Trump Regime Intends Permanent Occupation of Syria
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Russia, Hezbollah forces, and Iranian military advisors are in Syria at the request of its Damascus – operating legally.
Washington and its imperial partners unlawfully occupy northeast and southwest parts of the country.
As long as they remain, liberating Syria entirely from US-supported terrorists remains unattainable – what Trump regime hardliners intend, wanting endless conflict for regime change, risking possible US/Russia confrontation.
The objectives of both countries are world’s apart. Moscow supports Syria’s sovereign independence, territorial integrity, and right of its people alone to choose their leadership and government – free from US-led foreign interference, occupation, and terrorists anti-Assad regimes support.
Washington wants Syria transformed into another vassal state it controls, Iran isolated ahead of a similar regime change plot.
Syria is a hugely dangerous flashpoint – Idlib province the eye of the storm. Will it become a new millennium Sarajevo – events in the city launching WW I over a century ago?
Is US/Russia confrontation likely in the province over their polar opposite objectives? Is greater conflict in Syria than already inevitable, risking global war?
Turkey’s aim to annex northern Syrian territory complicates things further. On Sunday, AMN News said “(a) massive Turkish military convoy entered Idlib” overnight – “consist(ing) of more than 300 vehicles, including tanks, MLRS (rocket and missile) launchers, BMPs (amphibious fighting vehicles),” and possibly MANPADS, able to down Syrian and Russia aircraft.
Turkish President Erdogan opposes Syrian liberation, supporting ISIS and other terrorists in the country, not combating them.
He vowed not to watch from the sidelines if a major Syrian/Russian offense begins to eliminate terrorists in Idlib – falsely claiming concern for civilians in the province he doesn’t give a damn about, focused only on his imperial aims.
Trump regime and NATO warplanes may intervene to prevent Idlib’s liberation, maybe Israel to joining them.
During a Friday Security Council session on Syria, neocon extremist Nikki Haley raged out-of-control – falsely claiming Russia and Syria “want to bomb schools, hospitals, and homes,” adding:
Assad and his “enablers, Russia and Iran, have a playbook for this war. First, they surround a civilian area. Next, they make the preposterous claim that everyone in the area is a terrorist, so every man, woman, and child becomes a target.”
“Then comes the ‘starve and surrender’ campaign, where they keep attacking until the people no longer have food, clean water, or shelter. It’s a playbook of death.”
Washington, NATO, Israel, and their imperial partners consistently blame targeted nations, groups, and individuals for their own high crimes committed against them.
Did Haley’s rage signal the Trump regime and its imperial partners’ intent to strike Syrian forces in Idlib, possibly elsewhere in country, and maybe Damascus in pursuit of its regime change objective – risking direct confrontation with Russia?
The Syrian/Russian offensive to liberate Idlib began last week, Russian and Syrian warplanes pounding US-supported terrorists in Idlib and bordering Hama province, conducting scores of airstrikes on their positions, softening them up ahead of the impending ground offensive.
Over the weekend alone, over 100 airstrikes were conducted, according to a military source.
Separately on Saturday, a Pentagon statement claimed to have an effective way of combating terrorism (the US supports) to minimize civilian casualties it doesn’t give a damn about.
The US-led rape, destruction, and mass slaughter of civilians in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, Syria are exhibits A and B, along with countless others in numerous countries, showing GOP and undemocratic Dems’ indifference to human lives and welfare worldwide, including at home.
According to Joint Chiefs chairman General Dunford, the Pentagon has “military options (if) chemical weapons are used.”
Russia and Syria said they have incontrovertible proof of a planned anti-Assad CW false flag coming to be wrongfully blamed on Damascus.
It could come any time, conflict dangerously escalating in its aftermath because Trump regime hardliners want Assad toppled and Syria controlled. Are they willing to risk possible global war to achieve its aims?
The mother of all battles looms in Idlib since US aggression in Syria began in March 2011. Much rides on its outcome.
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