DARLENE CASELLA:SYRIA THE ULTIMATE CATCH 22….MASS MURDER VERSUS ISLAMIC EXTREMISM
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/syria-the-ultimate-catch-22-mass-murder-versus-islamic-extremism?f=puball
The foreign policy of President Barack Obama regarding Syria is in question. Russia and Iran back President Bashar al Assad. Turkey and the US call for his voluntary resignation. Secretary of State John Kerry stated a goal of decisions by mutual consent between the Assad Regime and rebel groups. This seems like Humpty Dumpty putting all of the pieces back together again.
Syria is an Arab country bordered by Israel, the Mediterranean, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. It is in the cradle of civilization. Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Scholars believe that writing was invented in Syria around 2,000 BC. The Hebrew Bible refers to 17,000 tablets; the source of the Semitic language and later the basis for the Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Arabic languages.
Alexander the Great ended centuries of battles. Pompey and the Romans followed, Christianity spread. Islamic fighters arrived in 632 AD. Christians and Islamics co-existed for centuries. When Caliphs began to destroy churches, Crusaders arrived. Saladin fought Richard the Lionheart who recaptured Jerusalem in 1187. Mongols, then Egyptians, then Ottomans conquered Greater Syria which is now Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, parts of Turkey, and Iraq.
Lawrence of Arabia arrived in Damascus with Emir Feisal in 1918. Feisal was King of Syria. The San Remo Agreement ended that, and Syria was divided between Britain and France. Lebanon went to the French and what are now Israel and Jordon to the British.
Syria declared independence in 1946. Instability followed until 1970, when Hafiz al Assad seized power. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Following Hafiz death, his son, Bashar al Assad, was approved as President in 2000, and 2007. USA sanctions against Syria are due to its support of terrorists groups; providing Lebanon with weapons of mass destruction and Scud missiles in violation of UN Resolutions.
In 2011, protests spread to every city in Syria. Clashes intensified into civil war, which is responsible for the death of over 80,000 Syrians. Over 2,500,000 Syrian refugees desperately need humanitarian aid.
Videotapes of rebels practicing cannibalism, barbequing heads and eating hearts of victims are on the web. Photographs and video of victims foaming at the mouth and eyes rolling- caused by what appears to be Sarin Gas – are on the web. President Obama has called use of chemical weapons a red line. Some believe that Obama was bluffing. Iran watches.
Islamist rebels from many parts of the world fight in this civil war including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkistan, several North African and other Middle Eastern countries, and even European Countries such as Norway. There are Islamic Shia and Sunni extremists with strong links to the Muslim Brotherhood and to al Qaeda. Their goal is to oust Assad and to create an Islamic State in Syria. Turf wars between rebel groups would follow.
Iran and Russia defend Assad. Assad forces include Lebanese Hezbollah, Russians, and Iranians. Russia has moved warships off the coast of Syria, and has the largest buildup of naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean since the cold war. Iraq allows Iran to use its air space to deliver weapons and fighters to Syria. Turkey has fortified its border with anti missile defense.
Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced the Syria Stabilization Act of 2013. It calls for sanctions against the Assad Regime, aid for refugees, and arming the rebel forces with $250 million a year in weapons. Menendez hopes that Islamic terrorist rebels will support the US. Senator Menendez wants to find rebels that can be properly vetted who have common values with the United States. He might have a better chance of finding the Tooth Fairy.
Secretary Kerry and his Russian Counterpart Sergey Lavrov announced a new diplomatic effort last week. One of the rebel groups welcomed their efforts. Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon welcomed their statement. The Assad Regime has rejected all initiatives presented. This seems like a Neville Chamberlain moment – Benjamin Netanyahu plays Winston Churchill.
Frank Spano wrote in the Investigative Project on Terrorism …”Sometimes the enemy of my enemy…is still the enemy.”
Darlene Casella was, before her retirement, an English teacher, a stockbroker, and president/owner of a small corporation. She lives with her husband in La Quinta, California, and can be reached at thedeadseawest@aol.com.
Read more: Family Security Matters http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/syria-the-ultimate-catch-22-mass-murder-versus-islamic-extremism?f=puball#ixzz2Tv3gKuc5
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