by Stephen Lendman

Wendy Sherman is Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. On September 16, she spoke at Georgetown University.

She claimed Washington "cares about the Middle East because of (its) economic, political, and security interests…"

"Its rich spiritual and ethnic traditions…" It's Israel's home and America's Gulf partners.

It's "where values we cherish are under intense strain." Washington "is alarmed and moved to act by the upheaval" roiling the region.

America "must show the way."

Fact check

America covets Middle East oil. It wants unchallenged regional control.

It wants independent governments toppled. It wants pro-Western vassal states replacing them.

It wants Israeli rivals removed. It wants democracy avoided at all costs.

America's cherished values include wealth, power and privilege alone. It doesn't give a damn about "rich spiritual and ethnic traditions." It never did. For sure not now.

Sherman regurgitated Big Lies Obama repeated one after another in his September 10 address.

Great powers honor their commitments and principles, she said. We'll "move forward…to end conflicts," she claimed.

We'll "improve governance; increase economic opportunities; highlight the value of education; and enhance respect for democratic institutions, including freedom of the press, religious liberty, human rights, and the rule of law."

"America’s policy is to assist those who believe, as we do, that people of different nationalities, ethnicities and creeds can live alongside one another constructively and in peace."

Longstanding US regional and global policies are polar opposite Sherman's Big Lies.

She repeated one after another. She sounds like her boss (John Kerry), Obama, and other top administration officials.

Permanent war is official US policy. Escalating it is planned. ISIS "fighting has just begun," it says.

It's gaining new recruits at a remarkable clip. They're US shock troops against Assad.

Its proxy army. Its dagger against legitimate Syrian governance. Its regime change plan.

TheNational is an Abu Dhabi, UAE English languish daily broadsheet.

On September 17, it headlined "Rebels on Syria's southern front 'closer to the doorstep of Damascus,' " saying:

"Western and Arab military advisers based in Amman have quietly stepped up their role on Syria’s southern front, helping win recent advances for opposition factions."

"After weeks of heavy fighting, rebel groups announced the seizure of 80 per cent of Qunietra province on Saturday, including areas along the border with Israel."

Doing so can aid southern-based ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, Al Qaeda and likeminded groups advance north to Damascus.

They could establish reliable supply routes. They'll be able to aid other opposition groups on Damascus' Southern and Western fronts.

Seizing Damascus is key to toppling Assad. Opposition commanders say increased Southern Syria international support they're getting is crucial in aiding their latest advances.

According to one unnamed anti-Assad commander:

"Efforts to bring us together on the southern front have been inconsistent but all countries are moving in that direction."

"They now want us united and those efforts have been reflected on the outcome of recent battles, including the latest in Qunietra."

“We are now more organized and this is reflected in our work and the implementation of our plans."

"There is a centralized command, which is giving better results. Things are more under control."

Changes unfolded gradually since June. They're coincidental with increasing ISIS, Jabhat al Nusra and Al Qaeda strength.

According to another opposition commander:

"There is increased cooperation (among) countries supporting Syria, and increased cooperation among rebel factions."

"There are also promises of quality weapons, and of increased amounts or weaponry, although we have not seen deliveries yet."

Opposition groups believe things in southern areas are shifting their way.

According to Deraa-based anti-Assad commander Col. Nijem Abu Al Majd:

"We see this as a turning point in our operations in the south. We have control over most of the key areas and have destroyed two important regime army brigades."

So-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC) "moderates" called rebel progress a "strategic victory."

They're "closer to the doorsteps of Damascus," they say.

Former Syrian Air Force Brig. General Assad Al Zaubi called captured Qunietra one of the most important victories since conflict began in the south.

"It helps the rebels in southern Syria create a direct line to the south-western countryside of Damascus," he said.

"They now have made at least a partial connection to the outskirts of Damascus."

They "now have more room for maneuver in southern Syria, while the regime's presence and mobility has been seriously diminished," he claims.

Moon of Alabama (MoA) reported the above information. It did so two days earlier.

It explained what should be widely reported. Jabhat al-Nusra and other anti-Syrian forces are trained and equipped at the Amman-based Arab/American Military Operations Command (MOC) center.

US special forces and CIA operatives are heavily involved. So is Israel in supporting extremist anti-Assad rebel groups.

Opposition groups moved into Quneitra governate. It's in Southwest Syria. A partially executed spring 2013 plan began. It was later aborted.

"Quneitra governate is a strip next to the Israel occupied Golan heights with a southern border to Jordan and a north western border with Lebanon," said MoA.

Anti-government forces cooperated against Assad. Seven rebel groups comprising the Islamic Front aided them.

Washington backed them. So did Saudi Arabia. Qatar supplied $20 million.

Combined forces infiltrated through Daara. They moved northwest along Israel's border. The IDF supplied artillery support against Syrian units.

It's providing medical treatment for injured opposition fighters. UN authorities evacuated peacekeepers from "the Syrian side of the Golan Heights demarcation line," said MoA.

Rebels control the one Israeli/Syrian border crossing. They "control a 40 miles long, three miles wide strip…"

It runs "from Jordan along the Golan frontier up to Lebanon." It may be used to launch attacks on Damascus from the south. It's a short 40 miles away.

Syria won't easily contest these anti-government forces. Israeli "anti-air and artillery fire" support them.

Obama intends bombing Syria. Doing so could open a route from Quneitra governate to Damascus. According to MoA:

"Recent truce agreements between the US supported Syrian Revolutionary Front and ISIS in the area south of Damascus may have been concluded with these attack plans in mind."

Combined air and ground attacks could "seriously degrade" Syrian forces. Doing so could facilitate a "destructive push into Damascus."

If Assad's forces attack US warplanes entering Syrian airspace, it'll be pretext for Obama to wage all-out war.

He'll claim just cause to do it. He'll get away with it because who'll stop him.

He'll ravage and destroy Syria more than already. He'll go all-out to oust Assad. Israel partners with Washington to do it.

It attacked Syria sporadically for years. It's doing it again now. It actively aids opposition fighters.

It protects them from Syrian government attacks. Its forces need to counterattack in Quneitra.

If southern approaches to Damascus aren't secured, Israeli-protected opposition forces could advance toward Damascus.

Perhaps seize part of the city. Use it to launch more aggressive attacks.

Seizing surrounding areas would be catastrophic. Losing Damascus would be worst of all.

It would be game changing. It could turn Syrian victory into defeat. It could end up ousting Assad.

It would mean replacing him with pro-Western stooge governance. It would eliminate another Israeli rival.

It would isolate Iran. It would be disastrous for ordinary Syrians.

It would give America another regional colony. It would advance it closer to total Middle East control.

Hopefully it won't happen. It's vital to prevent it. The fullness of time alone will tell either way.

A Final Comment

On Wednesday, House Republicans and Democrats voted 273 - 156 to support anti-Assad groups. They did so without approving funding.

They authorized Obama to arm and train rebel fighters. To accept foreign financing. To wage war on Syria short of full authorization of force.

According to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D. CA):

Legislation enacted "is not to be confused with any authorization to go further. I will not vote for (US) combat troops to be engaged in war."

She stopped short of expressing support for Obama's planned bombing campaign. Failure to oppose it means backing what demands preventing.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D. CA) expressed thoughts few House or Senate members explain.

She called enacted legislation "more complex than just an up-or down vote on arming and training" anti-Assad forces.

"The consequences of this vote, whether it's written in the amendment or not, will be a further expansion of a war currently taking place and" Washington's involvement in it.

Congress moved one step closer toward approving Washington's direct involvement in Obama's three-and-a-half year proxy war.

They did it despite bipartisan misgivings about chances for success. They're concerned about another war dragging on for years.

About one with no clear strategy to win. Or what happens when conflict ends. In a statement after the House vote, Obama said:

"There will be no US military personnel in Syria as part of this program."

"We've learned over the last decade, and through our successful campaign to degrade al-Qaeda, that it is more effective to use America's unique capabilities to take out terrorist targets in support of our partners' efforts on the ground to secure their own future."

Amendment legislation was part of a short-term spending bill. It lets Washington operate through mid-December.

On Thursday, Senate members are expected to approve similar legislation.

Obama declared war on Syria. The Islamic State is the pretext. Syria is the target. Regime change is the objective.

It's replacing governance the vast majority of Syrians support. It's replacing it with what they deplore.

What they won't tolerate. What they'll contest to control their own lives, welfare and futures.

They're up for grabs. Obama's war on humanity threatens them. They're in the eye of the storm.

Their survival depends on confronting Obama's aggression. Stopping it matters most of all.

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

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

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

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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