Making War, Not Peace in Syria

by Stephen Lendman

On January 22, so-called Geneva II peace talks begin in Montreux, Switzerland. On January 24, they'll continue in Geneva.

They're dead on arrival before beginning. Radicalized elements dominate anti-Assad forces. They reject peace.

So does Washington. Syria is Obama's war. US-supported death squads wage it. Obama didn't target Syria to quit. He wants Assad ousted.

He wants a pro-Western stooge replacing him. He bears full responsibility for what's happening. He's been ravaging and destroying Syria since March 2011.

He's not about to stop now. He's gone all out to perpetuate conflict. He deplores peace. He rejects it out of hand.

His agenda is war without mercy. It shows in countless atrocities against Syrian civilians. Conflict without end continues daily. Resolving it peacefully is more illusion than reality.

Washington decided years ago to oust Assad. War on over half a dozen regional countries was planned.

Conflict without end rages in Afghanistan. Saddam and Gaddafi were toppled. Iraq and Libya remain cauldrons of violence. War on Syria shows no signs of ending. Iran's turn awaits.

America is a warrior nation. It's addicted to war. It's been this way from inception. It's history is blood-drenched. Things are worse now than ever.

The business of America is war. Militarism writ large is the national pastime. It's a hugely destructive addiction. Over-the-top ideologues make policy.

Project for the New American Century (PNAC) neocons haven't gone away. They reinvented themselves. They're now called the Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI).

Their agenda remains unchanged. Imperialism writ large reflects it. They believe achieving unchallenged dominance requires:

• significant defense spending increases;

• replacing independent governments with subservient pro-Western ones; and

• "accept(ing) responsibility for American's unique role in preserving and extending an international order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles."

America's war on humanity rages. Freedom is vanishing in plain sight. So is social justice.

Enemies are invented. They're needed to perpetuate conflict. Dominance involves controlling world markets, resources and cheap labor.

It means perpetual war against peace, stability and security. It's about plundering the world for profit. It's about making it unfit to live in.

Syria reflects what can happen anywhere. It's population numbers around 22.5 million. An estimated nine million are internally or externally displaced.

Misery defines their status. Obama bears full responsibility. He's a war criminal multiple times over. He wants Syrian sovereignty destroyed.

He wants war, not peace. Waging one after another lets US war profiteers gorge at the public trough.

Plunder assures obscene profits. Business is better than ever. America's permanent war policy assures it.

Military spending is hugely wasteful. A previous article discussed a black hole of Pentagon unaccountability. Trillions of dollars are wasted.

Massive waste, fraud and abuse reflects official policy. Enormous grand theft persists. Sweetheart deals, bribes, kickbacks and over-billing are commonplace.

Was isn't hell. It's a bonanza. It's hugely profitable. Why else would so many conflicts be waged?

Blank check corruption sacrifices peace, equity and justice. Out-of-control warmaking persists. Don't bet on Geneva II changing things.

So far, five permanent Security Council members, Arab League countries, EU representation, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and 26 other nations will participate in Geneva.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said:

"(T)he overwhelming majority of countries is aware that there is no alternative to political and diplomatic means in settling the Syrian crisis, what Russia has been insisting on from the very beginning."

"(T)he political process should contribute to consolidation of efforts of all Syrians in the war on terrorism."

The ministry stressed the importance of "finalizing a representative composition of external delegates and inviting influential regional players to secure a lasting settlement in Syria and to fulfill future solutions of the conference."

"Russia and the United Nations believe that Iran should be added to (the participant) list."

Washington blocked Iran's participation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded, saying:

"There are signs of the positive impact Iran could have on the (conflict) settling process."

"Almost everybody talks about it in private conversations, and some officials have started speaking publicly in favor of Iran taking part in the conference."

"(T)hose who oppose the participation of Iran do this coming from ideological considerations rather than common interests."

UN/Arab League Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi downplayed US obstructionism, saying:

"Our partners in the United States are still not convinced that Iran's participation would be the right thing to do."

"We have agreed that we will be talking a little bit more to see if we can come to an agreement on this question."

"On Iran, we haven't agreed yet. But it is no secret that we in the United Nations welcome (its) participation..."

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman will represent Washington. Her presence isn't encouraging.

She's no honest broker. She's no peacemaker. She represents Washington's imperial agenda. She's militantly anti-Assad.

In congressional testimony on Iran, she lied to Senate Foreign Relations Committee members. She shamelessly accused Tehran of deception.

"We know (it's) part of (Iran's) DNA," she said. If she said this about virtually any US ally, she'd be fired. She argued against Iran's legitimate uranium enrichment right.

She wrongfully blames Assad for Obama's war. She disgracefully accused him of atrocities committed by US backed death squads.

Deputy Foreign Ministers Mikhail Bogdanov and Gennady Gatilov will represent Russia.

"Iran's participation is important from the viewpoint of future implementation of the agreements that may be reached during direct inter-Syrian dialogue," Gatilov stressed.

Syrian opposition elements willing to attend haven't decided who'll represent them.

"There have lately been signals from some (Syrian) opposition members on the desirability of shifting the time of the conference," said Gatilov.

"This is related primarily to the opposition's unpreparedness to announce the composition of its delegation by" the agreed on December 27 date.

"The key point is that the opposition should announce the composition of its delegation. Without resolving this issue, it is hard to expect that the conference will take place," he added.

So-called Free Syrian Army commander general Salim Idris said FSA will attend. He doesn't represent dominant radicalized forces. They're waging holy war on Syria.

Al Nusra leader Abu Mohammad al Jolani rejects peace talks. He won't recognize whatever Geneva decides.

It's "an attempt to resuscitate the regime," he said. Nations attending "do not represent the people who sacrificed with their blood."

They're "accomplices in selling out the blood that has been shed. We cannot allow the Geneva II game to fool the nation, to push us back 50 or 100 years."

Syrians face bleak future prospects. Obama bears full responsibility. In his weekly national address, he ignored them.

He thumbed his nose at Americans. Most households struggle to get by. They're one lost paycheck away from homelessness and hunger. Times are tougher than ever for growing millions.

Obama lied about economic growth prospects, "expanding opportunity, (and) building an America that offers everyone who works hard the chance to get ahead, and every child a fair shot at success."

He expressed confidence about "more progress together in the year to come."

"Have a great weekend and a very Merry Christmas," he added.

Poverty, unemployment, underemployment, hunger and homelessness assure misery for millions of Americans.

Syrians struggle daily to survive. Prospects going forward continue grim. War without end persists.

Peace is nowhere in sight. It remains a distant hope. Maybe someday. Not now.

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.

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