" are Western-recruited assassins. They're foreign invaders.
They're death squad terrorists.
Assad prioritizes peaceful conflict resolution. Claiming otherwise turns
truth on its head.
Calling his position "uncompromising" belies reality. Propaganda substitutes
for full and accurate disclosure. It's typical Washington Post. Media
scoundrels prioritize it.
They march in lockstep with imperial lawlessness. They point fingers the
wrong way. The entire Post article was disingenuously duplicitous and
hypocritical.
Assad made fair-minded responsible proposals. The Post called them "vague."
He "put the onus on Western power." He did what had to be done.
His 50-minute speech was described as "outbursts of noisy acclamation."
His "defiant tone cast a shadow (over) diplomatic activity." He "derived
the entire opposition as lacking in ideology."
He did no such thing. He supports engaging nonviolent opponents. He correctly
refuses to negotiate with Western-recruited foreign invaders.
"(A)t no point did he suggest that his reform package was intended to
lead to a more democratic system of government."
His constitutional and parliamentary reform prioritizes it. The vast majority
of Syrians support it. The Post stopped short of explaining.
It quoted illegitimate SNC 2.0 officials saying he has to go. He's "incapable
of initiating a political solution."
Murdoch's Wall Street Journal echoed similar sentiments. On January 6,
it headlined "Defiant Assad Rules Out Talks with Rebels," saying:
He "issued a defiant call to war to defend the country against what he
called a foreign-inspired rebellion, ruling out talks with rebels and
rejecting international peace efforts for a political plan of his own
that keeps him in power."
Murdoch's world features demagoguery, managed news, scandal, sleaze, and
warmongering. He represents the worst of right-wing extremism.
Famed Chicago columnist Mike Royko (1932- 1997) once said "no self-respecting
fish would (want to) be wrapped in a Murdoch paper...."
He's a malevolent force. He's a leading global villain. He has final say
on editorial content. He demands going along with his views or leave.
The Journal regurgitated the usual canards. It falsely said Assad "won't
cooperate." He's "determined to fight."
He "ruled out a political settlement except on his own, specific terms.
Critics viewed his comments as the harshest declaration of war against
the opposition yet."
False! He was conciliatory, responsible and reasonable. He prioritizes
peaceful conflict resolution. Journal editors did what they do best.
They turned truth on its head. Anti-Assad sources were quoted. Andrew
Tabler is a Washington Institute for Near East fellow. WINEP is a right-wing
pro-Israeli front group.
Tabler's a featured AIPAC Annual Policy Conference speaker. He endorses
imperial war. He wants Assad ousted. He supports death squad proxies.
"Assad must go at all costs," he stresses.
He's "repeating an old, ruthless pattern: escalating defiantly to test
exactly where the red line is, and forcing the international community
to give concessions in its desire for a political settlement."
Israel is part of the anti-Assad coalition. Mossad-connected DEBKAfile
had its say. It headlined "Bolstered by 16 Russian warships, Assad nixes
dialogue with 'Western puppets,' " saying:
He "called on Syrians to defend the country against 'a war fought by only
a handful of Syrians and many foreigners. He rejected dialogue with" foreign
invaders.
He did the right thing. He called for national mobilization against "outside
forces."
DF said his strategy reflects "a long-term insurance policy for bolstering
his regime's survival." He believes Russian naval forces in Syrian waters
"deter the West from deploying ground forces to Syria."
Their presence serves as "counterweight" against offensive Patriot missiles
near Syria's border.
He was conciliatory. He urged dialogue with "those who have not betrayed
Syria." He offered more constitutional reform, new government representing
all Syrians, and amnesty to end conflict.
He rejects Western puppets. He offered conflict resolution hope. He reached
out responsibly to nonbelligerent opposition forces.
Washington, key NATO partners, Israel, other regional allies, and illegitimate
SNC 2.0 puppets spurn him. Peaceful conflict resolution remains a distant
hope.
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.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
http://www.dailycensored.com/western-media-war-on-syria/
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