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The United Nations' (UN) Security Council Resolution 2254 clearly states that the war in Syria demands a "Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political transition to end the conflict." Additionally, it endorses "free and fair elections pursuant to the new constitution."
In November, 2015, however, Canada defense minister Harjit Sujjan publically stated that "Assad must go", basing his assessment on the "complexity of the problem" and "the horrible atrocities that have been committed to his (Assad's) own people". On both counts he is wrong: sustained evidence demonstrates that the foreign-backed mercenaries invading and destroying Syria are the culpable parties who are committing the atrocities. We also know that the invasion of Syria was planned well in advance, and that ISIS and its terror cohorts are deemed to be "strategic assets" by imperial war planners. Additionally, both historical evidence -- the illegal invasions and destruction of Iraq and Libya for example, and the US military doctrine of "unconventional warfare" present a clear case that the terrorist invaders are Western proxies. The West uses proxies to avoid culpability and to avoid "putting boots on the ground".
Decoded, then, Sajjan's assertion is an endorsement for illegal regime change -- in a sovereign country led by a (hugely popular) elected president --- and it is an incitement to terrorism.
In the context of the carnage, imposed by the West, on the Syrian peoples, an important question needs to be answered: What should Canada do?
A first step would be to reverse what Canada has already done.
Ken Stone, of the Hamilton Coalition To Stop The War, explained in a 2013 article, "Canada's Harper Government Supports Covert Mercenary War On Syria, Funds AL Qaeda Affiliated Rebels", what Canada was already doing to support illegal regime change in Syria:
1. organizing the covert mercenary war against Syria through the Group of Friends of the Syrian People ("Friends of Syria Group");
2. establishing a regime of economic sanctions against Syria and hosting, in Ottawa, the Friends of Syria Group's International Working Group on Sanctions;
3. funding and supporting the so-called "rebel" side;
4. planning for an overt western military action against Syria;
5. working with Syrian-Canadians antagonistic to the Assad government;
6. contributing to the demonization of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and to the de-legitimation and isolation of his government.
In an interview with this writer, Stone explained what we should be doing:
We should withdraw our troops from the (illegal) US Coalition "against ISIS"; we should normalize diplomatic relations with Syria; we should end the (illegal) sanctions against Syria; we should withdraw from the "Friends of Syria Group"; and we should get out of NATO.
Canada needs an independent foreign policy within the framework of international law. The US coalition does not have UN Security Council approval, nor does it have the consent of the elected government of the independent sovereign nation of Syria. Merely "shifting assets" within the illegal coalition is not the answer, nor does it represent "real change".
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