Anyone who has been following for years the actions and plans of Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan in Syria knows that he has heavily propagandized that Kurds and especially the PKK Kurds in Turkey are “terrorists” (and his Government also calls the al-Qaeda and other jihadists whom he has brought into Syria to carry out this seizure of Syria, by that same term). Erdogan says that the Kurds in Syria are allied with PKK Kurds in trying to create a Kurdish-controlled nation out of the largely Kurd-dominant areas not only in Turkey but in Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
On December 10th, the Russian news site “Reporter” (en.topcor.ru) headlined “Tel Aviv has begun implementing the Greater Israel project – expert” (also here) and reported that their “expert”:
added that Ankara has made serious investments and commitments by seizing a huge chunk of Syria with the help of controlled or friendly jihadists. But about 80% of Syrian oil is in the territories controlled by pro-American Kurds. The emergence of Syrian Kurdistan will happen in the near future, since this process is supported by Israel, the United States and Great Britain. Therefore, it is not entirely clear how Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is going to solve economic problems of their country and to fulfill promises to ensure “prosperity” of the captured Syrian lands. Not to mention the prospect of fighting the influence of Syrian Kurdistan on Turkey itself, where many Kurds live compactly in the southeast.
On December 10th, CNN headlined “Israel strikes Syria 480 times and seizes territory as Netanyahu pledges to change face of the Middle East”. The U.S. and its colonies or ‘allies’ (such as Israel) apparently consider their seizure of Syria to be a great success, notwithstanding that they condemn Russia for now seizing territory in Ukraine after the U.S. Government had grabbed Ukraine in a February 2014 coup and subsequently controls it to become a springboard from which for America to attack Russia. Never has the hypocrisy of the American empire (praising its own invasions that are purely aggressions, such as its constant invasions of Syria since 2011 have been, while condemning invasions such as Russia’s to prevent Ukraine from joining America’s anti-Russia military alliance NATO) — never has that U.S. hypocrisy been so blatant an exploitation of the stupidity of its supporters who believe that what the American Government is doing is to ‘protect freedom and democracy’. Only a fool would believe it any longer. And here is how that hypocrisy was expressed by America’s President on the day of their take-over of Syria, Decembver 8th, as he stumbled through reading what was on his teleprompter:
“President Biden on Situation in Syria: ‘At long last the Assad regime has fallen.’”
8 December 2024
December 08, 2024
Remarks by President Biden on the Latest Developments in Syria
Speeches and Remarks
Roosevelt Room
1:39 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. A lot happening in the Middle East.
After 13 years of civil war in Syria and more than half a century of brutal authoritarian rule by Bashar Assad and his father before him, rebel forces have forced Assad to resign his office and flee the country. We’re not sure where he is, but the- — there’s word that he’s in Moscow.
At long last, the Assad regime has fallen. This regime brutalized and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians.
A fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country.
It’s also a moment of risk and uncertainty. As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risks.
You know, for years, the main backers of Assad have been Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia. But over the last week, their support collapsed — all three of them — because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office. And let’s remember why.
After Hamas attacked Israel on October the 7th, 2023, when much of the world responded with horror, Iran and its proxies chose to launch a multi-front war against Israel. That was a historic mistake on Iran’s part.
Today, Iran’s main territorial proxy, Hezbollah, is also on its back.
Only 12 days ago, I spoke from the Rose Garden about the ceasefire deal in Lebanon — a deal that was only possible because Hezbollah has been badly degraded. Meanwhile, Hamas has been da- — badly degraded as well.
Iran’s own military capabilities have been weakened. Iran tried two times to attack Israel, and the United States and — built a coalition of countries to directly defend Israel and help defeat those attacks.
All this made possible for Iran and Hezbollah to continue to prop up — impossible, I should say, for them to prop up the Assad regime.
Additionally, Russia’s support for Assad also failed. And that’s because Ukraine, backed by our American allies, has put up a wall of resistance against the invading Russian forces, inflicting massive damage on the Russian forces. And that has left Russia unable to protect its main ally in the Middle East.
(Coughs.) Excuse my cold.
The upshot for all this is, for the first time ever, neither Russia nor Iran nor Hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria. And this is a direct result of the blows that Ukraine, Israel have delivered upon their own self-defense with unflagging support of the United States.
And over the past four years, my administration pursued a clear, principled policy towards Syria.
First, we made clear from the start sanctions on Ira- — on Ira- — Assad would remain in place unless he engaged seriously in a political process to end the civil war, as outlined under the U.N. Security Council resolution passed in 2015. But Assad refused, so we carried out a comprehensive sanction program against him and all those responsible for atrocities against the Syrian people.
Second, we maintained our military presence in Syria. Our counter-ISIS — to counter the support of local partners as well on the ground — their partners — never ceding an inch of territory, taking out leaders of ISIS, ensuring that ISIS can never establish a safe haven there again.
Third, we’ve supported Israel’s freedom of action against Iranian networks in Syria and against actors aligned with Iran who transported lethal aid to Lebanon, and, when necessary, ordered the use of military force against Iranian networks to protect U.S. forces.
Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. Through this combination of support for our partners, sanctions, and diplomacy and targeted military force when necessary, we now see new opportunities opening up for the people of Syria and for the entire region.
Looking ahead, the United States will do the following: First, we’ll support Syria’s neighbors — including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel — should any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition. I will speak with leaders of the region in the coming days. I had long discussions with all of our people earlier this morning. And I’ll send senior officials from my administration to the region as well.
Second, we will help stability — ensure stability in eastern Syria, protecting any personnel — our personnel against any threats. And it will remain — our mission against ISIS will be maintained, including the security of detention facilities where ISIS fighters are being held as prisoners. We’re clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capability and to create a safe haven. We will not let that happen.
In fact, just today, U.S. forces conducted a dozen of precision strikes — air strikes within Syria targeting ISIS camps and ISIS operatives.
Third, we will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign — an independent — independent — I want to say it again — sovereign Syria with a new constitution, a new government that serves all Syrians. And this process will be determined by the Syrian people themselves.
And the United States will do whatever we can to support them, including through humanitarian relief, to help restore Syria after more than a decade of war and generations of brutality by the Assad family.
And finally, we will remain vigilant. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and humanit- — human right abuses. We’ve taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days. And we’re — they’re saying the right things now, but as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions.
And as — we are mindful — we are mindful that there are Americans in Syria, including those who reside there, as well as Austin Tice, who was taken captive more than 12 years ago. We remain committed to returning him to his family.
As I’ve said, this is a moment of considerable risk and uncertainty, but I also believe this is the best opportunity in generations for Syrians to forge their own future free of opposition.
It’s also an opportunity, through far from certain — though it’s far from certain, for a more secure and prosperous Middle East, where our friends are safe, where our enemies are contained. And it would be a waste of this historic opportunity if one tyrant were toppled and only a — only to see a new one rise up in its place. So, it’s now incumbent upon all the opposition groups who seek a role in governing Syria to demonstrate their commitment to the rights of all Syrians, the rule of law, and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities.
Israel is the only clear winner from this, but Qatar also will be if the jihadists who took over in Syria, and who have been largely financed by the owners of Qatar, the Thani family, will now allow them to build through Syria the Thanis’ long-hoped-for natural-gas pipeline into Europe (which Assad had refused to allow).
The biggest losers (besides the people of Syria) will be the Palestinians, Hezbolla, and Iran. But maybe ultimately also Turkey.
By Eric Zuesse