NATO forces already operate covertly in Syria
بسم الله الر حمن الر حيم
NATO behaving like a law unto itself
By M. D. Nalapat
The impunity with which NATO personnel have killed and injured civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya has resulted in a sense among its personnel that they are "superior" to the people of these countries, all three of which are outside the charmed circle of those countries NATO considers "civilized".
In Libya, large numbers of civilians have been killed not only by the NATO bombardment but also by insurgents armed and funded by NATO. Indeed, to this day, people are being hunted down, tortured, arrested and killed in Libya in their hundreds, with no protest from Washington, London, Berlin or Paris.====
Over the past decade, the overwhelming majority of NATO "kills" in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya have been unarmed civilians. A large number of Iraqi, Afghan and Libyan civilians have lost not just their limbs but also their lives, because of "mistakes" made by NATO personnel in the field.
A look at the diaries kept by alliance troops in the different theaters of war show the casual way in which human lives are taken, often on just the merest suspicion of hostile intent.
In both Iraq and Afghanistan, running was taken as evidence of hostile intent and troops would fire on the runner immediately, even in cases where the man shot and killed was unarmed.
The diaries and recollections of hundreds of soldiers, especially those of the US, but also those of other NATO countries, detail the "mistakes" made by NATO forces, all too often the "accidental" deaths of women and children furnish substantial evidence of war crimes and human rights violations.
However, so far there has been no serious effort to hold those responsible for deaths of innocent civilians accountable. Both the International Court of Justice and the UN Human Rights Council have yet to take action against a single NATO soldier. The lack of attention given by the UN to the growing number of innocents killed by NATO military action is a damning indictment of its ineffectiveness and subjugation to the will of the US.
The impunity with which NATO personnel have killed and injured civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya has resulted in a sense among its personnel that they are "superior" to the people of these countries, all three of which are outside the charmed circle of those countries NATO considers "civilized".
As a result NATO soldiers have developed a casual disregard to the killing of civilians in combat zones. Aware that the chances of being punishment are so remote as to be non-existent, many are willing to act as both judge and executioner of "hostile" locals.
Since the Libyan operation, civilians also face a further threat, as a dangerous new policy has emerged, that of giving weapons to those disaffected with the government of a country that is a NATO target.
In Libya, large numbers of civilians have been killed not only by the NATO bombardment but also by insurgents armed and funded by NATO. Indeed, to this day, people are being hunted down, tortured, arrested and killed in Libya in their hundreds, with no protest from Washington, London, Berlin or Paris.
So long as the companies of these Western countries can secure lucrative contracts from the medley of authorities that now rule Libya, it seems that these authorities are free to do whatever they want despite the UN resolution that specifically calls for the prevention of civilian casualties. Clearly such UN resolutions are interpreted by Western countries to suit themselves and thrown away once they have served NATO’s political and commercial objectives.
In Syria as well, armed gangs are being encouraged to kill not just security forces but elements of the population that favor the recognized regime in Damascus. Such a policy has the potential to wreak havoc throughout the Middle East. And while NATO may gain from such unethical actions, the rest of the world is the loser.
But everything done by NATO indicates that it has set itself up not only as the enforcer of international law, but also the law itself.
ref//..chinadaily
Washington's Latest Security Council Proposal: Little Different from Its Last OneWashington's again trying to strong-arm through another anti-Assad Security Council resolution. While paying more attention to opposition violence, Russia said the document remains unbalanced.A draft demands Syria grant "unhindered humanitarian access (and) condemns the continued widespread, systematic, and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities."It also demands Assad "immediately put an end to such violations."The hypocrisy's galling. Assad's more victim than villain. Washington, Britain, France, Turkey, Israel, and rogue Arab League allies bear main responsibility. Assad responded to violence their killer gangs initiated.The draft merely called on "the armed elements of the Syrian opposition to refrain from all violence only after the government forces" cease attacks. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov called it a "slightly renewed version of the previous document" Russia and China rejected.Russia's Foreign Ministry added:"We would like to warn our American and European partners from wishful thinking. Russia's stance on the Syrian settlement has never been subject to any short-term considerations and hasn't formed under the influence of electoral cycles, unlike that of some of our Western colleagues."
Syria's SANA news agency quoted Assad saying:
"The Syrian people, who have in the past managed to crush foreign plots…have again proven their ability to defend the nation and to build a new Syria through their determination to pursue reforms while confronting foreign-backed terrorism.''RT also said Washington plans more aggressive intervention, including more aid for Syria's opposition. An unnamed US official said America's now helping opposition forces overthrow Assad. Admitting it signifies a significant change in US policy. Is direct military intervention next, putting a lie to Obama's latest denial of planned aggression.A Final CommentIran's Fars News Agency says Tehran has "corroborative evidence to prove US involvement in arms smuggling into Syria." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said thousands of weapons and mercenaries have entered a number of Syrian border towns and cities.Saudi Arabia and Qatar said they're prepared to help opposition forces. Of course, they've been doing it all along with Turkey, Jordan, Washington, Britain, France, and Israel. Kuwait's parliament passed a nonbinding resolution calling for providing opposition forces weapons and breaking ties with Damascus.Washington's dirty hands want Assad replaced by a pro-Western regime. If current methods fail, expect war to follow.
Note:
In recent days, this writer established contact with a Syrian monitoring events on the ground. His name's unmentioned for his safety. On March 4, he said a major Al Qaeda figure was arrested in Damascus. The same day, he emailed as follows:"Sources familiar with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a secret military order includes plans by senior Syrian military officials to confront a possible United States surprise attack.""The plan involves Syria's military responding immediately and decisively, including launching rocket and missile attacks against Israeli and US targets." "Syrian forces established a joint military operations Chamber, involving officers from the Syrian army, Iran, and Hezbollah, to coordinate military action if ordered. This means that any U.S. military attack against Syria Sijah will be met by the greatest possible missile force."Clearly the stakes are drawn. Heated rhetoric's picking up. John McCain wants air attacks launched. Assad's preparing to respond defensively. Anything ahead may erupt suddenly and violently. When America plans regime change, everything's on the table to achieve it, including war. As things now stand, bet on it.
By: Stephen Lendman
NATO behaving like a law unto itself
By M. D. Nalapat
The impunity with which NATO personnel have killed and injured civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya has resulted in a sense among its personnel that they are "superior" to the people of these countries, all three of which are outside the charmed circle of those countries NATO considers "civilized".
In Libya, large numbers of civilians have been killed not only by the NATO bombardment but also by insurgents armed and funded by NATO. Indeed, to this day, people are being hunted down, tortured, arrested and killed in Libya in their hundreds, with no protest from Washington, London, Berlin or Paris.====
Over the past decade, the overwhelming majority of NATO "kills" in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya have been unarmed civilians. A large number of Iraqi, Afghan and Libyan civilians have lost not just their limbs but also their lives, because of "mistakes" made by NATO personnel in the field.
A look at the diaries kept by alliance troops in the different theaters of war show the casual way in which human lives are taken, often on just the merest suspicion of hostile intent.
In both Iraq and Afghanistan, running was taken as evidence of hostile intent and troops would fire on the runner immediately, even in cases where the man shot and killed was unarmed.
The diaries and recollections of hundreds of soldiers, especially those of the US, but also those of other NATO countries, detail the "mistakes" made by NATO forces, all too often the "accidental" deaths of women and children furnish substantial evidence of war crimes and human rights violations.
However, so far there has been no serious effort to hold those responsible for deaths of innocent civilians accountable. Both the International Court of Justice and the UN Human Rights Council have yet to take action against a single NATO soldier. The lack of attention given by the UN to the growing number of innocents killed by NATO military action is a damning indictment of its ineffectiveness and subjugation to the will of the US.
The impunity with which NATO personnel have killed and injured civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya has resulted in a sense among its personnel that they are "superior" to the people of these countries, all three of which are outside the charmed circle of those countries NATO considers "civilized".
As a result NATO soldiers have developed a casual disregard to the killing of civilians in combat zones. Aware that the chances of being punishment are so remote as to be non-existent, many are willing to act as both judge and executioner of "hostile" locals.
Since the Libyan operation, civilians also face a further threat, as a dangerous new policy has emerged, that of giving weapons to those disaffected with the government of a country that is a NATO target.
In Libya, large numbers of civilians have been killed not only by the NATO bombardment but also by insurgents armed and funded by NATO. Indeed, to this day, people are being hunted down, tortured, arrested and killed in Libya in their hundreds, with no protest from Washington, London, Berlin or Paris.
So long as the companies of these Western countries can secure lucrative contracts from the medley of authorities that now rule Libya, it seems that these authorities are free to do whatever they want despite the UN resolution that specifically calls for the prevention of civilian casualties. Clearly such UN resolutions are interpreted by Western countries to suit themselves and thrown away once they have served NATO’s political and commercial objectives.
In Syria as well, armed gangs are being encouraged to kill not just security forces but elements of the population that favor the recognized regime in Damascus. Such a policy has the potential to wreak havoc throughout the Middle East. And while NATO may gain from such unethical actions, the rest of the world is the loser.
But everything done by NATO indicates that it has set itself up not only as the enforcer of international law, but also the law itself.
ref//..chinadaily
Washington's Latest Security Council Proposal: Little Different from Its Last OneWashington's again trying to strong-arm through another anti-Assad Security Council resolution. While paying more attention to opposition violence, Russia said the document remains unbalanced.A draft demands Syria grant "unhindered humanitarian access (and) condemns the continued widespread, systematic, and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities."It also demands Assad "immediately put an end to such violations."The hypocrisy's galling. Assad's more victim than villain. Washington, Britain, France, Turkey, Israel, and rogue Arab League allies bear main responsibility. Assad responded to violence their killer gangs initiated.The draft merely called on "the armed elements of the Syrian opposition to refrain from all violence only after the government forces" cease attacks. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov called it a "slightly renewed version of the previous document" Russia and China rejected.Russia's Foreign Ministry added:"We would like to warn our American and European partners from wishful thinking. Russia's stance on the Syrian settlement has never been subject to any short-term considerations and hasn't formed under the influence of electoral cycles, unlike that of some of our Western colleagues."
Syria's SANA news agency quoted Assad saying:
"The Syrian people, who have in the past managed to crush foreign plots…have again proven their ability to defend the nation and to build a new Syria through their determination to pursue reforms while confronting foreign-backed terrorism.''RT also said Washington plans more aggressive intervention, including more aid for Syria's opposition. An unnamed US official said America's now helping opposition forces overthrow Assad. Admitting it signifies a significant change in US policy. Is direct military intervention next, putting a lie to Obama's latest denial of planned aggression.A Final CommentIran's Fars News Agency says Tehran has "corroborative evidence to prove US involvement in arms smuggling into Syria." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said thousands of weapons and mercenaries have entered a number of Syrian border towns and cities.Saudi Arabia and Qatar said they're prepared to help opposition forces. Of course, they've been doing it all along with Turkey, Jordan, Washington, Britain, France, and Israel. Kuwait's parliament passed a nonbinding resolution calling for providing opposition forces weapons and breaking ties with Damascus.Washington's dirty hands want Assad replaced by a pro-Western regime. If current methods fail, expect war to follow.
Note:
In recent days, this writer established contact with a Syrian monitoring events on the ground. His name's unmentioned for his safety. On March 4, he said a major Al Qaeda figure was arrested in Damascus. The same day, he emailed as follows:"Sources familiar with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said a secret military order includes plans by senior Syrian military officials to confront a possible United States surprise attack.""The plan involves Syria's military responding immediately and decisively, including launching rocket and missile attacks against Israeli and US targets." "Syrian forces established a joint military operations Chamber, involving officers from the Syrian army, Iran, and Hezbollah, to coordinate military action if ordered. This means that any U.S. military attack against Syria Sijah will be met by the greatest possible missile force."Clearly the stakes are drawn. Heated rhetoric's picking up. John McCain wants air attacks launched. Assad's preparing to respond defensively. Anything ahead may erupt suddenly and violently. When America plans regime change, everything's on the table to achieve it, including war. As things now stand, bet on it.
By: Stephen Lendman
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