by Stephen Lendman

So-called "Friends of Syria" are their worst enemies. They're a rogue's gallery of scoundrels. They're complicit with Washington's imperium. They violate core international law principles.

They're no friends of peace, stability and freedom. Umbrella group members America, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, and Qatar met in Doha.

They agreed on "secret" escalating measures. They hope to tip the military balance. They're desperate to counter Assad's impressive victories. He's routing insurgents convincingly. They're no match against Syria's military strength.

Qatar Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani said "force may be the only way to enforce righteousness and supplying weapons to the opposition may be the only way to reach peace in Syria."

Western-sponsored death squads terrorized Syrians since conflict began. Al Thani urges escalated violence. Most Syrian enemies agree.

They're responsible for mass killing and destruction. They're in lockstep with Washington's imperial plans. They want much more barbarity than already.

They want Syria entirely ravaged and destroyed. They risk cross-border violence threatening their own governments.

"(M)ost countries, except for two, are agreed on how to provide assistance to the rebels through the military council," Al Thani added.

Al Jazeera long ago lost credibility. Qatar's monarchy controls it. It's a state-controlled propaganda service. It long ago abandoned professionalism, objectivity, and truth.

Credibility isn't its long suit. Key staff members resigned earlier. They did so in protest. They're journalists, not propagandists.

On June 22, Al Jazeera headlined "Friends of Syria pledge to arm rebels," saying:

Ministers of 11 Friends of Syria nations agreed "to provide urgently all the necessary materiel and equipment to the opposition on the ground."

They condemned "the intervention of Hezbollah militias and fighters from Iran and Iraq."

They want Syrian ravaged, isolated and destroyed. They fear "unity of Syria (and) broade(r regional) conflict." They're going all out to assure it.

They're concerned about "terrorist elements" and "growing radicalization in Syria." They're responsible for what's ongoing.

John Kerry supports escalated conflict. He tried having things both ways, saying:

"The US and other countries, in their various ways - each choosing its own approach - will increase the scope and the scale of assistance to the political and military opposition."

"That is why we are working with our allies to coordinate our support to the Syria (National) Coalition and the Supreme Military Council."

At the same time, he added:

"We do so not to seek a military solution. Both sides should be able to compromise. Both sides should come to the table."

It bears repeating. Syria is Washington's war. It was planned years ago. America bears full responsibility for mass killing and destruction. At issue is replacing independent governments with client states. "Assad must go" reflects it.

America threatens world peace and stability. It's waging war on humanity. It's doing so abroad and at home. Obama represents the worst of rogue governance. He's a war criminal multiple times over.

Kerry claimed Assad "internationalized the militarization." He lied saying so. Assad's responsibly defending his people. They support him overwhelmingly. They want their sovereignty respected.

They condemn Washington, key NATO partners, and rogue Arab state allies. They're enemies of Syria. They deplore peace and stability. They're waging war lawlessly.

Perhaps Israel's preparing to intervene. It's actively arming Al Qaeda, Al Nusra and other anti-Syrian elements. It ended massive multi-branch exercises. Haaretz claimed they reflect "concerns for (an) Iran-Hezbollah-Syria axis."

An IDF spokesman said "(w)e are readying ourselves for the ramifications of a multi-arena battlefield." A senior Israeli naval officer called the exercises "overall preparedness" steps.

Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz warned Iran, saying "Israel has every right to defend itself. It is in the DNA of Netanyahu and the state of Israel."

Israel's Channel 2 reported a cross-border Syrian shell explosion. Whether true or not isn't clear. The alleged incident followed Israeli accusations that Syrian forces fired "in the direction of" IDF troops.

Israeli UN envoy Ron Prosor addressed the Security Council by letter, saying:

"This week's events are part of a disturbing pattern of events intended to spark provocation with Israel."

"Responsibility for the events rest entirely with the government of Syria which instructed its troops to fire (cross-border). Despite numerous complaints, they have persisted in these acts of aggression."

At issue is a disturbing US/Israeli/NATO axis. Escalated regional wars loom. Washington completed Eager Lion exercises in Jordan. Hundreds of US marines as well as extensive military weapons and equipment remain.

Obama wrote House Speaker John Boehner, saying:

"The deployment of (military forces) has been directed in furtherance of US national security and foreign policy interests, including the important national interests in supporting the security of Jordan and promoting regional stability, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct US foreign relations."

"The detachment will remain in Jordan, in full coordination with the government of Jordan, until the security situation becomes such that it is no longer needed."

Perhaps US exercises, ones Israel completed, its war readiness, its eagerness to eliminate a regional rival and isolate Iran, as well as Washington's longstanding regime change agenda reflect imminent Libya 2.0.

Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said "the IDF is dealing both at home and abroad, near and far, with a considerable number of fronts of uncertainty."

At issue is Syria, Hezbollah, Iran and Hamas. Israel wants all regional rivals removed. It's part of its Greater Middle East agenda. It's willing to wage regional war.

Washington and key NATO partners will be involved. Worrisome events bear watching. On June 18, Press TV headlined "Syria militants receive anti-tank, anti-aircraft weapons: FSA member," saying:

FSA spokesman Louay Muqdad "told CNN that the new weapons 'will be a turning point' in the conflict and will 'definitely change the rules of the war on the ground.' "

"We have received quantities of new types of weapons," he said, "including some that we asked for and that we believe will change the course of the battle on the ground."

On June 21, the Los Angeles Times headlined "Update: US training Syrian rebels; White House 'stepped up assistance,' " saying:

Washington refused comment. "CIA operatives and US special (forces) have been secretly training Syrian rebels since late last year, saying only that the US had increased its assistance to the rebellion."

Washington's been doing it since conflict erupted in March 2011. Claiming active assistance began late last year is nonsense. America's waging proxy war on Syria.

It's actively arming, funding, training, and directing US-sponsored death squads. State terror is official US policy. Salvador Option rules apply. They include massacres, mass destruction, torture, and other gruesome atrocities.

In the 1980s, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua were ravaged. In Vietnam, Operation Phoenix worked the same way. It became a template for future counterterrorism operations.

The LA Times said secret US bases in Turkey and Jordan are used. Instruction includes "training with Russian-designed 14.5-millimeter anti-tank rifles, anti-tank missiles, as well as 23-millimeter anti-aircraft weapons."

French operatives are involved. Insurgents have chemical weapons. They've been trained in their use.

Turkish police arrested Al Nusra fighters with sarin. It's an extremely toxic nerve agent. A single drop can kill.

On June 22, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) headlined "Two Qatari officers transferred chemical materials used by terrorists in Khan al-Assal," saying:

Lebanon's al-Akhbar newspaper said doing so was done cooperatively with Turkey. Qatar officers involved include Maj. Fahd Saeed al-Hajiri and Capt. Faleh Bin Khalid al-Tamimi."

Turkish authorities tried to cover up the transfer process, particularly after Russian demands for explanations, by announcing the arrest of 12 Jabhat al-Nusra members with chemical materials, including 2 kg of sarin gas, in their possession."

"The information revealed by al-Akhbar newspaper coincides with reports by The Washington Post which stressed that after months of lab tests by US experts, no evidence was reached to prove the allegations made by the 'Syrian opposition' that chemical weapons were used by the Syrian government."

"(T)he nature of the physical evidence-as well as the secrecy over how it was collected and analyzed-has opened (Washington) to criticism by independent experts, who say there is no reliable way to assess its authenticity."

On June 22, SANA reported Vladimir Putin's comments on Syria. He made them during a joint St. Petersburg International Economic Forum with Germany's Angela Merkel.

He accused Washington and international partners of recognizing Al Nusra terrorists, saying:

"Of concern to us is the possibility of political vacuum if decisions are taken to replace the incumbent Syrian government If Assad goes, a political vacuum will emerge¦who will fill that vacuum?"

"During the G8 summit, everybody agreed to convince the parties to the conflict in Syria to sit to the negotiating table in the upcoming international conference in Geneva to find the appropriate solutions for Syria's future as to realize the Syrians' aspirations.''

"We should not impose a solution on the Syrian people, but have to create an environment conducive to dialogue."

"We have to closely monitor the developments over the past years to realize that the region might spiral out of the international community's control."

Arming and funding Syrian insurgents have been ongoing "for a long time. What is going on in Syria wouldn't have been possible without sending weapons to the opposition."

At least 600 Russians and other Europeans are fighting Assad, he added.

"If the United States…recognizes one of the key Syrian opposition organizations, al-Nusra, as terrorist...how can one deliver arms to those opposition members?Where will (those weapons) end up? What role will they play?"

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called arming insurgent fighters "absolutely illegitimate, and we're not going to legitimate it."

He added that involving Al Nusra and other foreign terrorists in Geneva II is "out of the question," saying:

"It is not for them to decide whether to take part in the conference or not…They are terrorists, and should be dealt with as such."

A Final Comment
Washington sponsors anti-Assad death squads. Known terrorists are actively supported. Toppling Assad is prioritized. At issue is replacing him with pro-Western puppet leadership.

Doing so risks regional war. It threatens humanity in the process. Imperial priorities alone matter. Mass killing and destruction are small prices to pay.

Obama bears full responsibility for mass slaughter. Impeaching him is a national imperative. The alternative is no world fit living in. Perhaps he'll destroy it entirely unless stopped.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity"

http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com

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