NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen tried having it both ways.

On the one hand, he said:

"We need a firm international response in order to avoid that chemical attacks take place in the future."

"It would send a very, I would say, dangerous signal to dictators all over the world if we stand idle by and don't react."

On the other, he said it's for "individual allies to decide how they will respond." He "foresee(s) (no) further NATO role."

He still conducts "closed consultations" with allies. He claims he's seen evidence enough to convince him "not only that a chemical attack had taken place, but also...that the Syrian regime is responsible."

He's like other NATO partners. He lied saying so. He'll wage war on Syria covertly. He's been doing it all along.

Only France openly agreed to join Obama's coalition of the killing. President Francois Hollande defied French public sentiment doing so. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said:

"This act cannot be left without a response. It's not for France to act alone. The president is continuing his work of persuasion to bring together a coalition without delay."

"France is determined to penalize (Assad's) use of chemical weapons and dissuade (him) with a forceful and firm response."

"The objective is neither to topple the regime or liberate the country." He lied saying so. Obama wants Syrian sovereignty destroyed.

France joined his coalition. Britain, Germany and other key NATO allies are on board covertly. Israel's very much involved. So are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, other rogue Gulf states, Turkey and Jordan.

France's Le Figaro interviewed Assad. He was clear and unequivocal.

"Those who make accusations must show evidence. We have challenged the United States and France to come up with a single piece of proof." They've been incapable of doing so," he said.

"Anybody who contributes to the financial and military reinforcement of terrorists is the enemy of the Syrian people."

"If the policies of the French state are hostile to the Syrian people, the state will be their enemy."

"There will be repercussions, negative ones obviously, on French interests," he stressed.

Obama intends lawless aggression. On Thursday and Friday, he's in St. Petersburg, Russia. He's attending the G20 summit.

Syria will dominate discussions. On September 1, Reuters headlined "Analysis: Putin sees chance to turn tables on Obama at G20."

Obama's under pressure. Putin forthrightly opposes war. During June's G8 summit, he "was isolated over his backing for" Assad. He "scowled his way through talks with Obama."

He "stood his ground. (He) dismiss(ed) Obama's (baseless) allegations." He calls accusations about Syrian forces using chemical weapons against its own people "utter nonsense."

US global policy failed, he stressed. Wherever America shows up, "there is no peace, no democracy, which our partners allegedly sought," he said.

"After months of pressure to abandon Assad, he is sending a message to the West that he is ready to do battle over Syria in St. Petersburg and sees an opportunity to portray the United States as the bad boy on the block," said Reuters.

" 'Of course the G20 is not a formal legal authority,' " he said. "It's not a substitute for the UN Security Council."

"It can't take decisions on the use of force. But it's a good platform to discuss the problem. Why not take advantage of this?" he stressed.

"Is it in the United States' interests once again to destroy the international security system, the fundamentals of international law," he asked? Will it strengthen the United States' international standing? Hardly."

Obama's intended lawless aggression makes him controversial. Putin looks saintly by comparison. Obama's due back in Washington after G20 summit talks conclude.

Expect war any time once he's home. It's unlikely while he's away. He blundered repeatedly before. He's not foolheardy enough to launch aggressive war during diplomatic discussions.

According to London's Guardian, Obama intends toppling Assad. Military action is part of his broader strategy to do so. During Tuesday's White House meeting, he told congressional leaders:

Attacking Syria "fits into a broader strategy that can bring about over time the kind of strengthening of the opposition and the diplomatic, economic and political pressure required - so that ultimately we have a transition that can bring peace and stability, not only to Syria but to the region."

On August 30, a White House press release headlined "Government Assessment of the Syrian Government's Use of Chemical Weapons on August 21, 2013." It featured Big Lies.

Left unsaid are plans to destroy Iranian sovereignty. Washington wants pro-Western puppet governance replacing it. War plans are readied to do so. They may be initiated if Assad's ousted.

Iran is Washington's prime regional target. Longstanding policy calls for regime change. Attacking Syria is prelude for what's planned.

American lawless aggression masquerades as humanitarian intervention. There's nothing humanitarian about mass killing and destruction.

All US wars feature them. They cause horrific human suffering. They leave charnel house conditions. They're followed by more wars.

They're increasingly without popular support. It doesn't matter. Imperial priorities count most.

America was never beautiful. It's not now. The nation this writer grew up in no longer exists. Gangsters run things in Washington.

The criminal class is bipartisan. Support's afforded wealth, power and privilege alone. Rage for war ties bind. Big Lies launch them.

Fear, misinformation, and deceit proliferate. Media scoundrels regurgitate what demands condemnation. One war leads to others. Leaders lie claiming they're waged in pursuit of peace.

Gore Vidal once said "our rulers for more than half a century have made sure that we are never to be told the truth about anything that our government has done to other people, not to mention our own."

Perpetual wars are called noble peace gestures. Waging them assures eventual mass annihilation. Arnold J. Toynbee suggested they'll leave only pygmies in remote jungles or perhaps apes and ants behind. They'll continue "the cultural traditions of mankind," he said.

Dwight Eisenhower warned about military and war-profiteering industrialists. "The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist," he said.

Smedley Butler called war a "racket." He did so for good reason. His 1933 speech said:

"I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as (a Marine). I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General."

"And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism."

"I helped make Mexico....safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in."

"I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street."

"The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909 - 1912."

"I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China, I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested."

"During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket."

"Looking back at it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."

America's global empire stretches everywhere. Hundreds of bases support it. So do super-weapons. No public figure today matches Butler's forthrightness.

No one would dare try. They'd be vilified for doing it. They'd be defrocked and drummed out of office. They'd risk assassination.

The business of America is war. Perpetual ones never end. Barbarism defines US policy. Young generations are destroyed at home and abroad.

Peace is verboten. Humanity hangs by a thread. Eventual annihilation is likely. What damn fool leader would risk it.

Obama heads where angels fear to tread. If stopping him doesn't matter most, what does?

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He 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.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs Fridays 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