Syria

Few To No Anti-Bombing Voices As Trump Prepared To Escalate Syria War

April 16, 2018 By Adam Johnson, Fair.org Educate! Inter-Imperialist Rivalry, Syria, Wars and Militarism

The curators of American public opinion at the three most influential broadsheets in the United States have decided that dissent from the build-up to new airstrikes on Syria is not really an opinion worth hearing. Of 16 columns leveling an opinion about “fresh” airstrikes on the Syrian regime in the coming days, only two—both in the Washington Post (4/12/18, 4/12/18)—opposed the airstrikes. No New York Times or Wall Street Journal opinion piece came out against a renewed attack on Syria. Ten expressly supported the airstrikes (three in the Times, five in the Post and two in the Journal), two did so by implication (both in the Times, both lamenting the US “doing nothing” in Syria), two were ambiguous and two were opposed to the airstrikes. A complete list of the columns can be reviewed here.

On Syria – “The United States Is Not In Control”: An Interview With Vijay Prashad

April 15, 2018 Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese, Clearing the FOG. Podcast Chemical Weapons, Syria, Trump, Wars and Militarism

We speak with Vijay Prashad, who provides insightful analysis of the situation in Syria and the aerial bombing of Damascus by the US. The US' claims, which were used to justify the bombing, of attacking Syrian chemical weapons facilities make little sense. If the US knew of such facilities, the information should have been provided to the UN so they could be inspected. Prashad finds it strange that the US attacked Damascus while chemical weapons investigators were in Syria and had not yet completed their investigation of the alleged chemical attack. The attack did not change the balance of power.

Big Noise: Apocalyptic Tweets, Limited Strikes

April 15, 2018 By Patrick Cockburn, Counterpunch Educate! Donald Trump, Syria, Wars and Militarism

The very limited airstrikes on Syria launched by the US, Britain and France overnight, which came after apocalyptic tweets from President Trump and threats of military retaliation by Russian diplomats. In the event, the fears of a “Russian-American clash” and runaway confrontation leading to a “third world war” have turned out to be overblown. They did not look quite so exaggerated earlier in the week when Trump tweeted about US missiles: “Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart’.” The Russians hinted that their retaliation might include American targets. Of all the options available, the US-led coalition chose the one involving minimal action and geared not to provoke Russia or Iran.

Few Options For the United States in Syria

April 15, 2018 By Vijay Prashad, NewsClick Educate! Syria, Wars and Militarism

It is only a matter of time before the Syrian government will be able to establish control over the suburbs of Damascus. One of these suburbs is the region of Eastern Ghouta, where there are currently accusations for the use of chemical weapons in the town of Douma. Health Clusters – affiliated with the UN’s World Health Organisation – have said that they have confirmed that there are 500 patients who have suffered from a gas attack (the death toll is 43). The Syrian government just took charge of a large part of this region, resettling thousands of people who had been displaced from there. What can the United States do? Arm the Rebels: It is now impossible for the United States to consider further arming of the rebels, given that the rebel groups on the ground have been ineffective against the Syrian government forces and those of its allies. Limited Attack: In 2017, after an alleged chemical weapon attack, the Trump administration bombed a Syrian air field. No further limited attack would then be a deterrent. The entire theory of a limited attack is invalidated. Regime Change: The United States is in no position to open an all-fronts war against Russia and even Iran. In other words, the US has no easy options for Syria.

Protests Against US Militarism And Attack On Syria

April 15, 2018 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, Popular Resistance Resist! Anti-war Movement, Syria, Wars and Militarism

Protests were held on Saturday, April 14, across the United States and in some countries around the world against US militarism. The protests had a special focus on the US aerial attack of Syria which occurred the night before. More protests are being held today. While Syria received the most attention people also protested US threats against Iran, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela as well as conflicts with Russia and China. People also protested the massive increase in US military spending as well as the expansion of an arms race, including massive spending on nuclear weapons. People were urged to participate in the Women's March on the Pentagon on October 20-21 as well as the protest against the Trump military parade planned for November 11.

Skripals Poisoning And Syria Strikes

April 15, 2018 Nauman Sadiq, Popular Resistance. Educate! Airstrikes, Syria, Trump, Wars and Militarism

Despite scant evidence as to the use of chemical weapons or the party responsible for it, Donald Trump ordered another cruise missiles strike in Syria on Saturday in collaboration with Theresa May’s government in the UK and Emmanuel Macron’s administration in France. The strike took place a little over a year after a similar cruise missiles strikes on al-Shayrat airfield on April 6 last year, after an alleged chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun, that accomplished nothing. Both these strikes in Syria were not only illegal under international law but also under American laws.

US And Allies Launch Missile Attack On Syria

April 14, 2018 Associated Press, TruthDig. Educate! Syria, Trump, Wars and Militarism

Associated Press reporters in Damascus saw smoke rising from east Damascus early Saturday morning local time. Syrian state TV says the attack has begun on the capital, though it wasn’t immediately clear what was targeted. Trump announced Friday night that the U.S., France and Britain have launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for his alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians and to deter him from doing it again.

Syria – Manipulated Videos Fail To Launch World War III

April 14, 2018 Moon of Alabama Educate! Donald Trump, Syria, Wars and Militarism

Last night the U.S., UK and France launched a symbolic attack on Syria. It was not intended to hurt the Syrian government, its people or its allies. It did not hit any of Syria's allies. So far there is no report of anyone being killed or wounded. This was a one-off: Mattis [...] said the assault was a “one-time shot,” so long as Assad does not repeat his use of chemical weapons. The only purpose of the attack was to do 'something' and to somewhat calm down the warmongers within those three 'western' countries. It was probably insufficient for that. As we wrote yesterday in the piece below. World War III had been called off.

America’s Long History Of Trying To Determine Who Rules Syria

April 13, 2018 Caitlin Johnstone, Consortiumnews.com Educate! History, Inter-Imperialist Rivalry, Syria

One interesting and completely undeniable fact that we don’t talk about nearly enough is how Syria has been a target for regime change by the US-centralized power establishment since long before the uprising in 2011. Proponents of US military interventionism in Syria will avoid addressing this known fact like the plague. They’re more than happy to dispute claims about false flags and the White Helmets, but if you start asking them “Hey don’t you think it’s a little odd that the government we’re all freaking out about right now just so happens to be one that’s been a target for regime change by US defense and intelligence agencies since long before any of this started?” they get real squirmy all of a sudden. It’s true though.

USAID Funded Syrian Medical Society Driving US To Regime Change War

April 13, 2018 Max Blumenthal, Grayzoneproject.com Educate! Regime Change, Syria, US Imperialism, USAID, Wars and Militarism

Reports on unproven allegations of a chemical attack in Douma, the Syria city formerly occupied by the Army of Islam insurgent group, invariably rely on a key source: The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). Together with the White Helmets, SAMS has been cited by the Washington Post, New York Times, CNN and virtually every Western media organization reporting on the incident. In Douma, SAMS staff have claimed that they treated more than 500 people for symptoms “indicative of exposure to a chemical agent.” The group also played a central role in shaping the narrative of a sarin attack in Al Qaeda-controlled Khan Sheikhoun in April, 2017, providing biomedical samples to the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which violated its stated protocol by accepting evidence without a verifiable chain of custody.

International Lawyers: Strike Against Syria Would Be Illegal

April 13, 2018 Staff, Consortiumnews.com Resist! International Law, Syria, United Nations

We are practitioners and professors of international law. Under international law, military strikes by the United States of America and its allies against the Syrian Arab Republic, unless conducted in self-defense or with United Nations Security Council approval, are illegal and constitute acts of aggression. The unlawful killing of any human being without legal justification, under every legal system, is murder. And an act of violence committed by one government against another government, without lawful justification, amounts to the crime of aggression: the supreme international crime which carries with it the evil of every other international crime, as noted by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg in 1946. The use of military force by a state can be used in self-defense after an armed attack by another state, or, with the approval of the United Nations Security Council.

Syria: UN Expert Urges Pause-No Rush To Judgment

April 13, 2018 Staff, Ohchr.org Resist! Human Rights, Syria, United Nations

On 29 September 2011, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution18/6 on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order. The resolution affirmed that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the full realization of all human rights for all, and that everyone is entitled to it. The resolution sees democracy as a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives and reaffirmed the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international levels. In this connection, the principle of the will of the people, as expressed in periodic and genuine elections, shall be the basis of government authority.

All Out For Antiwar Actions This Weekend

April 13, 2018 UNAC administrative committee, Popular Resistance Resist! Anti-war Movement, Syria, Wars and Militarism

Trump has tweeted, “Russia get ready.” He promises a missile attack on Syria. Russia says it will shoot down any missiles and target their source. U.S. and Russian ships have moved into the waters off Syria. The world is in grave danger. People around the world are looking to see what we here in the U.S. will do. We need to show our unwavering opposition to U.S. war in the streets, now more than ever. Our Spring Actions against the wars at home and abroad will take place this coming weekend - right at this critical moment that can have terrible consequences for the people of Syria and put the U.S. in direct confrontation with Russia. Meanwhile, Israel has been shooting down unarmed Palestinian protesters as they demand an end to the inhumane blockade of Gaza. More than 30 have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded.

Syria – Any U.S. Strike Will Lead To Escalation

April 12, 2018 Staff, Moonofalabama.org Educate! Airstrikes, Syria, US Imperialism

Over the last month Russia has several times warned that such fake gas attacks were being planned by the so-called 'rebels'. It also warned the U.S. that any strike it might take in 'retaliation' of such a fake attack would endanger Russian troops and installations in Syria. The Russian said they will respond to any severe U.S. attack with a strike against U.S. missile launching platform - be they jets or ships. Israel immediately tried to further escalate the situation. Last night it hit the T4 airport in Homs with 8 cruise missiles launched from Israeli planes flying over Lebanon. The T4 airport is in the middle of Syria. Some Iranian drones are stationed there next to Syrian planes and helicopters to help in the fight against ISIS in east Syria. The damage was relatively light, but the Israeli strike requires a response.

Veterans: U.S. Attack on Syria Could Lead to Nuclear War

April 12, 2018 Staff, Veterans for Peace Educate! Syria, Veterans, Wars and Militarism

Veterans For Peace is warning that a U.S. attack on Syria could lead to a nuclear war. Russian military forces in Syria will undoubtedly be among the targets of U.S. missiles. Russia has said it will shoot down U.S. missiles, and attack the “platforms from which they are fired,” i.e. U.S. ships. “Why the rush to war?” asked Gerry Condon, president of Veterans For Peace. “Why is the mass media cheerleading for war instead of asking hard questions? Why are Democratic and Republican politicians trying to out-do one another with calls for ever more massive attacks on Syria?

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