Assessing Options for Syrian Victory

What needs to be known about the Syrian conflict is known. That much is true.

We know that the mercenaries fighting the Assad regime are foreign-backed with links to Al-Qaeda, like brigades such as Jahbat al-Nusra, the most extreme of the extreme leading the charge in the great campaign of destabilization as part of the U.S foreign policy of Redirection. We know that much if not most of the militants fighting the Assad regime are not even Syrian nationals, and are in fact committing countless war crimes and inflicting unimaginable human suffering upon the Syrian people. That they have made statements such as the willingness to sacrificing half of Syrians for their cause. We know they do not represent the interests of the Syrian people in any spectrum and we know that a Syria under their rule will spell genocide for the Syrian people.

The conflict in Syria has been reported extensively by excellent reporting from Landdestroyer, Stopimperialism, PressTV, Historian and author Dr. Webster Griffin Tarpley, Anti-War, and countless more.

While the genuine media sources have been reporting scrupulously on the conflict which is in principle a foreign invasion by Western proxies, I believe personally, what has been missed in conjunction with the constant repetition of truth, is the constant proclamation of clear and robust extensive solutions to addressing this crisis.

The path to victory for Syria will not be an easy one. The nexus of barbarism that the Syrians and their government contends with is deeply determined, foreign, relentless, desperate, armed to the teeth, and drowning in cash. They are arrogant, hypocritical, guilty of the very crimes they accuse the Syrian government of committing, and they do not give a hoot and a howl about international law while pressing other nations to abide by such principles, thereby setting a carefully crafted cassus belli for so-called "humanitarian war."

Syria is the victim of U.S imperialism because it refuses to be a part of the Western Sphere of Influence of Viking Capitalism. Nationalism, as Syria clearly portrays, is an enemy of Western/Israeli hegemony. The West, not understanding the enlightened concept of diplomacy, is prompt to resort first (and last) to military might and other overt (and covert) operations.

The following are a platform of solutions that I believe are necessary and very viable options for Syria, if it is to achieve victory.

The Maximization of Allied Power and Influence
Russia, China, Iran, and Hezbolla are Syria's allies, if not formally, then informally. Unsurprisingly this is a nexus that Washington knows or feels it must destroy in order to attain what it calls "Full Spectrum Dominance." The conflict in Syria has claimed much more than 70,000 lives, displacing an even more lugubrious amount of Syrians. In his article, Russia needs wake-up call on Syria and Iran, political analyst Finian Cunningham stresses the importance of Syria's allies to reject their futile attempt at negotiating with the U.S to bring an end to this conflict.

In the article, he states:


Is Russia sleepwalking when it comes to defending allies Syria and Iran and ultimately its own vital long-term interests?

It seems that Russian leaders are befuddled by the conflict raging in Syria, sensing rightly on one hand that the Western powers and their Turk and Arab proxies are conducting a low-intensity war for regime change. Yet, strangely, on the other hand, Moscow appears apathetic or blasé about the West’s criminal geopolitical agenda. -- Finian Cunningham, Russia needs wake-up call on Syria and Iran

He calls for Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov, to scrap the ridiculous notion of working with “American colleagues” and “the unity of the international community in the fight against terrorism.” 

In response to Lavrov's quote, he states:

That atrocity in Damascus was indisputably the work of Western-backed terrorists who are funded, armed and directed by Western military intelligence to wipe out the government of President Bashar Al Assad. 

This kind of indiscriminate mass murder has proven to be standard operating procedure for the Western proxy army in fulfilling long-held Western plans for regime change in Syria. 

Despite cynical claims by Washington, London, Paris and Berlin of supplying “only non-lethal” military equipment to Syrian militants, Russia is well aware that these Western governments are arming this network of killers to the teeth and providing the logistics and intelligence to expedite the terror against civilians. Previously, Russia has itself highlighted and condemned the supply of American anti-aircraft missiles to the armed groups. So let’s disabuse this notion of “colleagues fighting international terrorism”. The so-called “colleagues” are fomenting terrorism via well-worn Western channels Al Qaeda and other Saudi-backed extremist mercenaries. ---Finian Cunningham, Russia needs wake-up call on Syria and Iran

Russia has a naval station in Tartus, the port city of Syria. It has vital economic interests in a region abundant in resources. The destabilization of Syria will force the Russians to move out, taking away a key strategic military and economic position. As Russia knows indubitably that the West began this horde of terror in Syria, it has every right to blatantly give any means of support in aid of its beleaguered ally. Russia has to understand that the March of Western Imperialism comes to a grinding halt if the Imperialists fail inside Syria. Iran seems to be the only ally stepping up its efforts to aide Syria. Recently, U.S Secretary of State John Kerry paid a visit to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to urge him to stop Iran from using Iraq's airspace to transport aid to Syria. Of all the allies, Iran understands more than anyone else what this conflict in Syria implies for its interests in the region. 

An article on Bloomberg by Dmitri Trenin, titled Syria could unite Russia and China against the U.S, fails to mention the fact that this conflict was a Western conspiracy and is being fueled by NATO, Gulf monarchs, and Israel and instead frames Assad as a bloodthirsty dictator. He further on urges Russia to throw its own ally under the bus. However, he does make the interesting point that the Syrian conflict could most likely unite Russia and China, creating a sort of Eastern NATO. Putin has asserted that Syria will not be another Libya, making good on his threats to veto any and all U.N resolutions that prompt military intervention. However with Russia's ambivalent posture towards the West, it is unclear exactly where Russia truly stands. Judging by actions, Russia is not as serious (or at least acting as serious) as it should be about Syria. 

China also has economic and military relations with Syria, dating back decades that it stands to lose should it allow the West to purge Syria.

China, Russia, and Iran have to come together in robust fashion. They have to understand, that the road to Tehran that begins in Damascus, ultimately leads to Moscow and Beijing, repelling the Western onslaught, will halt the locomotive that is Western Imperialism right in its tracks. This is their chance. Will they take it (together), is anybody's guess.

What must be done

It is no longer tenable for Russia and China to mainly just sit by the side-lines and apply soft pressure, allowing this criminal conflict to continue to unfold. Russia and China should couple their political clout of vetoes with intensifying efforts of aid to the Assad regime, both economic, humanitarian, and military. It must continue to expose this Western/Saudi/Israeli-backed atrocity by drawing a hard line and vehemently condemning what is in reality a Western operation, making its case and humiliating the West for its sheer hypocrisy and depravity. It must follow Iran's lead. 

As Finian Cunningham put it quite simply yet very cleverly, "Why talk with arsonists when the house is burning?"

Which brings me to my next option....

Assad Must Step Up Efforts to Unite the Syrians and Condemn this Conspiracy in the Public Forum...

In this time of crisis, the Syrians need a stronger and much more assertive Assad. Period, dot. There is no other way around it. He could serve as the symbol of unity for the Syrian people, including peaceful anti-Assad protesters. There's a few ways he can do that:

Syria is multi-ethnic and multi-religious. It composes of not only Muslims, but Christians and Catholics, Druze, Alawites (Assad's sect), Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites, among others. One important thing to understand is the influence of religious leadership. The Syrian militants have staged bombings of mosques, destruction of churches, and killings of beloved key religious leaders, including names like Mohammed al-Bouti. Assad must take the option (as best as he can) of gathering together the clerics and other religious leaders of the different communities to urge the Syrians under their religious influence not to stand for this, but instead unite and drive out the terrorists invading the nation.

Assad must have a discussion with the new elected Pope Francis I, and make his case; that his regime is the only thing at this point in time protecting Christians and Catholics and Shiites from jihadi genocide. It must be mentioned the fact that if the Assad regime falls, leaving Syria prey to warlord-ism, sectarianism, it will not bode well for the other vast communities (not just religious) of Syria. The Pope's initiative will be to denounce this conflict and call it for what it is, shining a spotlight on the reality of what the fawning corporate media have conveniently failed to report.

This will no doubt put pressure on the Pope and other religious leaders, who with their stature, will be compelled to respond to this moral dilemma or face the tarnishing of their names. If the Pope no doubt cares about the Christian community in Syria, then he knows what to do. This issue is too pressing to ignore especially for the religious leaders inside Syria. Whether they dislike the Assad regime, is of no importance at this point in time. The primary objective is stopping this Western/Saudi/Israeli-backed jahidi incursion. On the other hand, Assad must make clear his intentions of further substantial and transparent reform in order to further appeal to the Syrian people and hopefully invigorate them.

This brings me to the next option.........

Military
This is Syria's primary option that it is stressing so far (and reasonably so). The regime holds air superiority over the militants. The option of air strikes seem plausible in the campaign against foreign mercenary invasion, but have inflicted a number of civilian casualties, causing parts of Syria to become war-torn, where a basic standard of infrastructure has been severely damaged. Whether this has proven effective (and how effective) is quite unclear to me at this point. The militants lack manpower as well, only able to temporarily hold at most a village or a neighborhood until they get driven from their position by the Syrian army. From what it sounds like, the Syrian military seems to be showing much constraint, as they have been all throughout this conflict. But the reality of this conflict seems perpetual as more and more militants are crossing the border in hopes of overthrowing Assad's regime.

But Assad may want to re-think how he is fighting these terrorists. Possible future ambush missions seem like a viable option, as well as clandestine border raids of incoming militants. Routes of logistics to re-supply the militants inside Syria can be seized and in turn used against the militants. It has been confirmed by numerous sources that there are U.S-NATO special operations forces inside Syria. This isn't surprising as the opposition isn't well-organized. That means someone has to be leading the charge. As this is a Western project, it is obvious who is.

Also part of this lead, is the CIA. The New York Times, in their article, stated explicitly:

"A small number of C.I.A. officers are operating secretly in southern Turkey, helping allies decide which Syrian opposition fighters across the border will receive arms to fight the Syrian government, according to American officials and Arab intelligence officers.

The weapons, including automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition and some antitank weapons, are being funneled mostly across the Turkish border by way of a shadowy network of intermediaries including Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood and paid for by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the officials said."--- C.I.A. Said to Aid in Steering Arms to Syrian Opposition.

Iranians are masters at counter-intelligence, according to one U.S official. And with the help of the other intelligence services of its ally, Syria can begin a campaign to purge the nation of the these imperialist clandestine cells operating to overthrow Bashar Assad. 

One of the great weaknesses of the militants is that they are bitterly divided. Campaigns to undermine and remove leadership will highly compromise this Western Imperialist project. Civil war is a term often used to refer to the conflict inside Syria, but it seems anytime, the militants may be primed to stage their own deadly infighting (causing a civil war inside a "civil war"). Assad's commanders can take advantage of this infighting among the rebels, dividing and subsequently conquering them. Captures and legal/humane interrogations (this must be emphasized due to the negative connotation due to torture by the U.S), if feasible must also be explored. 

Why They Want Syria to Fall

As was stated before, Syria is is not beholden to U.S imperialist dominance. It refuses to attach itself to the branch of Western neo-colonialism that has proved so deadly for the past century. As a penalty, Syria is the victim of overt and covert operations. This conspiracy was revealed as far back as 2007 by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh who's article explicitly stated:

To undermine Iran, which is predominantly Shiite, the Bush Administration has decided, in effect, to reconfigure its priorities in the Middle East. In Lebanon, the Administration has coöperated with Saudi Arabia’s government, which is Sunni, in clandestine operations that are intended to weaken Hezbollah, the Shiite organization that is backed by Iran. The U.S. has also taken part in clandestine operations aimed at Iran and its ally Syria. A by-product of these activities has been the bolstering of Sunni extremist groups that espouse a militant vision of Islam and are hostile to America and sympathetic to Al Qaeda. --The Redirection

Syria and Iran along with Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon, represent the Shia arc of dominance as depicted below. 

(The Shia crescent doesn't just represent the balance of power against the U.S puppet gulf  Sunni states, but also as a vehicle of stability in the region much to the benefit of Russia and China)

Iran loses its greatest ally in the region and so does Hezbollah, if Syria falls. It becomes easier for the U.S to undermine Iran further as it stands much more isolated in the region. By breaking this arc of dominance, the U.S can therefore march onward. However if this project fails, a project in which the West has invested much money and criminal energy towards, the Locomotive of Western Imperialism comes to a grinding halt. The road to Tehran lies in Damascus and ultimately to Moscow and Beijing. 

Zbiegnew Brzezinski, national security adviser to former President Jimmy Carter and mentor of President Barack H. Obama, once presented his profane imperial model in his book, The Grand Chessboard, stating:

"In that context, how America 'manages' Eurasia is critical. A power that dominates Eurasia would control two of the world's three most advanced and economically productive regions. A mere glance at the map also suggests that control over Eurasia would almost automatically entail Africa's subordination, rendering the Western Hemisphere and Oceania (Australia) geopolitically peripheral to the world's central continent. About 75 per cent of the world's people live in Eurasia, and most of the world's physical wealth is there as well, both in its enterprises and underneath its soil. Eurasia accounts for about three-fourths of the world's known energy resources." (this excerpt from the book, along with its emphasis were attained from this link.)

This reality of the U.S funding, arming, and backing terrorist groups exposes the fraudulent "war on terror." It shows that Al-Qaeda and other mercenaries are simply pawns in the U.S geopolitical chess game, serving both as casus belli for imperial aggression, and patsies in destabilization.

Russia, China, and most of the middle east and even the world stand to lose, even the U.S, who cannot show anything for its insane adventurism these past decades except for the rise in arms sales and an untold number of casualties abroad and impending austerity and economic implosion at home.    

Israel also stands to gain if the West fractures the Middle East, causing partition states, warlord states, rump states. This will make Israel easily the most dominant and most important player in the middle east, much to the detriment of everyone else. From my position, Syria must clearly stress any and all options. The West is intensifying its efforts, it's time for Syria and its allies to do the same. 

The world must stand against this criminal sanction of violence by the West and gulf Arab states. In this age of easy access to readily available information, it is no excuse to not understand the horror and implications that is the invasion in Syria.  

    

FSA Losing Military & Popular Support in Syria - Even Reported by MSM News Outlets

This compilation of reports including ones from mainstream media (MSM) - most of which have been biased against the Syrian government - shows how the "Free Syrian Army" (FSA) is losing military and popular support in Syria. Even FSA fighters and their families are now wondering whether the whole 'uprising' that they helped start was worth it, as their lives are now much worse than before. It also mentions how hardline Islamist terrorist groups such al-Qaeda's Jabhat al-Nusra (Nusra Front) are marginalizing the FSA and seek to impose Sharia law on all Syrians without caring for what the people actually want.

The report tries to get the opinion of many Syrian citizens who are fed up with the FSA and want their lives to return to how they were before this crisis started.

MSM Sources: Al Jazeera English, BBC, RT Arabic

The Youtube link can originally be found here.

Ken O'Keefe in Tehran - "Iran is not the threat, we are."

Former U.S Marine, Ken O'Keefe

A Draft-Dodging, Zionist Friendly, Right-wing Texan Islamist to lead Syria?

A Draft-Dodging, Zionist Friendly, Right-wing Texan Islamist to lead Syria?

by FRANKLIN LAMB 

Originally Posted at Veterans Today

(Damascus) - For the past year, a plan C or D, depending on how one numbers the failed US-Israel projects in Syria was badly needed for those presuming to topple the Assad government.

And this week, according  to Congressional staffers, both Tel Aviv and the White House are pinching themselves in disbelief over their good luck with  installing republican leaning conservative Dixie businessman, the congenial, Ghassan Hitto, as Syria’s new interim Prime Minister.

Securing the key position for Mr. Hitto, a decision made last year, was not so easy and had to be approached gingerly. But finally, after weeks of sometimes intense debate within Syrian opposition circles, Washington, Ankara, Doha and Tel Aviv among others, managed to appoint their preferred guy.  “The White House thought Hitto was the best of a bad lot”, one Congressional committee source, whose work load includes Syria, explained to this observer. “Bottom line, he’s an American, nearly thirty years here makes Ghassan one of us. And who cares if he came here as young man to dodge military service in Syria. Many of us dodged our draft during Vietnam and what’s important is that we can count of him!”

And just as some Americans were beginning to believe that our government may be afflicted with a congenital incapacity to learn from our past mistakes, installing Hitto,  “should keep hope alive and we should  not give up”,  according to our Ambassador in Beirut, Maury Connelly. “Look what we achieved in Libya” she lectured a visiting delegation recently.  After the meeting, one participant deadpanned, “Good lord! If that woman had not been Jeff Feltman’s office favorite for whatever reason, she might still be serving coffee to State Department visitors at 2201 C St NW, Washington, DC!”  Having quoted that snide comment, Maury, dear readers, is reputed to be a lovely lady. Just ask her frequent visitor, Samir Geagea of the Lebanese Forces, who is reputed to be her special confident these days and her very favorite Lebanese politician.

One recalls how Washington installed nearly one dozen Libya ex-pats during the uprising just as the NATO no-fly zone was being launched.  Most of them knew foreign countries better than their birth country and some needed to get their hands on a US supplied “non-lethal weapon” i.e. a GPS and a National Geographic map to find the places in west Libya which they were meant to govern.  Not to drop names, but in late June 2011,  Saif el-Islam, now locked up in Zintan west of Tripoli, told this observer, referring to the influx into Benghazi and Misrata of “Team USA-UK”  as Saif referred to those  NATO chose to form an alternative government so they could be recognized quick as the “sole legitimate government “of Libya, “Franklin, you know Libya better than these foreigners do!”

Mr. Hitto’s “election” solves several immediate Syria problems for the White House. Or so they are hoping. At minimum,  Hitto will be an American ‘potted plant’ who can be recognized and around whom NATO can corral an implant some of the desperate factions vying for power. Ghassan appears willing to take orders and is now involved in a crash-course to learn what he needs to know about Syria and how to implement the game plan. One congressional aide who helped vet Mr. Hitto clams he has “spunk and can be tough. And we think he will play ball.”

One proposal that Hitto has reportedly agreed to is the Dennis Ross/AIPAC idea for a “political isolation law.” If adapted by the Hitto provisional government, this decree would ban nearly the whole ruling class in Syria from having any role in government. Its intension is to eliminate anyone who worked with either the Hafez or Bashar Assad regimen from 1970 until today. “We need a clean break in Syria”, Ross reportledly told fellow conferees at the recent AIPAC convention.

Washington has also encouraged Hitto to reject dialogue with the Government of Syria because neocons in Congress are insisting that “negotiations” with the Assad government will drag on interminably and allow the current regime to eradicate pockets of resistance and bring in more help from Russia and Iran.  Citing negotiations with Iran,  Arizona Senator John McCain recently told Fox News that “if you try to negotiate with these people (Iran’s government) you will lose. And we did.  We need action!” Some in Congress are telling the White House that the same is true with the Syrian government and it appears Mr. Hitto agrees that dialogue is a bad thing.The staffer also pointed out that “there has been a misreading of John Kerry’s recent position which in fact does not reflects a notable change in the American position nor does it represent a step-back from the statements that President Obama made  earlier concerning the need for Al-Assad to step down. Obama and Hitto are on the same page.”

No sooner than Grassan Hitto was set in place than two insatiable US Senate war-mongers, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) used the occasion of conflicting and unconfirmed reports of chemical weapons being used in Syria by increasing pressure on President Obama to belatedly approve U.S. military involvement in Syria. “The White House response should include the provision of arms to vetted Syrian opposition groups, targeted strikes against Assad’s aircraft and Scud missile batteries on the ground, and the establishment of safe zones inside Syria to protect civilians and opposition groups,” the senators continued in their statement.  ”If today’s reports are substantiated, the tragic irony will be that these are the exact same actions that could have prevented the use of weapons of mass destruction in Syria.” Graham went even further and seemed to endorse a plan to put U.S. on the group in Syria during an interview recently with Foreign Policy. Said he:  “We need a real partner in Syria.”

In Ghassan Hitto,  Senators Graham and  McClain just may have one.
Washington and Tel Aviv see in their choice of Mr. Hitto, as a likely solution to numerous barriers to their goals in Syria. They believe that Mr. Hitto can help end the infighting among the opposition to the current regime that has caused a stalemate. While Hitto is no Mohammad Morsi he does lean toward the Muslim Brotherhood and they supported him while knowing he was Washington’s choice. Hitto, some in Washington believe, can help neutralize the MB.  The White House has reportedly told the EU that “the CIA recommended Hitto in order to preempt the crazies in this circus and Hitto can, as much as other of our prospects, help with the formation of a US backed international bloc to get rid of Salafist groups in Syria.”

The in-depth US training of Ghassan has begun.  An ‘advisory team’ is already appointed to indoctrinate him with the ‘message’ and he is being given an intensive cram course of what to do and what pitfalls to avoid.  He will be expected to learn from missteps in Libya, Egypt and Iraq. Mr. Hitto has already been clued that if he wants to achieve more than to be Syria’s First “Interim” Prime Minister he will need to be a quick learner,  able to adapt fast  to the “manual”, and above all, become a reliable  team player. “We aren’t looking for another Hugo Chavez around here”, Ghassan was told recently in Istanbul, shortly before announcing his candidacy.
Hitto’s CIA handlers gave him the script and he read it well. In his first public address he deadpanned that he recognized the very difficult task that lies ahead for his administration. He has pledged to provide the services that many Syrians are lacking. He has also promised free and fair elections in a post-Assad regime Syria.

John Kerry says he is ready to work with Hitto.  But since Kerry told members of Congress two years ago that he connected with and respects Bahar al-Assad and that “we can deal with him like we deal with the Canadians” he once told ultra Zionist Congressman Barney Frank.  In private Kerry told staff members on the Senate Foreign Reasons Committee, “I like this guy Bashar and we can trust him much more than the Israelis.  He’s good.”  Having changed his tune, some are wondering how firm his support is for Mr. Hitto.

Mr. Hitto is reportedly eager for both and ready to get started. Earlier this week while giving a speech in Istanbul, he insisted that his priority was to utilize “all conceivable means” to topple President Bashar al-Assad and provide desperately-needed aid to the beleaguered people of Syria.”  Washington understands that providing “desperately-needed aid” will soon include weapons.
Still, the White House and Tel Aviv knows that it will be a  daunting task  building legitimacy for Hitto’s  fledgling administration, because he is lacking the support of many high-profile members of his own coalition. He was voted in by 35 of the 49 coalition members, who cast ballots, but another 15 members were not present, some bought off with cash it is rumored, and with several walking out in protest over Hitto’s suspected links to the Muslim Brotherhood and its backers in Qatar.  “I have backed the idea of an alternative government for a long time,” said veteran opposition figure Haitham al-Maleh. “But I put my ballot in without a name because there were no candidates from inside Syria. I want a prime minister from inside Syria.”  “The proposed government is controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Qatar government,” one coalition member, Mr al-Labwani said. “We will be against this government and will not give it legality. Democracy is from the land and from the people not from a council that is composed by the governments of America and Qatar.”

According to a staffer in Kerry’s former Senate Foreign Relations Committee “Many Syrians, regard our appointment of Hitto with suspicion. Since the announcement, I have heard both Syrian nationalist figures and those from some minority communities criticize this move.”

It appears Washington, Doha and Tel Aviv has got their man in place.  What the Syrian people will think of their selection will likely be known soon.

                            ----------------------------------------------------------

Franklin Lamb is doing research in Lebanon and Syria and can be reached c/o fplamb@gmail.com

The Unraveling of the Syrian "Revolution."

Let whoever argues that Assad be overthrown, and lends their support to hard-line militant Islamists who are waging war not only on the his regime but the Syrian people as well, be quickly reminded of the consequences in Libya. A failed state, warlord state, a sanctuary for Al-Qaeda. A same scenario there ensued where the West legitimized terrorists and used them to overthrow then leader, Muammar al-Qaddafi.

In his 2007 article, The Redirection: Is the Administration's new policy benefiting our enemies in the war on terrorism?, Seymour Hersh, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist revealed the conspiracy of the West, along with the cooperation of the feudal gulf monarchs, to destroy countries like Syria.

Western countries especially France, are leading the charge, calling for more aid to the rebels. The West is desperate, eager to destroy Syria and install client regime like it did in Libya, much to the desecration of the Syrian people. It has been two years and there is nothing significant to show for all their effort. The rebels are losing ground and losing it fast. At first, the West gave a timetable for what they perceived would be Assad's "inevitable" fall, yet as the days marched on, and so did his (Assad's) army, these prognostications became more and more laughable.

In a recent peace by PressTV, an Iranian official made note that the Syrian rebels were on their last legs. The true nature of the rebels have been shown. Their extremist, hard-line militant view of Islam is too much to bear. Their incompetence and lack of cohesion, coupled with a barbaric penchant for atrocities, (most if not all of which they are responsible for in Syria), will eventually make them (if it hasn't already) public enemy number one. Throughout Syria, the public is continually and increasingly rejecting their rule. They see clearly the choices before their very eyes: Either unite under the Assad regime (with all its faults) and work towards slow and progressive change, or live in the nightmare that is a failed state, filled with chaos, genocide, and perpetual human suffering at the hands of these rebels.

The True Nature of the Rebels
At the beginning of this Western-Saudi backed jihadist incursion by these Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists in Syria, these rebels were first called "freedom fighters" in the Western Media. I wonder why they are no longer being called that. Mountains upon mountains of evidence have been leaked, showing these rebels committing wars crimes on a mass scale. Numerous reports have come out (most notably by the U.N) revealing that the rebels are now using child soldiers and children as human shields. Many of these rebels are sympathizers of Al-Qaeda. In addition they also murder captives, or anyone that they suspect of being an Assad supporter, opposed to their position, etc.

In a recent editorial titled, An open letter to Syria's opposition: you have failed us, the author Jasmine Roman (a pseudonym for the writer), reveals the outright grisly reality of the rebels.

She states in her open letter to the opposition:

When you were given legitimacy by the international community, did you believe that that made you the "legitimate" representative of the Syrian people?

Have you ever thought how we, mainstream Syrians, view your statements and your inaction? That it is embarrassing and humiliating for us when you keep praising certain donors, then turn us into beggars as you plead for more humanitarian assistance, for international intervention and for heavy weaponry?

You know that many Syrians don't want Bashar Al Assad's regime, but have you approached us to ask what concrete and pragmatic political, economic or social reformative programmes we do want?

She continues...

When we critique the opposition, it is only because we need to have things right from the beginning, and you have put yourselves above criticism or accountability. You have taken on the same machinery and mindsets that the Baath regime has used. Your reactions to any analysis or criticism do not serve Syrians well. Nor do they help your own political future, in case you plan on having one.

Have you ever thought of the losses when you insist that the "revolution" will continue "even if half of the Syrians die"? When you say the president must go "regardless of the price"? Do I need to say that the price paid by all Syrians is already high and painful? ---An open letter to Syria's opposition: you have failed us

If this is any indication of the general feeling and consensus of the Syrian people, then the so-called revolution is over. The Syrian people have no interest in rule under these rebels. They lack a socio-economic, and political platform, never mind populist as Roman has clearly revealed. They are murderous, incompetent, and downright foul. All that awaits the Syrian people is death and destruction at the hands of these rebels. Yet unconditional support for these rebels by the West, despite these realities and the cry of the Syrian people, shows the depravity of the West. If this is their idea of freedom, it is safe to suffice, the world doesn't need nor want it. The conflict has been estimated to have taken 70,000 lives and counting with much more in casualties and refugees. 

The Solution 

Russian, China, and Iran should effectively continue to employ all efforts to abort any and all efforts by the West to destroy Syria. Anyone who knows the true nature of the civil war in Syria (something that the West itself started and is posing as the solution for) should keep re-instating the facts. As Bob Marley once made a stupendous point, evil doesn't take a day off, so neither should we. The Syrian people must unite together to sack the terrorists from their country in compliance with the Syrian army that is fighting desperately to save them and to save itself. 

The afro-middle eastern region cannot afford another crime against humanity like it did in Libya. Stopping the terrorists from taking Syria effectively halts the march of Western Imperialism in its tracks.      

Demagogue Beppe Grillo Betrays Italian Voters, Demands Brutal Energy Austerity; Five Million New Productive Jobs Would Shut Him Down

Dr. Webster Tarpley, of Tarpley.net, a Historian and Investigative Journalist on RussiaToday (RT).

This Video can also be found on his official website.

The Prospects For A New American Civil War: Are They Realistic

In the past few years, the citizens of the United States of America have witnessed a plethora of mass shootings. These tragic events have refurbished the gun-control/second amendment debate. And in response,  many Americans, concerned with having their guns taken away have entertained the possibility of a civil war, if ever the government should move to confiscate the firearms of disgruntled citizens concerned with the state of their civil liberties. Anyone who pays attention to this topic in America, knows the arguments made for and against the "right to bear arms."

While some may say that gun confiscation may lead to a civil war, I would argue that civil war will be what will lead to gun confiscations. The prospect of a gun confiscation by federal and state government agencies is very much possible. Take this article for example: Shortly after the devastating impact of the storm Hurricane Katrina,  residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, had their firearms confiscated (even registered gun owners) before attempted forced evacuations could take place. In order for their weapons to be confiscated justifiably, New Orleans had to be in a declared state of emergency. This is very important to understand.

This nation known as the United States of America, I believe is on the verge of civil war. And I think the prospects for it are very realistic.

Austerity
American militarism has has sucked the oxygen out of the room, appropriating for itself most of the available funds necessary for state development. Consequently, social insurance policies like medicaid/medicare, social security, food stamps, unemployment insurance, and other numerous benefits paid for by tax payers are being contemplated to sequestration. At a time that Americans are suffering from rising poverty, systemic attack on their economic rights and having to scale back their standard and subsequently expectations of living even further, the U.S government is threatening in an irresponsible pantomime of fear-mongering to cut these services and let them "wither on the vine."

What does this mean? Well, More that 47 percent of Americans are on food stamps. Many if not most of our senior citizens benefit from one or other type of government program that helps make sure their life savings and that of their family aren't cut into significantly (in terms of care). America has a real unemployment rate ranging between 14 percent and 25 percent, depending on your source; and to alleviate much of the stress of being jobless and unable to provide for your family, comes unemployment insurance. There are many other programs, like WIC, Headstart, and so on.

If the U.S government in fact proceeds with this agenda of austerity that has been peddled by both the left and the right, many will die. When people are deprived of the necessary resources they require to live and thrive, they can change in a heartbeat. And with the economic condition that the U.S finds itself in, this will lead to mass unrest...a potential humanitarian crisis.

Where Civil War and Subsequently Gun Confiscation Comes In
As citizens become shocked and angry at what's just happened to them, many will flood to the streets to look for other means and ways to fend for themselves...they have families to feed, a home to stay in, and bills to pay. As reputed Trends Forecaster Gerald Celente once said, "When the money stops flowing to the man in the street, blood starts flowing in the streets." As mass unrest comes, martial law, the attempt by governments to stabilize the decaying situation--with force (and in some cases brutality), will commence. No clever general rushes into the front and leaves their rear unguarded. As troops eventually wade through areas most afflicted by these events (especially poor urban neighborhoods), just like in New Orleans an operation for gun confiscation will be conceived. The U.S government has even been conducting urban drills that echo preparation for civil unrest, and has even proceeded to purchase 1.3 billion rounds (and counting) of ammunition. What's all this for?

As citizens become more tireless and worried about the fragile state of their livelihoods due to austerity, the last thing they want to see is a force imposing its will on them. Many will not be willing to give up their guns or to even comply with authority; this could lead to disaster. Some, seeing the police/military force as their antagonizer may be willing to fire at them, if they in fact have guns. There could most likely be civil brawls between law enforcement and citizens that ends in a lot of bloodshed and the damaging of businesses, helping to make the economic situation even worse. This could lead down a very dark road.

In Conclusion
It is important to assert that many of the gun-crazy proponents of an entirely liberal second amendment do not give a hoot and a howl about the economic state of other fellow citizens; this in turn is a failure in of itself. Because it is the economic condition of a state that in part allows governments to take advantage of things like gun confiscations. From my assessment, a civil war is very much real. Most often, if not all the time, it has deep economic roots.

Guns are not the best way to fight tyrannical or fascist governments. And in turn prognosticating of doom and gloom from tyranny, with such avidity perhaps shows the subconscious eagerness of many gunners to see what they have been stating all along manifest itself (in their wait for a pitiful I-told-you-so golden moment).

In order to prevent a high probable civil war, austerity must be rejected, and long term solutions, brought to debate by the American body polity, must be stressed hard enough to the point where they cannot be ignored even by the corrupt lawmakers and executives. In a country so divided and bitter, I don't see this happening anytime soon.

What do you think? Do agree or disagree? What's your take?