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Making Sense of Syria - by Stephen Lendman
Washington, Israel, Britain and France want regime change in Syria.
Last March, Syria's externally generated uprisings began. Despite legitimate grievances, Washington orchestrated change there like elsewhere in the region.
It's part of its imperial "New Middle East" project to control North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia to Russia's borders.
For over a decade, regime change plans targeted Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Syria, and other countries outside the region.
Libya's model is the template for future Washington aggression. Whether it's employed in Syria remains to be seen.
So far, heavily armed insurgents entered from regional countries. Anti-government demonstrations have been disruptive and violent. Trapped between warring sides, civilian casualties keep mounting.
Washington and other Western nations blame Syria. Its security forces, in fact, confronted an armed insurrection. Conflict keeps raging unresolved.
Russia and China blocked America's (Western supported) Security Council resolution. If passed, it would have been a first against Syria, perhaps opening the way for greater conflict or war like against Libya.
Despite watered down language, both countries opposed options, including the UN Charter's Article 41 provisions, stating:
"The Security Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decision, and it may call upon (UN members) to apply such measures.""These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations."
In other words, stiff sanctions harming Syria's weakened economy further might topple it.
On October 4, New York Times writer Neil MacFarquhar headlined, "UN Resolution on Syria Blocked by Russia and China," saying:
"Nine nations, including the United States and its Western allies voted for the measure, while Brazil, India, South Africa and Lebanon abstained."
