Syrian Crisis: Clash Of Regional, International Strategic Interests
Xinhua News Agency
August 14, 2012
Syrian crisis: clash between strategic interests of foreign powers
DAMASCUS: A Syrian parliamentarian said the 17-month-old crisis in Syria is not an internal conflict between the spectra of Syrian people, but a clash over the strategic interests between regional and international powers.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Khaled Aboud said the war is between Syria, Russia, Iran and other allies on one side, and the United States, Europe, Israel and Arabs on another side.
Iran and Russia “don’t play a role” in the Syrian crisis, but were dragged into the fighting over interests, “which happened to be in Syria’s favor,” according to Aboud.
Aboud charged that the United States has used several “tools” in its engagement with the Syrian side, including economic, political and diplomatic sanctions. He noted that the United States has now moved toward another tactic, which is “creating a group of tools on the ground to confront the state by violence.”
In order to achieve the latest tactic, Aboud said, the United States needed to create another part in order to make the conflict seem realistic between the Syrian state and the opposition.
Aboud said the United States supports only the opposition that totally rejects the regime, while at the same time questions and regards as “not national” those opposition forces that went toward reconciliation with the regime and engaged with the regime in forming a new government.
On the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, Aboud contended that the mission has been formed to create a political backdoor for the United States in case it failed to topple the regime using the tools that it has been using such as sanctions, and fanning the flames of fighting on ground.
On the future of the Syrian crisis, Aboud expressed optimism that “we are heading towards arranging the Syrian table and a settlement.”
He made a connection between a possible settlement and the regional visit of Saeed Jalili, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, expecting that it would prepare the settlement table for the confronting parties in the Syrian issue.
August 06 in Washington
The US government has permitted its citizens to start donating money to Syria’s opposition, paving the way for direct help from US nationals to the rebel fighters. The Syrian Support Group (SSG), a Washington-based organization closely connected to rebel forces, has been granted a license by the US Treasury to begin fundraising on behalf of the opposition. http://www.rt.com/news/syria-rebels-us-donations-997/
On August 09 in Tehran
In diplomatic developments, Iran organized a conference to discuss what it billed as a new peace initiative for Syria. Iranian state television showed nearly 30 envoys including ones from Russia, China, Turkey, India, Iraq, and a number of Latin American countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who had just returned from a visit to Turkey, chaired the conference telling participants that Tehran supports dialogue and reconciliation in Syria. Salehi called for a national dialogue between the Syrian opposition and the government in order to restore peace and security.
US leadership quotes:
U.S. counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan said Tuesday, in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington that he could not rule out the imposition of a no-fly zone over Syria.
“I don’t recall the president ever saying that anything is off the table,” he said.
http://www.voanews.com/content/fierce-fighting-grips-aleppo/1477508.html
Sec. State Hillary Clinton [in reference to fall of regime]: “I’m not going to put a timeline on it. I can’t possibly predict it but I know it’s going to happen as do most observers around the world.”
And then there is Sec. Defense Leon Panetta: “drive the last nail into Assad’s coffin”.
meanwhile, quotes from Iran:
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili affirmed that democracy in Syria cannot be achieved by sending armed terrorists into it…the solution in Syria can be only achieved through democracy and allowing the Syrians to decide their own future and destiny, but this cannot be achieved through armed assaults and sending militants and terrorists; rather it’s achieved through the public willpower, not the desires of the centers of power and wealth. http://sana.sy/eng/22/2012/08/12/436075.htm
Just rhetoric or …. Tehran supports reconciliation? Ironic, in Iran one can be thrown in jail for things such as hiking without permission, or being a Christian pastor, which we take for granted in America. So…why has America forgotten all about peace and real democracy? The world won’t be peaceful, or even HABITABLE for ANYONE once America gets through with it.
WHEN will America stop supporting weapons, paychecks and logistics for terrorists? WHEN will we hear a like peace minded message from Sec. of State Hillary Clinton or Defense Sec. Panetta?
Take another look at that photograph or for that matter ANY photograph of the Free Syrian Army (apparent friends of the Friends of Syria). Imagine them governing Syria. It has happened before. Once they get new uniforms (See KPS or Kosovo Police Service) and business suits (See Hasim Thaci head of KLA and head of criminal network throughout Kosovo), they will be the security force and the government.
That’s like spray painting an alligator white and calling it a poodle.
UNSMIS is apparently back in Syria, headed by General Babacar Gaye (Senegal). (Did General Mood bow out?)
Aug 13, 2012
Syrian Arab News Agency
Answering a question on abducting and killing journalists, Gaye said that the UN is committed to protecting the freedom of press, adding that media in Syria is playing a pivotal role.
…
He condemned the violence targeting media by either side.
UNSMIS: The Mission will Continue its Work according to UNSC Resolution 2059
http://sana.sy/eng/21/2012/08/13/436279.htm
Aug 13, 2012
UN News Centre
“Our patrols are monitoring the impact of this violence, visiting internally displaced people and hospitals.”
“The fighting continues and I continue to remind the parties of their obligations to respect international humanitarian law and to protect civilians. The conflict has gone on too long and far too many people are suffering,” Lieutenant General Gaye said.
…
With the 30-day extension, the mission’s mandate is set to expire on Sunday.
Violence increasing in many parts of Syria, taking heavy toll on civilians – UN mission
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42674&Cr=syria&Cr1=