US
Strategy in Syria Includes Balkanization
By Stephen Lendman
January 15, 2017 "Information
Clearing House"
- Syria is Obama’s war, now Trump’s – in
cahoots with Israel and their rogue partners
in high crimes.
Their aim is replacing its government with
pro-Western puppet rule – a diabolical
scheme Washington pursues against all
sovereign independent countries, naked
aggression its favored strategy.
Russia’s intervention in September 2015 to
combat US-supported terrorists at the
request of Assad changed the dynamic on the
ground – forcing Washington to change
tactics, not its objective.
It includes occupying and controlling
northern Syria bordering Turkey and its
southern territory bordering Iraq –
balkanizing the country, a step toward
destroying its sovereign independence.
US forces operate in Syria illegally, their
presence a flagrant violation of
international law. They occupy a 55km area
in southern Syria – off limits to its
government and military.
The same holds in northern Syria – along the
820 km border with Turkey. Thousands of US
special forces and other combat troops
prevent Syrian control over its own
territory.
Washington intends creating a 30,000-strong
“Border Security Force (BSF)” – comprised of
Kurdish YPG fighters and terrorists, a
permanent occupying force.
The Pentagon and CIA are working with these
elements on the phony pretext of combating
ISIS they created and support.
According to the Defense Post, “(t)he BSF
will be stationed along the Euphrates River
Valley – marking the western edge of the
territory within Syria currently controlled
by” US-supported anti-government YPG
fighters and terrorists – so-called
Orwellian-named “Syrian Democratic Forces.”
Last month, US CENTCOM commander General
Joseph Votel said a training program was
being established for Kurdish and Arab
fighters – to become a permanent US
occupying force in Syria, he failed to
explain.
Turkey slammed the scheme, Erdogan spokesman
Ibrahim Kalin, saying Ankara has the right
to defend itself against “terror groups”
(referring to Kurdish YPG fighters), calling
Washington’s plan “unacceptable,” adding:
“Turkey will continue to take all necessary
precautions aligned with its national
interest to preserve its national security.”
Separately, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said
“US cooperation with YPG (fighters)
jeopardize(s) our national security and
territorial integrity of Syria, and that is
unacceptable. We condemn the persistence of
the United States in this erroneous
approach, and once again remind that Turkey
is determined to eliminate any threats
against it, and has all possibilities to do
this.”
Syria calls all anti-government forces in
the country “traitors.” Russia strongly
opposes Washington’s plan.
On Sunday, lower house State Duma Defense
Committee chairman Vladimir Shamanov said
the Trump administration’s plan “stands in
direct confrontation (with Russia’s
interests), and we and our colleagues will
certainly undertake certain measures on
stabilization of the situation in Syria.”
His deputy Defense Committee head Yuri
Shvitkin added:
“There’s a clear equivocation here. I think
it’s an obvious attempt to reanimate the
militants, who can flow from neighboring
states, namely Iraq, to achieve
(Washington’s) geopolitical goals, escalate
tensions, and, probably attempt to overthrow
the legitimately elected president Bashar
Assad.”
US and Russian aims for Syria are worlds
apart. Moscow wants conflict resolved, peace
and stability restored to the country, its
territorial integrity protected and
preserved, along with the right of Syrians
alone to decide who’ll lead them – free from
foreign interference.
Washington wants Assad removed, a
pro-Western puppet replacing him, Syrian
sovereign independence destroyed, the
country balkanized for easier control by a
permanent occupying force comprised of US
combat troops, Kurdish fighters and
terrorists.
How Russia intends challenging this
unacceptable scheme remains to be seen.
Will Syria become a flashpoint for
confrontation with Washington? Is US/Russian
confrontation inevitable?
Visit Stephens website: www.stephenlendman.org (Home – Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. - My newest book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.” http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html - Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
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