Putin Alone at G8

Stephen Lendman

On June 17, G8 leaders began two days of talks in Northern Ireland. Seven nations want escalated war on Syria. Putin's alone. He's an outlier for peaceful conflict resolution.

Obama's hands are bloodrenched. He bears full responsibility for ravaging Syria. It's been ongoing since early 2011. It was planned many years earlier. On Monday, Obama lied saying:

"We're not taking sides in a religious war. Really, what we're trying to do is take sides against extremists of all sorts and in favor of people who are in favor of moderation, tolerance, representative government, and over the long-term, stability and prosperity for the people of Syria." "We share an interest in reducing the violence, securing chemical weapons and ensuring that they are neither used nor are they subject to proliferation." "We want to try to resolve the issue through political means if possible, so we will instruct our teams to continue to work on the potential of a Geneva follow-up."

Since conflict began, America's been arming, training, funding and directing death squad fighters in Syria. They're imported from dozens of regional and other countries.

According to Mossad-connected DEBKA file (DF):

"NATO and a number of European governments, most significantly the UK, have started airlifting heavy weapons to the Syrian rebels poised in Aleppo to fend off a major Syrian army offensive."

On June 17, "first shipments" arrived. They were airlifted to Turkey and Jordan. They include "anti-air and tank missiles as well as recoilless 120 mm cannons mounted on jeeps." They're heading for insurgents in southern Syria and Aleppo. More weapons arrived Tuesday. According to DF, "27 aircraft landings were counted in the last few days." Expect more to follow.

Obama's in Northern Ireland talking peace. He does so duplicitously. He prioritizes war. He bears full responsibility for raging conflict. He's doing it in multiple theaters. He's escalating it in Syria.

America's on a precipitous slippery slope. Obama's heading it for full-blown tyranny. He leads a nation in decline. It began long before his presidency. He's escalating what others began. He's menacing humanity in the process.

According to Immanuel Wallerstein, Syria's a "no win for the West."

"Whatever the United States and western European states do (will) have dire negative consequences for them. This is a perfect lose-lose situation for the dominant forces in the world." "The war is already spreading and could get totally out of control. It is not at all impossible that the interveners win out, and the whole of the Middle East finds itself in one gigantic, uncontrollable, endless war." "The key phrase is 'out of control.' "

America and complicit partners can't succeed. Escalated conflict is a lose-lose for the West and regional nations. Gideon Rachman is Financial Times chief foreign affairs commentator. On June 17, he headlined "The west's dominance of the Middle East is ending," saying:

"Those calling for deeper US involvement in the Syrian conflict are living in the past."

America's military is still the world's mightiest. It's influence however is ebbing. It ravages and destroys countries easily. It's inept at nation-building. Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya explain best. Puppet regimes are hated. Daily violence persists. US dominance is resisted. People want their sovereignty respected. "The era of direct colonialism in the Middle East ended decades ago," said Rachman. "The era of informal empire is now coming to a close."

The late Chalmers Johnson perhaps explained best. "We have met the enemy and he is us," he said. He quoted Pogo saying so. America's policies have been arrogant and misguided for decades. It's too late for scattered reforms.

Hegemonic overreach is too deep-seated. America's plagued by the same dynamic that doomed past empires. It's unwilling to change. It's headed for isolation, bankruptcy and tyranny. It's permanently at war despite no enemies. It's secretive, lawless, duplicitous and unaccountable. It's totally out-of-control. It's republic hangs by a thread. It makes more enemies than friends.

Paul Craig Roberts calls Washington "insane." It's "double-speak is now obvious to the world." Obama threatens possible WW III. Doing so "means the end of life on earth." Russia and China know if Syria falls, Iran's next. If puppet leaders replace the Islamic Republic's independent government, Moscow and Beijing are Washington's next targets. Roberts believes both countries are preparing for an eventual showdown. The prospect should terrify everyone. "Washington’s crazed, demented drive for world hegemony is bringing unsuspecting Americans up against two countries with hydrogen bombs whose combined population is five times the US population. In such a conflict everyone dies."

Obama's heading America for more war. He's doing so unconscionably. He's doing it based on lies. He blames Assad for US-sponsored crimes. He's done it since conflict began.

Putin's alone among G8 leaders. He wants him stopped. He and Obama met privately for two hours. They're deeply divided on Syria. London's Telegraph highlighted their differences. On June 17, it headlined "G8: Barak Obama and Vladimir Putin grim-faced on Syria disagreements," saying:

Their views are polar opposite. "In a photo-op after talks there was no sign of the chumminess that characterised meetings between Obama and Medvedev, who once went for lunch at a burger joint outside Washington."

Relations are increasingly frosty. Brave face pretense can't conceal it. Obama demands Assad must go. Putin insists Syrians alone must decide who'll lead them. He wants escalated conflict stopped. Obama prioritizes it. Libya 2.0 looms.

On June 18, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) headlined "President al-Assad gives interview to the German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper." Syria's "dealing with a form of guerrilla warfare," he said. Government forces are prevailing. They're doing so decisively.

"We are confident that we can successfully fight terrorism in Syria, but the bigger issue is the ensuing damage and its cost." "The crisis has already had a heavy toll but our biggest challenges will come once the crisis is over." "(F)oreign interference" bears full responsibility for ongoing conflict. "Nobody can know what the Middle East will look like should there be an attempt to re-draw the map of the region." "However, most likely that map will be one of multiple wars, which would transcend the Middle East spanning the Atlantic to the Pacific, which nobody can stop." It's happening now, he said. Ahead he expects much worse. We're "witness(ing) the domino effect of widespread extremism, chaos and fragmentation."

America, Britain and France want regional "puppets and dummies to do their bidding and serve their interests without question." "We have consistently rejected this. We will always be independent and free." Escalating conflict will backfire. Heavier weapons sent terrorists assure blowback. "Europe’s back garden will become a hub for terrorism and chaos, which leads to deprivation and poverty." "Europe will pay the price and forfeit an important market. (T)errorism will not stop here. It will spread to your countries." "It will export itself through illegal immigration or through the same terrorists who returned to their original countries after being indoctrinated and trained more potently."

Allegations of Syrian chemical weapons use are "ludicrous," Assad said. Where's the proof, he stressed?

"Had they obtained a single strand of evidence that we had used chemical weapons, do you not think they would have made a song and dance about it to the whole world?" "Then where is the chain of custody that led them to a such result?" "The terrorist groups used chemical weapons in Aleppo. Subsequently we sent an official letter to the United Nations requesting a formal investigation into the incident." "Britain and France blocked this investigation because it would have proven the chemical attacks were carried out by terrorist groups and hence provided conclusive evidence that they (Britain and France) were lying." "We invited them to investigate the incident, but instead they wanted the inspectors to have unconditional access to locations across Syria, parallel to what inspectors did in Iraq and delved into other unrelated issues."

"We are a sovereign state. We have an army and all matters considered classified will never be accessible neither to the UN, nor Britain, nor France." "They will only be allowed access to investigate the incident that occurred in Aleppo." Chemical weapons allegations reflect "an extension of the continuous American and Western fabrication of the actual situation in Syria." "Its sole aim is to justify their policies to their public opinion and use the claim as a pretext for more military intervention and bloodshed in Syria."

Assad wants conflict resolved diplomatically. He's eager for legitimate dialogue to do so. He won't negotiate with terrorists. No one should! Doing so assures greater conflict, not less. He calls legitimate opposition parties ones against terrorism. Their aims are political, not belligerent. He rejects foreign interference. He wants Syria's sovereignty respected. He wants Syrians alone to choose who'll lead them. International law supports him.

In 2014, his term ends. "When the country is in a crisis, the president is expected to shoulder the burden of responsibility and resolve the situation, not abandon his duties and leave." He calls doing so "treason." Syria's "biggest challenge is extremism," he says. He's committed to defeating it.

Polls show Syrians overwhelmingly support him. They do so for good reason. The alternative is Western domination. It assures protracted violence and instability. It'll replicate conditions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Palestine. Syrians want peace and stability. Achieving them requires routing death squad invaders. It means thwarting imperial Washington. It menaces humanity wherever it shows up. Imagine if Syria was its Waterloo. If that's not worth fighting for, what is?

Note: Summit leaders ended two days of talks. Their final communique stressed holding peace talks as soon as possible. No mention of Assad was made. Putin won't endorse his stepping down. Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov explained. He did so separately, saying:

"This would be not just unacceptable for the Russian side, but we are convinced that it would be utterly wrong, harmful, and would completely upset the political balance."

The final communique text can be read in full.

A Final Comment

Dam Press' June 17 Arabic language article was translated into English. It's important reading. Ahead of meeting G8 leaders, Putin visited David Cameron in London. He delivered a message. It's meant for America, Britain, France, and other anti-Assad belligerents. It's unambiguous.

Russian S-300 missiles in Syria will target Washington's Patriot installations if used against Assad. More advanced S-400s may be delivered. They're by far the most advanced air defense system. They exceed anything America or other Western countries have. They're extremely effective. So are S-300s. Moscow will also supply Assad with state-of-the-art 24-Barrell rocket launchers. They're considered the most advanced artillery weapon of its kind. They able to destroy threatening targets on Syria's borders. He may send other sophisticated weapons. He opposes arming insurgents. He deplores sending them heavier weapons. He's against Obama's planned escalation. He's drawn his own red line. He won't tolerate crossing it.

Russia's a powerful adversary. It's nuclear arsenal matches America's. It's weapons are very sophisticated. It has regional interests vital to protect. It's concerned about Washington's longstanding intentions. If Syria, Iran, and other independent countries become US vassal states, targeting Russia and China follow.

Assad wants Syria's sovereignty respected. Iran's President-Elect Hassan Rohani demands the same. Both leaders have every right to do so. They prioritize independence and freedom. So do Moscow and Beijing. It remains to be seen what follows.
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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He has devoted his time and efforts to progressive causes and organizations, all involved in working for a more humane and just world for all people everywhere, but especially for the most needy, disadvantaged and oppressed. His efforts since summer 2005 have included writing on a broad range of vital topics ranging from war and peace; social, economic and political equity for all; and justice for all the oppressed peoples of the world like the long-suffering people of Haiti and the Palestinians. He also co-hosts The Global Research News Hour, gives occasional public talks, and appears frequently on radio and at times television. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. Also visit his blog and listen to The Lendman News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening. His new book "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War" can be ordered HERE. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
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