NOVANEWS
by Stephen Lendman
For nearly a year, externally generated violence wracked Syria. Dirty Western hands planned and implemented it. Rogue regional despots were enlisted for support.
Replacing an independent regime with a pro-Western one and isolating Iran are planned. Russia and China thwarted two Security Council resolutions designed to facilitate intervention.
On February 16, a non-binding Arab League General Assembly resolution passed with similar language. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states backed it.
Pressure’s building for escalated anti-Assad measures. Sooner or later expect intervention, perhaps war. At issue is isolating Iran, then targeting the Islamic Republic. Replicating 1953 in some form’s coming, perhaps more war that may involve Russia and China defending their interests.
On February 24, a Friends of Syria coalition of the willing will meet in Tunisia. The State Department organized them outside the UN system. Hillary Clinton and key NATO counterparts will attend.
On February 13, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said “Moscow does not consider the US-backed ‘Friends of Syria’ legitimate.”
It’s similar to last year’s orchestrated one against Gaddafi. France said it might supply weapons. In fact, heavy ones were provided since violence erupted last March. They’re coming from Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon’s opposition March 14 alliance, Gulf states and perhaps Washington, rogue NATO partners and Israel.
Last November, Russia accused Western countries of illicitly arming Syria’s opposition. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was blunt, saying:
“Noboby is commenting on it and no one is admitting it, but the facts are impossible to contradict: weapons are being smuggled into Syria from Turkey and Iraq. Armed extremists are using peaceful demonstrations to provoke Syrian government violence.”
Lavrov specifically named America and France for their anti-Assad agenda to remove him. Saudi Arabia and Qatar agreed to fund opposition forces. Western funding’s also likely involved. Covert UK, Qatari, and perhaps other special forces, as well as CIA, MI6 and likely other Western intelligence operatives actively aid insurgent killers.
Pentagon war plans are ready to implement. Alleged humanitarian intervention’s again involved. The same scheme ravaged Libya. Perhaps Syria’s next, then Iran.
Agitprop reports smooth the way.
On February 16, Veterans Today contributor Sharmine Narwanti headlined, “High-Tech Trickery in Homs?” saying:
US Facebook posted satellite images of Homs violence was blamed on Assad. America’s Syrian ambassador Robert Ford called them evidence of:
“A terrible and tragic development in Syria (showing) the use of heavy weaponry by the Assad regime against residential neighborhoods.”
His claims, in fact, are baseless. The “blog Moon of Alabama” discredited them. “A detailed examination of satellite imagery….revealed numerous discrepancies in Washington’s allegation. (They showed) guns training within military barracks of well known training areas and not in active deployment.”
Ford also lied saying “There is no evidence that the opposition – even those opposition members who have defected from the military – has access to or has employed such heavy weapons.” He referred to artillery used in civilian areas.
CNN reported satellite images came from “pro-regime area(s) consisting mainly of Alawis, who belong to the same” sect as Assad. They’ve complained of opposition group attacks, kidnappings, and killings. Major media scoundrels ignore them.
State Department Homs satellite images “do not actually show the Syrian army engaged in battle,” as Ford claims. Washington and major media scoundrels are complicit “in the dissemination of false information.” At issue is escalating pressure for intervention.
Assad’s cooperating to ease tensions. On February 17, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he plans implementing reforms. A Foreign Ministry statement said Russia want measures accepted by all sides, provided the interests of the Syrian people and peace and security are prioritized.
Lavrov stressed the importance of non-intervention. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov called the Friends of Syria alliance a group of amateurs aimed at interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, including militarily. He added:
“The level of violence in Syria has notably risen over the past period, but this didn’t happen at all because of the behavior of the Syrian authorities, which rather did their best, particularly during the presence of the Arab monitors….to reduce the level of violence.”
“They withdrew military vehicles and forces from the streets and cities, released thousands of detainees and didn’t prevent peaceful protests.”
Nonetheless, Washington, Britain, France, other allies, and major media scoundrels accuse him of violence, in fact, caused by heavily armed Western-backed killer gangs.
At a February 17 press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Beijing’s position on the Syrian crisis will stand the test of time. “China doesn’t back one party over another, and its voting against the UN General Assembly resolution was based on China’s firm stance concerning the Syrian crisis.”
China very much opposes Western intervention similar to what ravaged Libya.
President Bashar al-Assad has set February 26 as the date for a national referendum on the country’s new draft constitution.
