I have two unrelated topics for my Writings; one is ‘Reincarnation’ and the other is on the Syrian War. The topic of reincarnation needs elaboration as I started to realise while reading a printed version of yesterday’s writings. I was trying to say too much in too few words, which makes for obscurity in the presented argument.
The topic ‘Syrian War’ I want to address, because the justification for the present threats by the USofA sound like the run up to the Iraqi war of 2003. The US is cloaking it self in the robe of human rights and international agreements, some thing they hardly value or honour. This can be gleaned from their own statements and behaviour, Guantanamo Bay for one and the double cross on Libya for an other, among many others.
Laundry intermezzo:
Loading at 8:40am and back at 8:59am, but I left a ball point pen in a shirt, which caused some unusual clanging coming from the dryer. I retrieved the pen and later the shirt from the dryer, hoping that the leaked ink will be limited to this one shirt. It was.
The Syrian War:
The self imposed indignation by the US is rather transparent, since it has committed many act of insurgence and counter insurgence through the agency of its CIA. That organisation has convincingly shown its many capabilities in the past and is perfectly capable of having set up this chemical weapon attack in Damascus, while making it look like action taken by Assad’s regime.
Just recall the set up that fooled the Soviets in shooting down a Korean - flight 007? - civilian airliner back in around the late 1980-ties. Subterfuge and shenanigans are the words that come to mind as descriptors of this immoral and power driven behaviour, which is not necessarily to the US.
However, by taking this view I have to answer the question as to what the underlying motivation is for this kind of risky action. The risks of failure and exposure, when taking such under cover actions, have to be worth taking.
The value for the US here lies in the realm of maintaining power and enhancing influence in the region. This was threatened last spring when Assad’s government started to gain the upper hand over the rebels motley collection of fighters.
Boots on the ground are out, so how do you find an excuse to stop the Syrian state from making further gains, but not hand victory to those unruly rebel groups? You find an excuse to launch some bombing raids and rocket attacks that will cripple the Syrian state’s forces and restore a balance on the battle field. This operation will go ahead regardless of what the UN and other nations say or do.
Next comes the question as to what the objectives are in the adventure. I think that the answer lies in the US’ preoccupation with Iran and its influence in the region.
In addition, the Sunni Arabs hate the Iranian Shiite state, as does Israel. Further more, the US and the UK are still smarting from Iran’s independent course since its 1979 revolution that ended the US dominated Shah regime.
Laundry at 9:30am. And back at 9:54am and the coffee is perking.
Even though Brahimi, the UN peace envoy and negotiator, said it was necessary to have Iran at the table, the USnK prevented this from happening. No peace in the middle east without Iran I say. This means that a policy that ignores and counters Iran’s influence will only lead to continued violent conflicts in the region.
The US hopes to stem Iran’s influence in Syria by taking violent and surgical actions against the Iran supported Assad regime. But these two have Russia and China as guardians looking on to ensure that things do not get out of hand.
Is he best interest of the USA good enough for the people on the ground?
The precarious power balance in Syria is labile at this time and it can easily be destroyed by ill considered actions that are based on biased and limited views and assumptions. That is some thing the US is prone to do when acting ‘in its best interest’. But, is that interest any good to the people living in the region and to resolving these global conflicts? The latter is the interest that should be paramount at this time.
Laundry again from 10:20am to 10:33am, but now completed.
The US has lost much respect and credibility with its actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. With time it has become clear that even much power has its limitations. The collapse of the Soviet Union is one example, the demise of the former colonial powers serves as an other.
Not that the US will collapse, but it is damaging its own goodwill, image and credibility by pursuing power politics under other names. The end result will be diminishment and reduced influence in the forming global community, where it could set an example to follow.
Reincarnation:
I have quite an extensive view and theory on this concept, which has formed over more than a decade. It is for that reason that I have decided to forgo writing one more ad hoc piece on this this subject. Instead I intent to compose a definitive essay on this topic that will be as complete as possible.
<10:48am~
