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<div class="entry-date">August 29, 2013</div>
<div class="subheadlinestyle">The Problems With Obama's Case Against
al-Assad</div>
<h1 class="article-title">Red Lines Drawn with Syrian Blood</h1>
<div class="mainauthorstyle">by MUSA al-GHARBI<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/29/red-lines-drawn-with-syrian-blood/">http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/29/red-lines-drawn-with-syrian-blood/</a><br>
</div>
<div class="main-text"><big><big> </big></big>
<p><big><big>It doesn’t matter whether or not Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad used chemical weapons. The US and its allies are likely to
carry out an attack on Syria in the very near future; the reasons for
this have nothing to do with the recent incident in Ghouta.</big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big>In response to the chemical attack in April of this year, <i>two
months later</i> the United States declared that the al-Assad regime
had crossed its “red line” and began to provide arms to the rebels.
They provided <a
href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57594816/syria-rebels-claim-an-increasingly-rare-victory-near-aleppo-but-take-heavy-casualties-in-damascus/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.cbsnews.com']);"
target="_blank">enough assistance </a>to complicate the regime’s
campaigns in critical areas, but not nearly enough support to allow the
rebels to march on Damascus.</big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">According to </span><a
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/decision-to-arm-syrian-rebels-was-reached-weeks-ago-us-officials-say/2013/06/14/3cc2d372-d51a-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.washingtonpost.com']);"
target="_blank">The Washington Post</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, this policy was decided <i>weeks before </i>the
reports of chemical weapons use had surfaced; in fact, </span><a
href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57576722/ap-master-plan-underway-to-help-syria-rebels-take-damascus-with-u.s.-approved-airlifts-of-heavy-weapons/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.cbsnews.com']);"
target="_blank">CBS News reported</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> that
these efforts were <i>already underway</i> before the chemical attacks
occurred—they were merely stepped-up in June. That is, the reports of
chemical weapons use in Syria were used as a pretext to justify a </span><a
href="http://www.people-press.org/2013/06/17/public-remains-opposed-to-arming-syrian-rebels/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.people-press.org']);"
target="_blank">deeply unpopular</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> decision
the Administration had already committed to.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There were </span><a
href="http://syriareport.net/weapons-of-mass-deception/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://syriareport.net']);"
target="_blank">a number of serious problems</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> with the Obama Administration’s case
against al-Assad. Having reviewed the evidence of the US and its
allies, </span><a
href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/26/us-syria-crisis-chemical-weapons-idUSBRE93P0UG20130426"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.reuters.com']);"
target="_blank">the UN declared it to be unconvincing</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and ordered their own investigation into
the incident. Subsequently, their chief investigator would claim that </span><a
href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/05/us-syria-crisis-un-idUSBRE94409Z20130505"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.reuters.com']);"
target="_blank">the evidence strongly suggested</a> that it was the <i>rebels </i>who
carried out the attack<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This should not have
been surprising—al-Qaeda has a </span><a
href="http://syriareport.net/al-qaedas-chemical-weapons/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://syriareport.net']);"
target="_blank">history of resorting to these tactics</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, and the</span> <a
href="http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/opinion/musa-algharbi-toxic-discourse-on-chemical-weapons_17457"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.yourmiddleeast.com']);"
target="_blank">means, motive, and demonstrated intent</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> to do so. The attacks were small-scale,
using a chemical agent that the organization is known to possess.
Moreover, the attack was carried out on an area which was actually </span><a
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/06/syrian-chemical-weapons-reports-get-murkier/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.washingtonpost.com']);"
target="_blank"><i>under government control</i> at the time</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, rather than a rebel-held area. </span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The evidence was so
strong <i>against </i>the White House narrative that the only people to
endorse their account were those previously committed to intervention
(France, the UK, Israel, the monarchs). And even though many of the
Administration’s claims regarding this incident have been proven
problematic, at best—in an Orwellian fashion, the White House continues
to put forward their narrative without any regard for the facts, and
without tempering their claims at all in light of subsequent evidence.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Administration’s
response to the latest incident has been equally disturbing. After
demanding a UN investigation, following al-Assad’s surprise decision to </span><a
href="http://www.france24.com/en/20130825-syria-damascus-gives-green-light-united-nations-un-chemical-weapons-arms-probe"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.france24.com']);"
target="_blank">facilitate the inquiry</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (claiming he could prove the attack was
carried out by the rebels)—the US and its allies </span><a
href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/25/215397759/u-s-u-k-warn-of-serious-response-in-syria"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.npr.org']);"
target="_blank">expressed a total disinterest in whatever the
investigation may find</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and
indicated that they were not going to wait around for the results. They
never intended to: it was their hope that al-Assad would play into
their narrative by obstructing the investigation—this would allow the
US to assert “he must have something to hide,” and more easily presume
guilt in the absence of evidence. Astonishingly, they have decided to
stick to this course despite al-Assad’s compliance. </span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The allied powers are
already positioning their naval assets in anticipation of surgical
strikes (despite the fact that </span>the architect of this plan has
since <a
href="http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/category/region/middle_east"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com']);"
target="_blank">come out against it</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">); the United States is </span><a
href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/17/world/la-fg-us-jordan-troops-20130418"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://articles.latimes.com']);"
target="_blank">preparing 20,000 soldiers</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> for deployment into the Syrian theater
although the Administration </span><a
href="http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/28/20233308-growing-number-of-lawmakers-want-say-on-syria-strike?lite"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://firstread.nbcnews.com']);"
target="_blank">does not have Congressional approval to engage</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (rendering the White House’s actions
legally questionable). The UK has </span><a
href="http://rt.com/news/uk-resolution-syria-security-council-099/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://rt.com']);"
target="_blank">drafted a UNSC resolution</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> blaming al-Assad for the attack and
sanctioning violence as a response, declaring their intention to strike
even </span><a
href="http://rt.com/news/uk-response-without-un-backing-979/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://rt.com']);"
target="_blank">without a UN mandate</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (i.e. in violation of international
law), regardless of the ongoing UN investigation, and in defiance of </span><a
href="http://news.yahoo.com/military-intervention-syria-u-n-approval-brahimi-102647443.html"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://news.yahoo.com']);"
target="_blank">warnings by the UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (fortunately, the </span>British Labour
Party has <a
href="http://news.sky.com/story/1134206/syria-vote-will-not-approve-uk-military-action"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://news.sky.com']);"
target="_blank">interfered with this plan</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, at least temporarily). </span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big>What’s the rush? As they say, timing is everything.</big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Obama
Administration’s previous decision to arm the rebels came just after
the fall of the pivotal city of al-Qusayr, as the Syrian Army was
preparing for a major campaign to purge Aleppo of rebel forces. At the
time, Saudi Arabia and France </span><a
href="http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/06/11/Saudi-Arabia-France-agree-Qusayr-scenario-can-t-be-repeated-in-Aleppo.html"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://english.alarabiya.net']);"
target="_blank">argued vehemently</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> that
some kind of immediate intervention was needed to interrupt these
efforts, which were otherwise likely to be successful—and devastating
for the rebellion. This new chemical weapons incident just happened to
occur at a moment when the regime is </span>on the verge of a general <a
href="http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/139838/andrew-j-tabler/the-day-after-assad-wins"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.foreignaffairs.com']);"
target="_blank"><i>de facto</i> victory over the insurgency</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> while the world’s attention was focused
primarily on the</span> <a
href="http://www.sismec.org/2013/08/21/shallow-democracy-v-deep-state-an-archaeology-of-the-crisis-in-egypt/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.sismec.org']);"
target="_blank">unfolding crisis in Egypt</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It is disquieting that
these chemical weapons incidents happen to occur at times when the
rebels are in their most desperate need of foreign intervention, which
also happen to be the times when it would make the <i>least</i> sense
for the regime to resort to these tactics. Apparently, this trend does
not worry the Obama Administration, who claims there can be “</span><a
href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/27/world/meast/syria-civil-war/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.cnn.com']);"
target="_blank">no doubt</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">” that
al-Assad carried out the attack. And even though by its own account of
the events, </span><a
href="http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/08/27/exclusive_us_spies_say_intercepted_calls_prove_syrias_army_used_nerve_gas"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com']);"
target="_blank">the Syrian Ministry of Information was outraged</a> by
strike, which the state did not authorize<span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, the Administration has been labeling
the incident as a <i>provocation</i> which demands “punishment.”</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">All of this suggests
rather strongly that policy is informing the Administration’s
evaluation of intelligence, rather than having the intelligence guide
its policies. We saw the same trends in the lead-up to the war in Iraq,
with the White House calling the intelligence on Hussein’s WMD’s a “</span><a
href="http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/18/woodward.book/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.cnn.com']);"
target="_blank">slam dunk</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.”</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Then, as now, the truth
or falsity of these claims is irrelevant.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Even if no chemical
weapons had been deployed in the Syrian theater by <i>anyone</i>, </span><a
href="http://musaalgharbi.blogspot.com.es/2013/06/a-reply-to-george-abu-ahmad.html"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://musaalgharbi.blogspot.com.es']);"
target="_blank">given the dynamics of the conflict</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, the Administration would be using some
other means of justifying intervention. Much like R2P, the “War on
Terror,” or spreading “democracy/ human rights,” WMD claims are used
almost exclusively to justify interventions against “inconvenient”
actors. Western powers are more than happy to cooperate with </span><a
href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/08/25/secret_cia_files_prove_america_helped_saddam_as_he_gassed_iran?page=full"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.foreignpolicy.com']);"
target="_blank">agents carrying out the very atrocities they are
condemning</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> when geopolitically
expedient (consider for a moment that <i>Saudi Arabia </i>is one of the
primary allies “bringing democracy” to Syria); when there is little to
gain from an intervention, they are eager to turn a blind eye to
astonishing human suffering. The ideologies are used to <i>justify</i> rather
than <i>determine </i>policy.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The arguments derived
from these tropes are typically heavily-reliant on sketchy and
politicized intelligence, exaggerated claims, empty rhetoric, and at
times, outright lies. Syria is a prime example of these trends: </span><a
href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mepo.12003/full"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com']);"
target="_blank">the popular discourse of the conflict</a> is the
virtual antithesis of what seems to be happening on the ground<span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But even in those cases
where the accusations are more-or-less true, one cannot lose sight of
the fact these intercessors are not acting out of altruism, but are
exploiting others’ tragedy and horror in the service of their own
geopolitical ends. Often </span><a
href="http://musaalgharbi.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/barack-hussein-obama-moderate-neo.html"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://musaalgharbi.blogspot.com.es']);"
target="_blank">more lives are lost </a>under R2P than stood to be
lost without intervention<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, greater
oppression follows Western “liberation,” greater atrocities unfold as a
result of Western “punishment” for “crimes against humanity,” </span><a
href="http://musaalgharbi.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/al-qaedas-renaissance-arab-spring-and.html"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://musaalgharbi.blogspot.com.es']);"
target="_blank">more extremists are created</a> as a result of the
“War on Terror.”<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> But it is
irrelevant whether or not the espoused “moral” end is achieved, as long
as the geopolitical aim is successful.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As </span><a
href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/as-war-talk-intensifies-west-says-goal-not-deposing-assad/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.timesofisrael.com']);"
target="_blank">the Obama Administration has made abundantly clear</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, the impending Western strikes in Syria
will not be aimed at deposing al-Assad. The goal is not to resolve, but
to perpetuate the conflict. It is unacceptable to Western policymakers
that al-Assad emerge victorious in the conflict, as he stands poised to
do in the near-to-medium term. However, </span><a
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/world/middleeast/general-says-syrian-rebels-arent-ready-to-take-power.html"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.nytimes.com']);"
target="_blank">a rebel victory</a> is not a plausible option at the
moment<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> either—even if the US agreed
to a Libya-style intervention (insofar as “victory” is understood as
liberal or West-compliant factions of the rebels being able to
effectively seize, wield, and maintain power and legitimacy in the
aftermath of al-Assad being deposed). So because the “right” people are
not able to win, </span><a
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/opinion/sunday/in-syria-america-loses-if-either-side-wins.html"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.nytimes.com']);"
target="_blank">the goal is to prevent <i>anyone </i>from prevailing</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The strategy will allow
Hezbollah, the Syrian Army, and al-Qaeda to tear one-another down, too
consumed by the conflict with one-another to pose a meaningful threat
to the West, its allies, or its interests. Simultaneously, the “allied”
forces will attempt to build up the capacity of the “good guys” until
they are capable of rendering a more acceptable military solution
viable. Finally, laboring under the delusion that “equalizing force”
will somehow </span><a
href="http://syriareport.net/game-theory-v-syrias-reality/"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://syriareport.net']);"
target="_blank">bolster rather than prevent a negotiated settlement</a><span
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, they will also continue their
inconsistent and half-hearted pursuit of a diplomatic resolution—even
as they continue to </span><a
href="http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/opinion/musa-algharbi-breaking-the-literal-and-rhetorical-stalemates-in-syria_14383"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.yourmiddleeast.com']);"
target="_blank">undermine these efforts</a> by insisting that the
President step down<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> as a
precondition to talks. One way or another, the war will not be
permitted to end unless and until the US achieves its goal.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Of course, this
strategy is incalculably devastating to the people of Lebanon, Syria
and the greater region—but that is of little concern. Just as
geopolitical interests trump “intelligence,” they trump morality as
well.</span></big></big></p>
<big><big></big></big>
<p><big><big><i><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Musa
al-Gharbi</strong> is a research fellow with the Southwest Initiative
for the Study of Middle East Conflicts (</span></i><a
href="http://www.sismec.org/about"
onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.sismec.org']);"
target="_blank"><i>SISMEC</i></a><i><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">);
he has a MA in philosophy from the University of Arizona. You can
follow him on Twitter @Musa_alGharbi.</span></i></big></big></p>
<big></big></div>
</font></font>
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