US regime change policy is the biggest obstacle to peace in Syria

The goal of the war on Syria has never been to help Syrians, it’s always been about removing a government not compliant with Washington. On 21 October 2013, the New York Times, as usual, helped spread US regime change propaganda:

“A principal goal of the peace conference, which is expected to be held next month in Geneva, although no date has been set, is the establishment of a transitional government “by mutual consent” of Syrians that would not include Mr. Assad.” (1)

This statement from NYT is simply not true – the removal of President Assad has never been accepted as a goal of Geneva II. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed this in January:

“Assad’s departure could not be a prerequisite for the solution of the Syrian crisis …
our partners look at Assad’s leaving office as a crucial prerequisite. However, such a condition was not placed on the Geneva agreement.” (2)

In January 2013, data relayed to NATO asserted that 70 percent of Syrians support the Assad Government (3). Ignoring this, and ignoring the presence of an internal opposition in Syria, Kerry, yesterday, continued with regime change rhetoric:

“Now I don’t know anyone who believes the opposition will ever consent to Bashar al-Assad being part of that [transitional] government,” Kerry said. “And if he [Bashar al-Assad] thinks he’s going to solve problems by running for re-election I can say to him, I think with certainty, this war will not end as long as that’s the case or he [Assad] is there.” (4)

So, according to Kerry the war against Syria “will not end” unless Assad goes.
Syria has a government, a government which has managed, with the help of the Syrian people, to fend off an invasion of foreign extremists backed by the world’s most powerful nations. Elections are going to be held in Syria in 2014 when the Syrian people, not the US, will decide who they want as president.

It’s the US administration’s insistence on regime change which is the biggest obstacle to peace in Syria, not the Syrian Government who have emphasised their willingness to attend Geneva II “without preconditions”. (5)

(1) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/world/middleeast/qaeda-affiliate-in-syria-is-undermining-peace-efforts-us-official-says.html?_r=0
(2) http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/121456–russia-no-precondition-on-assad
(3) http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/05/31/nato-data-assad-winning-the-war-for-syrians-hearts-and-minds/
(4) http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/10/22/330655/kerry-syria-face-more-war-if-assad-stays/
(5) http://sana.sy/eng/21/2013/10/02/505543.htm
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Pro-government demonstrations in Damascus, March 2011

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It’s time BBC did some honest reporting about western-backed “rebels” threatening chemical arms teams in Syria

Today BBC reports: “Syria chemical arms team ‘turned back after safety fears'”(1), but BBC fails to inform us that it’s the FSA/rebels who threaten the safety of the chemical weapons inspectors in Syria or that inspectors “have been unable to complete a scheduled visit” because “there are chemical sites under regime control that Free Syrian Army brigades are laying siege to”(2); and that it’s these sights the inspectors are unable to access for fear of their safety.

BBC reports further: “despite the good progress, inspectors were forced to turn back at one site after failing to receive assurances that they would be safe”. Who, was not prepared to assure the inspectors’ safety? If the chemical weapons inspectors are staying in a Damascus hotel, in a government cotroled area, it’s obvious that the Syrian army are protecting the inspectors and it’s the FSA/rebels which are not only threatening the inspectors, but actively trying to de-rail the Syrian government’s willingness to have its chemical stockpiles destroyed.

Ironically, it’s PressTV (which has been banned from UK’s airwaves), which is exposing the truth about difficulty chemical weapons inspectors are facing in Syria:

“Ahmet Uzumcu, the director of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, also said this week that the Syrian government had cooperated fully in providing access to weapons sites under its control, but he added that the problem for his inspection team was gaining safe access to sites under control of militants. This was because of the lawless conduct of these groups, which have opened fire on the inspectors and even set off bombs near one of the hotels where the team is staying.”(3)

(1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24566722
(2) http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/middle-east/41450-chemical-sites-syria-opposition
(3) http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/10/16/329639/west-toxic-lie-on-syria-exposed/

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“Go to the Limits of Your Longing” by Rainer Maria Rilke

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You, sent out beyond your recall,
go to the limits of your longing.
Embody me.

Flare up like flame
and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
Just keep going. No feeling is final.
Don’t let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.
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(translation by Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows)
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