A mistaken case for Syrian regime change

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press

Saturday January 07, 2012 16:12

by pat c

Aisling Byrne writes about the US plans for regime change in Syria. Byrne is not a lackey of the Syrian regime, in this article she is critical of it and how it has handled the crisis. She worked in Syria and saw the Secret Police in action. But she says: what may have began as popular protests, initially focused on local issues and incidents (including the case of the torture of young boys in Dera'a by security forces) were rapidly hijacked by this wider strategic project for regime change.

"War with Iran is already here," wrote a leading Israeli commentator recently, describing "the combination of covert warfare and international pressure" being applied to Iran.

Although not mentioned, the "strategic prize" of the first stage of this war on Iran is Syria; the first campaign in a much wider sectarian power-bid. "Other than the collapse of the Islamic Republic itself," Saudi King Abdullah was reported to have said last summer, "nothing would weaken Iran more than losing Syria." [1]

By December, senior United States officials were explicit about their regime change agenda for Syria: Tom Donilon, the US National Security Adviser, explained that the "end of the [President Bashar al-]Assad regime would constitute Iran's greatest setback in the region yet - a strategic blow that will further shift the balance of power in the region against Iran."

Shortly before, a key official in terms of operationalizing this policy, Under Secretary of State for the Near East Jeffrey Feltman, had stated at a congressional hearing that the US would "relentlessly pursue our two-track strategy of supporting the opposition and diplomatically and financially strangling the [Syrian] regime until that outcome is achieved". [2]

What we are seeing in Syria is a deliberate and calculated campaign to bring down the Assad government so as to replace it with a regime "more compatible" with US interests in the region.

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Comments (5 of 5)

sending a message

Sun Jan 08, 2012 19:02

I think the Russians are sending a strong message to NATO. In more news 11 more Syrian troops have been killed, this according to the "opposition". It was hardly unarmed civilians who did this.

In another development, a Russian naval flotilla aircraft led by an aircraft carrier docked in the Syrian port of Tartus.

The carrier group is due to spend six days in Tartus, where Russia has a naval base dating back to Soviet times.

Muslim \ Christian War

by An Draighneán Donn

Sun Jan 08, 2012 23:44

Its clear that the overall strategy, at this point, is to turn the Arab \ Israeli conflict into the Sunni \ Shia conflict. But, that will not be quite enough for the Israelis. The next step will be to foster a general Muslim Vs Christian war, in which Israel will be able to fit nicely under the wing of the Christian armies. We see this beginning already in Syria, with the demand of the rebels that all Christians should be expelled from Syria. We see it in Nigeria. It is no accident that the bombings of Christian churches happened just as the Nigerian government started showing signs of independent thought, i.e. a shocking rejection of IMF dictats. Whatever people may think of the Syrian government, don't make the mistake that many made on Libya. We must support the Syrian state in its efforts to defeat this CIA \ Mossad insurrection. The only war Muslims have to fight is the war against the apartheid Israeli state. Christians, and also Jews, should support the Muslims in this just fight. The Western Left was duped on Libya. It's time to wake up.

An DD

Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:49

I agree with most of what you say, however the Boko Haram have been active for years in Nigeria. Heres a collection od reports going back to July 2009:http://www.forteantimes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38323

I don't think even the US would plunge Nigeria into civil war just because of a few disagreements with the IMF. Successive Nigerian administrations have and continue to cooperate with Imperialism and the US maintains bases in the country. The Brits may have an SAS Unit permanently based in Nigeria.

Nigeria Next?

Tue Jan 10, 2012 01:27

No doubt Boko Haram has been active for years, but if the CIA \ Mossad considers them useful, then they will find themselves armed and funded - just as the Islamic extremists in Libya and Syria have. I dont think a stable Nigeria suits the Africom agenda in Africa at all. Indeed, Africom recently held a military exercise to test its response to Nigeria becoming a Libya or Syria scenario. Why do that, if there are not already plans to make it happen?

an DD

Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:31

The US will use these groups, there is also the example of the Baluchi group in Iran who make Boko look like moderates.

But Nigeria has a population of 150 million, 50% christian, 50% muslim. The north is predominantly muslim and the south is christian. I really don't see how civil war and the consequent disruption of oil supplies suits the imperialist agenda. They can't use proxies to take over a country with 150 million people nor do they have the millions of troops which would be required to occupy it.

Sometimes a mad group is just that but in this case its possible that they are being manipulated by internal forces, the muslim north felt it was their turn to elect a president.

Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan: Officials back Boko Haram
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16462891

Its also worth noting that some of the policies approved by the IMF are causing major trouble in Nigeria

Nigeria fuel strike brings country to a halt

Yusuf Tuggar, former member of House of Representatives: ''It is not acceptable, the majority of Nigerians are living on less than $2 a day''

A general strike in Nigeria over the elimination of a fuel subsidy has brought the country to a standstill.

Shops, offices, schools and petrol stations around the country closed on the first day of an indefinite strike.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16464922

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A mistaken case for Syrian regime change

Comments (5 of 5)