Orchestrators of crisis call them "uncivilized" ─ West v. East

U.S. Korean Peninsula to 

U.S. Syrian Mediterranean: Diplomacy among "equals" imperative

Editing, comment by 

Carolyn Bennett 

Whose weapons: who sought, who bought, who sold 

Whose chemical attack 

Whose provocation, prosecution of endless conflict, war 

Who benefits 

Not covered in western news sources but reported by FARS News Agency is a “militant” group in phone conversation with a Saudi financier about obtaining and having used chemical weapons against the government of Syria.

The ‘international community” (whatever that means, clearly a discredited lot) is again calling for an investigation of chemical weapons use; but before such an investigation can be undertaken, let alone an independent query into the question of chemical weapons’ use ─  western government officials who dominate and run roughshod over the UN Security Council (France, United States, England) are pushing for added foreign force (violence) in further breach of Syria’s sovereignty and the rights of its government and people.

West’s preemption

French Empire

Leaping into preemptive warfare, “France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Thursday that the international community should respond with force if allegations that the Syrian government used chemical weapons in a deadly attack on the outskirts of the capital Damascus are confirmed: ‘There would have to be reaction with force in Syria from the international community, but there is no question of sending troops on the ground.’”

Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague had the temerity to talk about “civilized,” conveniently forgetting Britain’s and the west’s centuries-old penchant for and practice of repeated and sustained barbarism.

Saying it is “not something that a humane or civilized world can ignore,” Hague, without a scintilla of evidence, made a charge, threatened and imposed sentence, saying he believed “President Assad was behind a chemical attack in Syria” and that “the UK would be ready to go back to the United Nations Security Council to secure a stronger mandate ‘for the world to speak together more forcefully about this’ if there was no movement over the next few days.”

East’s opposition to preemption, call for impartiality

 

China’s Foreign Ministry yesterday issued a statement from Beijing “resolutely opposing” the use of chemical weapons in Syria and calling for impartiality.  

As ‘the UN chemical weapons inspection team for Syria is on the ground beginning its investigations, [China] hopes that the team fully consults with the Syrian government and ─

…maintains an objective, impartial and professional stance, to ascertain what really happened.

Russia opposes further propaganda targeting the Syrian government [Serious charges]

“Against the background of another anti-Syrian wave of propaganda, we believe calls from some European countries to apply pressure on the UN Security Council and already now take a decision on the use of force are unacceptable.” Evidence is mounting that ─

 …the attack was ‘clearly provocative in nature’; and

…footage posted online claiming to incriminate the Syrian regime had been posted before the chemical attack took place.

[And insurgents] are ‘directly impeding an objective investigation’ of the incident. [Today’s statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry]

Reports of an alleged attack were conveniently issued just as a UN chemical weapons inspection team arrived in Syria. And in the response statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Lukashevich said, “[this makes] us think that we are once again dealing with a premeditated provocation.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had confirmed in July “that

On March 19, the foreign-backed Takfiri militants had used chemical weapons in the region of Khan al-Assal.

More than two dozen people died in the attack including 16 Syrian soldiers.

Speaking to FARS News Agency (FNA) in March, Tehran’s Envoy to Rome Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini called for rapid termination of foreign funding and arming of Syrian “rebel” groups and cautioned that continuation of such support would result in “spillover”: from the Syrian crisis into regional countries’

crises. Hosseini said:

Termination of financial and arms support by foreign parties for extremist and terrorist groups are the first and most important provisions for obtaining results in Syria.

Countries that are supporting these groups should know that if they maintain the present policy, unrests will spill over into their countries.

As Kofi Annan had said months ago, Hosseini repeated, that the crisis in Syria needs a “political not military” solution and that “opposition groups and the Syrian government should hold talks and find a way to end the crisis.” But there is rub.

   

UN Security Council

Chronic western obstructionism

 

On the question of chemical weapons, investigation, and obstructionism, former diplomat Vyacheslav Matuza told Press TV back in March that the United States does not want either a “real investigation” or a “political solution.”

UN General Assembly

They don’t like a real solution to the Syrian crisis. 

They are trying to achieve their egoistic political goals in the Middle East … and reaching compromise through any political solution … will be very difficult for all those who are trying to push Syrian crisis from military content to political dialogue between Syrian political sides.

U.S.
Expansionism
Obstructionism
Over-reach
Orchestrator of
incessant conflict

…The questions of the stalled investigation and the use of chemical weapons in Syria by opposition military groups obviously reflect “the stance of the United States relative to the Syrian crisis as a whole ─ because the United States is using the Syrian crisis for political purposes, not for people’s right to democracy …

U.S. UK
Allies in
global violence
barbarism

“This reflects a global approach of the United States,” Matuza said, “to the developments in the Middle East in different areas ─ regions in the Arab World, in North Africa, in Iran, in Afghanistan, in Middle Asia…

If they want democracy, if they want the rights of the people, to provide rights for people, to develop political developments, they should respond positively on the Syrian government’s making its case.

Diplomacy of equals

Political analyst Dr. Kevin Barrett in April was talking about the U. S. foreign relations with the Korean Peninsula but what he said speaks to U.S. foreign relations all over the world.

He told Press TV that we must “get out of this mindset that the U.S. Empire and its partners play by one set of the rules”; and everybody has to obey the U.S. and its partners. The “obvious solution,” he said, “is for international law and diplomacy to be invoked among equals.

“We need to have real diplomacy, which means discussions between equals; and, ultimately, the United States has to tell North Korea that ─

…we are going to get out of your neighborhood and let you (the Koreas) settle between yourselves the issue of how to re-unite North and South Korea.

T

hat critical idea bears repeating: We need to have real diplomacy: discussions between and among equals. Ditto: U.S. relations with Syria and Lebanon and the Occupied Territories, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Libya and Somalia, Bahrain and Yemen, Iraq and Iran, the United States generally with Arab and Muslim populations.

 

Is that too much to ask? 

Only with uncorrupt and uncompromised, truly progressive leaders in the west and in the United Nations (fix the UN Security Council’s composition and its structural power relation with the UN General Assembly) can we expect truly progressive thought and action in world relations: a philosophy of  and penchant for coexistence, conflict resolution without barbarism (east or west, north or south) but with nonviolence and mutual respect seeking understanding of difference.

Sources and notes

“France urges ‘force’ if Syria chemical attack confirmed, August 22, 2013,

http://www.france24.com/en/20130822-france-calls-force-syria-chemical-weapons-attack-confirmed

“William Hague believes Assad behind chemical attack ─ UK Foreign Secretary William Hague: ‘It seems the Assad regime has something to hide’: UK Foreign Secretary William Hague says he believes President Assad was behind a chemical attack in Syria, “http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23812398

“Russia slams 'unacceptable' calls to use force in Syria,” August 23, 2013, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/08/23/320107/russia-slams-calls-to-use-force-in-syria/

Russian Foreign Ministry said evidence was mounting that the attack was "clearly provocative in nature" and that footage posted online claiming to incriminate the Syrian regime had been posted before the chemical attack took place. It also accused the insurgents of "directly impeding an objective investigation" of the incident."

“China calls for ‘objective’ UN investigation in Syria,” August 23, 2013, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/08/23/320019/china-urges-objective-probe-in-syria/

“Syria opposition preventing chemical attack probe: Russia,” August 23, 2013,

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/08/23/320110/syria-militants-preventing-chem-probe/

On Wednesday, Syria’s opposition claimed that hundreds [had been] killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds in Damascus suburbs of Ain Tarma, Zamalka and Jobar before dawn. George Sabra, head of the “Syria’s opposition National Coalition, told reporters in Istanbul that more than 1,300 people were killed in the alleged attack.

“The Syrian army has vehemently denied allegations that it used chemical weapons against Takfiri militants in the suburbs of the Ghouta region, saying the accusations were fabricated to distract the visiting team of UN chemical weapons experts [the an investigating team that arrived in Syria on Sunday] and to cover up militant losses.

“Two Phone Calls Reveal Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria's Homs by Rebels,” August 23, 2013, http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920601000443

TEHRAN (FNA) - A phone call between a militant affiliated to the so-called ‘Shuhada al-Bayada Battalion’ in Homs and his boss, called Adulbasit from Saudi Arabia, uncovered that antigovernment fighters used the chemical weapons in Deir Ballba in Homs countryside. During a phone call broadcast on the Syrian TV Channel, the militant said that his group which comprises 200 terrorists escaped from al-Bayadah to al-Daar al-Kabera through a tunnel, adding that they needed to buy weapons to attack the City of Homs, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

[Also] During the phone conversation, the Saudi financier who was in Cairo admitted to extending support for the rebels in Daraa and Damascus Countryside and asked the militant about details on his group and the way they intended to receive the money. In response, the militant said that one of the achievements of his ‘Battalion’ was the successful use of chemical weapons in Deir Ballba. 

“Diplomat Warns of Spillover of Syrian Crisis,” March 26, 2013, FARS News Agency.

“U.S. doesn’t seek political solution to Syria crisis: Vyacheslav Matuza,” March 22, 2013, http://familysurvivalprotocol.com/2013/03/26/warnings-of-syrian-crisis-spilling-over-to-bordering-countries-it-doesnt-seem-to-be-a-major-concern-for-those-countries-who-continue-to-aid-the-opposition-yes-the-al-qaeda-connection/

Vyacheslav Matuza is a former councilor of the Russian Embassy in Washington.

“U.S. arrogance endangers Koreas, pushes world towards destruction: Dr. Barrett,” April 6, 2013, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/04/06/296832/us-pushes-world-towards-destruction/

Dr. Kevin Barrett is an author and political commentator

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Bennett's books are available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY] • See also: World Pulse: Global Issues through the eyes of Women: http://www.worldpulse.com/ http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire http://www.facebook.com/#!/bennetts2ndstudy

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End June-Early July protest West's war on Iran, Syria

Stop the War Coalition week of action

Re-reporting, editing by Carolyn Bennett

Protest threatened attacks on Iran, intervention in Syria.

Planned

Bath protest at drone conference June 25-28

London-wide public meeting on Syria and Iran June 28

Student protest in Trafalgar Square June 30

Norwich Street Stall June 30

Wandsworth Street Stall June 30

“Independence from America” protest (Menwith Hill base) July 4

Western threat

Iran

U.S. oil sanctions on Iran are set to take effect on June 28; EU sanctions on July 1.

“Even in the absence of an immediate conflagration, oil sanctions are an attempt to weaken Iran and are therefore a prelude to war. Not an alternative to it.”

Responding to the United States and European Union’s latest threats of sanctions, Iran has threatened closure of the straits of Hormuz.

South Central Asia
Persia
Horn of Africa
Somalia

After inconclusive negotiations by the P5+1 nations meeting in Iraq, Stop the War Coalition reports, “the UK warned of a ‘25-50 percent’ chance of war with Iran.”

Western threat to Iran

On Saturday, Press TV reported Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov having “dismissed the effectiveness of setting deadlines for the settlement of Iran’s nuclear energy issue [and] denounced such timetables as ‘artificial.’”

Lavrov said the latest round of the multifaceted talks, June 18-19 in Moscow, between Iran and the P5+1resulted in no agreements “on the essence of the Iranian nuclear problem” but from Russia’s point of view “the meeting was quite useful.”

Before the Moscow meeting, Iran and the P5+1 (United Nations Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, plus Germany) had met for two days ending May 24 in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.  In the past three years, before Baghdad, Tehran and the P5+1 have held three rounds of talks: one in Geneva in December 2010 and two in Istanbul, Turkey, in January 2011 and in April 2012.

As this engagement has continued, Press TV reports, “the United States and Israel have repeatedly threatened Tehran with a military strike in attempts to force Iran to halt its nuclear energy program, which they (the U.S. and Israel) claim has a military component” and Iran disputes. Iran’s officials “insist that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is entitled to pursue nuclear technology for its numerous civilian purposes.”

Notwithstanding unsubstantiated claims and counter claims , the United States and the European Union “have imposed tough embargoes (effectively an act of warfare) against Iran,” which go so far as to include bans not only on “sales of fuel for Iranian passenger aircraft,” but also on “medicine.”

Western threat to Syria

As with Libya “humanitarian” killing

Syria
Europe
Asia
Africa

The U.S. joint chiefs of staff chairman threatened, after reports of the “Houla massacre,” that the United States “might take the ‘military option’ if it was ‘asked to do so.’” The new president of France, François Hollande, has also joined the military intervention drive (foreign aggression ‘not to be ruled out’) in Syria, “his country’s former colonial territory.” (More recent news stories confirm that U. S. militants are on Syrian soil.)

“The Houla massacre,” according to Wikipedia, “was an attack that took place on May 25, 2012, in the midst of the Syrian Uprising, in two opposition-controlled villages in the Houla Region of Syria, a cluster of villages north of Homs. The Syrian government alleged that Al-Qaeda terrorist groups were responsible for the killings. Houla residents and opposition groups alleged that the Syrian military and government-hired militias known as Shabiha were the perpetrators.”

A June 13 article by Chris Marsden citing Germany’s leading daily newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, said, “The May 25 Houla massacre was perpetrated by opposition forces aligned with the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

“The report refutes the official account by the United States and other major powers and presented uncritically by the media.

Without providing any serious evidence, the United States and its allies claimed that either the Syrian Army or pro-government Shabiha militias carried out the mass killing of over 100 people.…

“The most important question posed by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung report is what role was played in the massacre by the United States itself.

 

“Clearly, given its own extensive contacts with the Free Syrian Army, and the political, financial and military backing for the FSA by Washington’s regional allies—Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey—the Obama administration will have been well aware that the massacre was the work of anti-regime insurgents and not the Syrian army, even as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others called for additional action to be taken to depose Assad.

“It is entirely possible that Houla was a massacre made in the USA.

“U.S. policy in Syria has from the start been based on the whipping up of a Sunni-based sectarian insurgency, with the aim of destabilizing and deposing Assad’s Alawite regime. This, in turn, is linked to U.S. preparations for a military attack on Iran, which would be further isolated in the Middle East with the demise of Assad, its major ally in the region.”

Europe
Near East
East Africa

Relatively recent Historical context of “humanitarian” killing

Former Yugoslavia

“With the experience of Bosnia and Kosovo to draw upon,” Chris Marsden wrote in the WSWS article, “this was done not merely in the certain knowledge that bloody internecine fighting would result, but with the intention of provoking civil conflict in order to provide a pretext for military intervention in humanitarian guise.”

The disgraced William Jefferson Clinton (U.S. President 1993-2001), in the throes of impeachment affairs, bombed Iraq in 1998; and in 1999, led NATO, in a bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. The figures of dead and displaced in these ventures were estimated in the hundreds of thousands, even millions.

Stop the War Coalition is calling a week of action at the end of June to protest threatened attacks on Iran and intervention in Syria.

Sources and notes

“End of June 2012: Hands off Iran and Syria Week of Action,” June 7, 2012 Iran / Syria Action Local Events, Stop the War national office: email office@stopwar.org.uk or call 0207 561 9311

http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/action-a-events/local-events/1468-end-of-june-hands-off-iran-and-syria-week-of-action

“Russia rejects effectiveness of setting deadlines for Iran nuclear issue,” June 23, 2012

http://presstv.com/detail/2012/06/23/247545/russia-rejects-deadline-on-iran-nissue/

“U.S. urges Iran to take ‘concrete action’ regarding N-issue amid pressure,” June 2, 2012,

Iran and the P5+1 - Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany - wrapped up their meetings in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on May 24 and agreed to hold another round of talks in Moscow on June 18-19.

 http://presstv.com/detail/2012/06/02/244229/us-urges-iran-action-amid-pressure/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houla_massacre

“Houla massacre carried out by Free Syrian Army, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (Chris Marsden), June 13, 2012, http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jun2012/syri-j13.shtml

U.S. in the former Yugoslavia

Early estimates said at least 200,000 people died and more than 2,000,000 were displaced during the 1992–95 war. Later studies put the death toll at approximately 100,000.

In May 1995, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces launched air strikes on Serbian targets after the Serbian military refused to comply with a UN ultimatum. To enforce a November agreement taken at U.S.-sponsored peace talks in Dayton, Ohio, a 60,000-member international force was deployed in December. Britannica

Worldatlas maps
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Bennett's books are available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY] • See also: World Pulse: Global Issues through the eyes of Women: http://www.worldpulse.com/ http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire http://www.facebook.com/#!/bennetts2ndstudy

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