Stephen Lendman

Interviewed by Cuba’s Prensa Latina, Assad explained how Moscow’s intervention shifted the balance of power on the ground, saying:

“Since the Russians decided to intervene in supporting legally the Syrian Army in fighting the terrorists in Syria, mainly al-Nusra and ISIS and some other affiliated groups, the scales have been tipped against those terrorists, and the Syrian Army has made many advancements in different areas in Syria.”

“And we are still moving forward, and the Syrian Army is determined to destroy and to defeat those terrorists.”They’re recruited from over 100 nations, waging “aggression against Syria,” supported by Western and regional countries, Assad explained. Russia turned the tide against them.

They heavily pour into Syria through Turkey’s border, along with weapons, munitions and other material support, helping them slaughter defenseless civilians - aided by US-led coalition air power.

Syria’s priority if fighting Western and regional supported ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Cham and Jaish al-Islam - like-minded terrorist groups “kill(ing) anyone who doesn’t look or doesn’t feel or behave like them,” Assad stressed.

War on Syria is “full-blown,” foreign powers supporting terrorists, waging political and economic war at the same time - bleeding the country, destroying its infrastructure, terrorizing its people.

Other than Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, outside help isn’t forthcoming. The UN, their pro-Western mediators, and Security Council dominated by US-led and pressured states operate as a Syrian enemy instead of strictly observing international law.

Russia alone among major powers want’s long-running conflict settled diplomatically and equitably - “while the Americans always play games in order to use the terrorists, not to defeat them,” Assad explained.

They “only started to shrink when” Russia intervened last September. He’s ready to leave power if Syrians no longer wish him to lead. It’s for them alone to decide, he stressed, no outside powers.

He’s leery of all US administrations. Bush sends in troops, Obama death squad mercenaries, aiming for the same outcome - toppling independent governments, replacing them with pro-Western puppet ones.

He sees no positive change in US policy whether Trump or Clinton succeeds Obama. He’s reliant on loyal allies and the redoubtable spirit of Syrians to remain free from imperial domination.

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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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