Obama Declares Open-Ended MIddle East War

by Stephen Lendman

He did so in flagrant violation of international law. It's not the first time. It won't be the last.

It's longstanding US policy. All US wars are lawless. They violate the Constitution's Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2).

It states all US laws and treaties "shall be the supreme law of the land…"

International law is clear and unequivocal. No nation may attack another except in self-defense.

None may do so without Security Council authorization. None exists. Expect none forthcoming.

UN Charter Article 2(7) states:

"Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter."

Under no circumstances may one nation, or combination thereof, intervene against another without Security Council authorization.

Article 8 of the 1933 Montevideo Convention of Rights and Duties says: "No state has the right to intervene in the internal or external affairs of another."

Under Article 10, differences between states "should be settled by recognized pacific methods."  

Article 11 calls sovereign state territory "inviolable..."

Other charters affirm non-intervention. They include:

• the Organization of American States;

• Organization of African Unity;

• League of Arab States;

• Buenos Aires;

• Chapultepec; and

• First Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries in Belgrade, among others.

Washington flagrantly violates rule of law principles. It does so repeatedly. It's to advance its imperium.

On Wednesday night, Obama declared open-ended Middle East war. It includes war on Syria.

The Islamic State is the pretext. Assad's government is the target. Regime change is the objective.

So is eliminating an Israeli rival, isolating Iran and wanting unchallenged regional control.  

So-called ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State (IS) "terrorists" are a US creation. They're used strategically as both allies and enemies.

Washington arms, trains, funds and directs them. Obama's address included a litany of Big Lies.

Obama: "As Commander-in-Chief, my highest priority is the security of the American people."

Fact: Throughout his tenure, Obama caused more harm to more Americans than any of his predecessors.

Fact: He's done so multiple ways.

Fact: He serves monied interests at the expense of populist ones.

Fact: He uses America's resources for war-making, corporate tax cuts and other handouts.

Fact: He presides over a homeland police state apparatus.

Fact: He's waging war on freedom.

Fact: Francis Boyle calls his planned campaign an "impeachable offense."

Fact: Claiming he has authority is "baloney," said Boyle.

Fact: He plans "dron(ing) people to death with enormous civilian casualties," he added.

Obama: "(W)e continue to face a terrorist threat."

"If left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond that region, including to the United States."

Fact: The only threats America faces are ones it invents.

Fact: The Islamic State doesn't threaten America's security.

Fact: Claims otherwise are Big Lies.

Fact: Obama hyped them to enlist public support.

Obama: "Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy."

"I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq."

"This is a core principle of my presidency. It you threaten America, you will find no safe haven."

Fact: It bears repeating. America's only threats are ones it invents.

Fact: At issue is replacing all independent governments with pro-Western stooge ones.

Fact: It's wanting control of world resources.

Fact: It's wanting ordinary people exploited at home and abroad.

Fact: War on humanity is official US policy.

Fact: Perhaps destroying planet earth to save it will follow.

Obama: "(W)e will send an additional 475 service members to Iraq…(T)hese American forces will not have a combat mission. We will not get dragged into another ground war in Iraq."

Fact: Hundreds of US special forces were sent to Iraq.

Fact: They're trained killers.

Fact: They're not good will ambassadors.

Fact: Obama plans sending 475 more.

Fact: Perhaps larger numbers will follow given protracted conflict Obama envisions.

Obama: "(W)e have ramped up our military assistance to the Syria opposition."

"Tonight, I call on Congress again to give us additional authorities and resources to train and equip these fighters."

"(T)he Assad regime…terrorizes its own people. It will never regain the legitimacy is has lost."

Fact: There's nothing civil about war in Syria.

Fact: Washington, rogue EU allies and complicit Arab states imported thousands of death squad killers.

Fact: They did so from dozens of countries.

Fact: US special forces and CIA operatives arm, fund, train and direct them.

Fact: Syrians overwhelmingly support Assad.

Fact: In a June presidential election independent monitors judged open, free and fair, he was reelected by a near 89% majority.

Fact: Syrians want no one else leading them.

Fact: Assad's legitimacy is solid.

Fact: Hands off Syria, they demand.

Fact: Its sovereign independence is inviolable.

Obama's strategy is four-fold, he claims. It includes:

• airstrikes aiding its stooge Iraqi government;

• US special forces support;

• "counterterrorism" against America's invented enemies; and

• false claims about humanitarian concerns.

Obama seeks another coalition of the willing. He'll bully, pressure and bribe other nations to go along.

He calls it "American leadership at its best."

He lied claiming "(w)e stand with people who fight for their own freedom, and we rally other nations on behalf of our common security and common humanity."

He lied claiming authorization to attack America's enemies. None exists. Expect none forthcoming.

It bears repeating. The Security Council has sole authority over whether one country may attack another.

It's permitted only in self-defense. So-called Middle East terrorist elements don't threaten America. Nor does Syria.

Obama intends lawless aggression. Big Lies drown out truths explaining it.

All wars are based on misinformation, deception and Big Lies. Official reasons don't wash.

Waging war on "terrorists" masks Washington's real agenda. A previous article explained as follows:

Obama's campaign has nothing to do with with humanitarian intervention. Or responsibility to protect.

Or protecting national security. Or safeguarding US personnel. Or spreading democratic values. Or championing right over wrong.

It's the oil, stupid. Iraq has huge reserves. It's protecting Big Oil's divine right to exploit them.

It's Washington wanting unchallenged regional control. It's making the world safe for war-profiteers.

It's pillage on a grand scale. It's disenfranchising whole populations. It's turning workers into serfs.

It's prioritizing capital's divine right. It's America's dark side writ large. It's got nothing to do with internal or external threats.

Not according to MSM scoundrels. When America goes to war or plans one, they march in lockstep.

Rule of law principles don't matter. Nor right over wrong.

Might over right justifies the unjustifiable. MSM scoundrels are on the wrong side of history.

New York Times editors want "(t)he formation of an international coalition that includes Arab states, Western allies and the United States Congress…to give the American-led operation legitimacy."

Unexplained was that waging war extrajudicially denies it altogether.

Washington Post editors support war without mercy. Naked aggression doesn't matter.

"American drones and warplanes must pursue the Islamic State wherever it can be found, and that includes its havens in Syria," they said.

"We hope Congress welcomes Mr. Obama's renewed commitment and approves funds" he'll request.

Wall Street Journal editors said Obama "deserves public support as long as he is willing to fight this war…with more resolve and persistence than he has heretofore shown in his Presidency."

"Targeting Syria is crucial," they claimed. Unexplained is that Assad's government is the target. Regime change the objective. Waging war without Security Council authorization is lawless aggression.

Don't expect MSM editors to explain. They're in lockstep with what demands opposition.

Cheerleading war on humanity is longstanding MSM practice. Denouncing what's wrong isn't their long suit. Or assuming the moral high ground.

War without end persists. Homeland needs go begging.

Rule of law principles don't matter. World peace hangs by a thread.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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