{"article":{"id":265625,"heading":"Ravaging and Destroying Syria","author":"Stephen Lendman","created":"2014-08-30 17:38:10","modified":"2014-08-30 17:38:10","last_modified":"Sun, 31 Aug 2014 00:38:10","article":"

Ravaging and Destroying Syria

by Stephen Lendman

Advancing America's imperium matters most. Core international, constitutional and US statute laws aren't important.

Nor high crimes against peace. On geopolitical issues mattering most, MSM editors, correspondents, columnists and contributors support what demands condemnation.

Syria is Obama's war. He launched it. He continues it. He’s guilty of horrendous high crimes against peace.

He bears full responsibility for what UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres calls \"the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era.\" Nearly half of all Syrians are affected.

No end of conflict looms. Takfiri extremists serve as US proxies. They're imported from dozens of countries.

Islamic State fighters capture today's headlines. Washington funds, arms, trains and directs them. They serve as allies and enemies in different war theaters.

According to Progressive Radio News Hour guest Professor Rodney Shakespeare, Washington, Saudi Arabia and Israel created, armed and trained Takfiri extremist groups.

At issue is balkanizing Iraq. It's destroying Syrian sovereignty. It's \"smash(ing) up any independent Middle East state\" challenging Israel's Greater Middle East agenda.

The business of America is war. Enemies are invented. One nation after another is targeted.

Permanent war is official US policy. It's a national addiction. It's been this way from inception.

America's history reflects violence. Policymakers glorify war. Peace remains elusive. Humanity's survival is up for grabs.

Don't expect The New York Times to explain. It's on the wrong side of history. It supports imperial wars.

Cold and hot warriors get feature op-ed space. They include irresponsible government officials.

On August 29, John Kerry headlined \"To Defeat Terror, We Need the World's Help. The threat of ISIS (the Islamic State - IS) Demands a Global Coalition.\"

A previous article called Kerry's posturing bullying, bluster and Big Lies. He's no diplomat. He's a world class thug.

He disgraces the office he holds. He represents the worst of Washington's dark side.

He calls America's own creation \"a unifying threat to a broad array of countries, including the United States.\"

He wants partners for America's wars. Another US-led coalition of the willing. IS is the pretext. At issue is unchallenged regional control.

Attacking Iraq has nothing to do with external or internal threats. Or humanitarian concerns. Or spreading democratic values.

It has everything to do with serving Big Oil. It's about benefitting monied interests. It's feeding America's addiction for war.

It bears repeating. When enemies don't exist, they're created. Wars without end rage. Battlefields shift from one theater to another.

Don't expect Kerry to explain. He deplores peace. He promotes war. He supports ravaging and destroying one nation after another.

He hypes fear. He claims IS fighters threaten America. Not according to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.

After Britain raised its international terrorism threat level, he discounted a domestic one.

So does Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey. He considers IS a regional threat. He's not aware of any plots against America or Europe.

On Thursday, Obama said he has no strategy to confront IS. Kerry calls them \"a rising threat not just in the region, but anywhere they could manage to travel undetected - including to America.\"

Post-9\/11, Bush officials hyped fake domestic terrorism threats. They featured color-coded alerts.

They ranged from Green (low), Blue (guarded), Yellow (elevated), Orange (high) to Red (severe).

On April 26, 2011, a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) replaced them. Then Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said:

\"Today I announce the end of the old system of color-coded alerts. In its place, we will implement a new system that's built on a clear and simple premise: When a threat develops that could impact you - the public - we will tell you.\"

\"We will provide whatever information we can so you know how to protect yourselves, your families, and your communities.\"

Every post-9\/11 terror alert was fake. Alleged ones didn't exist. They don't now. Not according to Kerry.

He urges a US-led \"united response…and the broadest possible coalition of nations (to keep what he calls) the cancer of ISIS (from) spread(ing) to other countries.\"

\"Airstrikes alone\" aren't enough, he says. \"A much fuller response is demanded from the world.\"

He wants proxy ground forces involved. He wants regime change in Syria. He wants pro-Western stooge governance replacing its sovereign independence.

On August 15, 2014, SC Resolution 2170 was unanimously adopted. It \"condemn(s) gross, widespread abuse of human rights by extremist groups in Iraq (and) Syria.\"

It \"called on Member States to take national measures to prevent fighters from traveling from their soil to join (terrorist) groups…\"

\"It expressed readiness to consider putting on the sanctions list those who facilitated the recruitment and travel of foreign fighters.\"

Damascus supports confronting terrorism \"within the framework of (its) sovereignty and independence.\"

SC 2170 prohibits external unilateral action. International law forbids interfering in the internal affairs of other nations. It includes unauthorized surveillance flights.

Attacking other countries or elements therein without Security Council authorization constitutes naked aggression.

In September, Washington holds the Security Council's presidency. Kerry intends taking full advantage.

\"We will use that opportunity to continue to build a broad coalition and highlight the danger posed by foreign terrorist fighters, including those who have joined ISIS,\" he said.

Obama will lead a Security Council summit meeting \"to put forward a plan to deal with\" another hyped threat.

Former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski calls for a coalition of US partners \"patched together, someone ad hoc, with maybe some sort of informal an even clandestine agreements on who does what.\"

Russia's Foreign Ministry called on Washington to respect international law with regard to whatever it plans in Syria.

Sergey Lavrov said there's \"no alternative for settling the crisis other than the political and diplomatic solution.\"

He cited the 2012 Geneva Communique. He called it a \"solid international reference\" to resolve conflict responsibly.

It agreed on guidelines and principles for a political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.

Syrians alone may decide who'll lead them. Other nations, groups or elements have no say.

Efforts going forward require \"facilitat(ing) a Syrian-led political process.\" It must represent all its citizens.

Transitional government must be \"genuinely democratic and pluralistic.\"

It must comply with \"international standards on human rights.\"

It must include an independent judiciary. It must respect rule of law principles.

It must offer \"equal opportunities and chances for all.\"

Ending conflict depends on establishing \"a transitional governing body\" with \"full executive powers.\"

\"It could include members of the present government and the opposition and other groups and shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent.\"

Syrians alone must \"determine the future of the country.\"

All groups and segments of society must be able \"to participate in a National Dialogue\" process. Outcomes achieved \"must be implemented.\"

\"The result of the constitutional drafting would be subject to popular approval.\"

Once established, \"free and fair multi-party elections\" must be held. Women must be \"represented in all aspects of the transition.\"

\"The sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria must be respected.\"

Conflict resolution must be achieved through peaceful dialogue and negotiation. Force is ruled out.

Washington ignores Geneva provisions. It violates them repeatedly. It breaches core international law.

It wants Assad ousted. It's waging dirty proxy war to remove him. It's heading for direct intervention.

The Islamic state is the pretext. Syrian sovereign independence is the target.

Popular support is sought when polls show most Americans want ongoing wars ended. They want peace. They want US resources going for domestic needs.

Extremists they should fear reside in Washington, other Western capitals and Israel. Don't expect Kerry to explain.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net<\/a>.

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<\/a>

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 three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.

http:\/\/www.progressiveradionetwork.com\/the-progressive-news-hour<\/a><\/p>\n","contact":"lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net","link":"sjlendman.blogspot.com","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Syria","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2014\/08\/265625.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}