by Stephen Lendman

Overwhelming support for peaceful conflict resolution at home and abroad opposes him. It doesn't matter. He plans devastating strikes on Syria.

He ordered an expanded hit list. He wants more targets struck. US and French warplanes will supplement cruise missiles. Reports suggest long range B-2 and B-52 bombing.

An unnamed senior national security official said planned air strikes will damage Syria more in 48 hours than insurgents did in two and a half years.

On September 5, Jonathan Karl said "ABC News has learned the president’s national security team is preparing for a significantly larger military attack than most had anticipated."

"The air campaign which is expected to last at least two days will potentially include an aerial bombardment of missiles and long range bombs fired from B-2 and B-52 bombers flying from the United States."

"That in addition to a relentless assault of Tomahawk missiles fired from those four Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean."

"Those ships are loaded with nearly 200 missiles, plans call for firing the vast majority of them."

"As one senior national security official told ABC News, this military strike could do more damage to Assad’s forces in 48 hours than the Syrian rebels have done in nearly two years of civil war."

"That's more than President Obama seemed to be suggesting just days ago."

On September 6, CNN headlined "Official: Potential Syria strikes could include long-range bombers," saying:

White House and Pentagon officials are considering various options. Obama wants escalated attacks. He wants many more targets struck.

CNN quoted the Wall Street Journal saying "revised options…include the use of Air Force bombers to supplement US destroyers in the Mediterranean."

"US long-range bombers such as the B-1, B-2 and B-52 are equipped with joint air-to-surface missiles, designed to destroy both mobile and fixed targets."

Washington has B-1 bombers in Qatar. They're at Al Udeid Air Base. It hosts US and UK personnel, warplanes and other weapons of war. It's Pentagon CENTCOM regional headquarters.

Major civilian casualties are likely. Thousand may die. Many more will be injured. Countless numbers will be displaced. Coverup and denial will claim otherwise.

Follow-up attacks may be ordered. Obama intends bypassing Security Council approval. He may act with or without congressional approval.

On September 7, AP headlined "US orders diplomats out of Lebanon amid fears," saying:

"The State Department ordered all nonessential US personnel Friday to leave Lebanon, reflecting fears that an American-led strike on neighboring Syria would unleash more bloodshed in this already fragile nation."

It warned saying:

"Lebanese government authorities are not able to guarantee protection for citizens or visitors to the country should violence erupt suddenly."

"Access to borders, airports, roads, and seaports can be interrupted with little or no warning."

A separate advisory on Turkey said it would let Adana consulate personnel leave their posts.

It's the closest diplomatic one to Syria. US citizens were urged to avoid nonessential southeast Turkey travel.

Lebanon's government held an emergency meeting. Hezbollah put its fighters on high alert.

"Car bombings, rockets, kidnappings and sectarian clashes - all related to the conflict - have become increasingly common in recent months," said AP.

Syrian supporters protested near Washington's Beirut embassy. Larger rallies are planned if America attacks.

A banner read: "The American Embassy is an operations room for the war on Syria."

Another said: "Your rockets and fleets do not scare us."

In his September 7 radio address, Obama enlisted public support. He repeated his Big Lie. He wrongfully accused Syria of using chemical weapons.

No evidence whatever suggests it. Plenty links US-enlisted death squads to using them multiple times. Obama lied claiming otherwise. He's a serial liar.

Everything he says lacks credibility. He wants war. He intends getting it. He won't be denied. He may have another major false flag in mind to do so.

He "decided that the United States should take military action," he said.

"We cannot turn a blind eye to images like the ones we’ve seen out of Syria."

"Failing to respond to this outrageous attack would increase the risk that chemical weapons could be used again; that they would fall into the hands of terrorists who might use them against us, and it would send a horrible signal to other nations that there would be no consequences for their use of these weapons."

"All of which would pose a serious threat to our national security."

Fact check

No evidence suggests Syrian forces used chemical weapons. They never did any time during months of conflict.

US-enlisted death squads were caught red-handed using them multiple time. Pentagon contractors trained them in handling and use. CIA operatives are involved. Perhaps US special forces also.

Syria poses no threat to America. US national security interests aren't at stake.

Terrorists are ones Obama supports. He backs the most extremist hardcore killers.

On September 6, Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas (ALBA) and Latin American countries' (TCP) ambassadors met in Tehran. They did so in solidarity with Syria.

Venezuela's Iranian ambassador, Amenhopep Zambrano, spoke on behalf of other ALBA/TCP states, saying:

Syrian sovereignty's under threat. "(W)e have to respect the Syrian people's struggle against imperialism."

America supported terrorists with weapons and funding. It did so to "overthrow the Syrian state."

"The armed groups have used the chemical weapons and attributed this act to the Syrian government, paving the way for any potential US military act against Syria."

ALBA's Secretary General accused Washington of repeating what it did against Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and other nonbelligerent states, adding:

"ALBA asks the US to refrain from launching a military aggression against the Syrian people and government."

On August 30, ALBA's 7th summit was held in Suriname. Washington's war on Syria was the most urgent issue discussed.

Participating leaders urged dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution. Popular movements, organizations and activists participated.

They united in solidarity against America's planned aggression. They did so in the spirit of peace.

Vargas is one of 23 Venezuelan states. Its Municipal Council issued a statement, saying:

"We, the local socialist municipal councils, which represent the popular authority, the nationalists and those who believe in the peoples' rights to self-determination and sovereignty, stress the depth of the friendly bounds with Syria and renew our commitment in supporting all efforts that create the suitable environment for achieving peace for the Syrians with respect of this country’s sovereignty and independence."

On September 1, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs came out forthrightly against war, saying:

Obama "announced his intention to engage in actions in violation of international law and the UN Charter."

"These will inevitably provoke more death and destruction and will unavoidably lead to an intensification of the existing conflict in this Arab nation."

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba calls on members of the UN Security Council to fulfill their mandate to prevent any rupture of the peace and to stop a military intervention which threatens international security in this volatile region of the world."

"(T)he General Assembly, the sole United Nations body in which all countries are represented, likewise has a responsibility to halt the aggression, and particularly so when it is foreseeable that the Security Council, given the preeminence of the United States on this Council, will be unable to make a decision."

"In the exercise of its authority, the General Assembly must urgently meet and take essentially needed measures."

"Cuba also calls on leaders of world opinion in the United States and the world to prevent the law of the jungle prevailing over good sense, in relation to illegal and illegitimate attacks being launched against other countries and diplomacy being supplanted by war."

On September 1, Venezuelan President Nicolas Marduro wrote Obama. In part he said:

"On behalf of the people of Simon Bolivar and Comandante Hugo Chavez, I am writing to you in defence of the cause of peace and as a staunch enemy of war."

"This letter calls on you to reflect on the unjust, nefarious and frightening possibility of a US military intervention against the people of Syria."

"These words have no other intention than to accompany the people's demands for a world where peace is the everyday way of understanding ourselves as brothers and sisters."

"I make these beautiful words of Simon Bolivar mine, entirely mine, 'Peace will be my port, my glory, my reward, my hope, my happiness and everything that is beautiful in the world.' "

"In the same way, this is about following the path that Jesus of Nazareth shows us on that beautiful beatitude: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

"Are you going to declare and start a war to (elevate) Al Qaeda" to power?

"Is that the world you want?"

"We, from the love of peace that the Venezuelan people cultivate, reject war and say no to bombs, desolation and death. That is our hope."

"I aspire and hope that the call that I have made to you in this letter doesn't fall on empty ears."

"I aspire and hope that you rectify and proceed to stop the war machine that has already been set up."

"I aspire and I hope that you stop the beating of the funeral drums of war on Syria. I pray for it to be so."

"Peace in Syria and the world!"

"No War!"

"Nicolas Maduro"

"Chavez lives, the homeland continues!"

On September 8, AP headlined "Looming Syria vote prompts protests."

On Saturday, anti-war activists protested worldwide. Scores picketed outside the White House. They marched to Capitol Hill. They chanted:

"They say more war. We say no war."

Planned war on Syria's "Built on a Lie."

CodePink's Medea Benjamin said:

"There is a grass-roots uprising against the Democrats and the Republicans. We do not want another war."

Occupy Wall Street activists joined others against attacking Syria. Protests were held in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and elsewhere across America.

Others were held worldwide. Millions are fed up with war and violence. They want peace, stability, and international law respected.

They want Obama's rage for war stopped. Signs read:

"Obomba"

"Must we bomb everyone?"

"Hands off Syria! No new war!"

Pope Francis held a five-hour Vatican City prayer vigil. He asked world leaders to end the "spiral of sorrow and death."

He said "violence and war lead only to death."

The Syrian Islamic Front urged its followers to oppose war. Waging it only benefits Washington and its imperial allies.

On Sunday, CBS News interviewed Assad. He categorically denied involvement in chemical weapons attacks.

"There has been no evidence that I used chemical weapons against my own people," he said.

Insurgents alone used them many times, he added. They're responsible for the suburban Damascus August 21 attack.

He hopes Obama won't intervene militarily. He suggested a Syrian response if he does. He didn't elaborate on what he means.

He said US wars harm Americans like nations its government attacks.

CBS said interview excepts will air Monday on CBS This Morning. Monday evening The Charlie Rose Show will broadcast his comments in their entirety.

Assad's level-headed and responsible. He's given other interviews throughout months of conflict.

His comments are forthright, honest and worth hearing. So are Vladimir Putin's. They're polar opposite Obama's Big Lies.

They're in solidarity with millions of others against war. Obama's increasingly isolated.

Osama al-Nujaifi is Iraq's most senior Sunni politician. He's parliament speaker. He opposes war.

"The military strike will not be beneficial to Syria and will ignite a fire that will possibly extend to Iraq and nearby countries," he said.

"It will be a (regional) factor for more fire, and there will probably be a reaction to this," he added.

"Iraq is not ready to be part of it, and is calling for everybody to move towards a peaceful solution."

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki expresses similar sentiments.

Tony Cartalucci calls selling mass slaughter in Syria "depravity redefined."

Paul Craig Roberts explains hundreds of years of Western "evolutionary progress (in) four words: selfishness, slaughter, shamelessness and corruption."

Add contempt for rule of law principles and other democratic values. Add a rage to wage war on humanity.

Add madness to do it one country after another. Add indifference to human suffering. Add recklessly risking humanity's survival.

Obama exceeds the worst of all his predecessors. Humanity may perish on his watch.

Activist world outrage alone has a chance to stop him. It's more important now than ever. Sustaining it for peace matters most.

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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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