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Targeting Iran and Syria - by Stephen Lendman
More war may be planned.
America, key NATO partners, and Israel target both countries.
Israel wants regional rivals removed. Washington and key NATO partners want independent regimes ousted, replaced with subservient ones.
At issue is establishing regional dominance. New targets can then confronted politically, economically, and/or belligerently.
Fabricated IAEA Iranian documents escalated tensions. Rhetorical saber rattling followed. Stiffer sanctions are threatened and perhaps war.
Syria's been targeted for months. Libya's insurgency was replicated. Street battles rage daily. Violence engulfs the country. Assad's government is unfairly blamed. Washington's dirty hands are at fault. So are Israel's and other conspiratorial allies.
The Arab League's decision to suspend Syria makes Western intervention more likely. The League's constitution requires unanimity. Lebanon, Yemen and Syria voted "no." Iraq abstained.
Suspension's thus illegitimate. Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem condemned it. America was blamed for demanding it.
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman attended the League session to assure things went Washington's way.
On November 4, former UK official Alastair Crooke headlined his London Guardian article, "Syria and Iran: the great game," saying:
"Regime change in Syria is a strategic prize that outstrips Libya - which is why Saudi Arabia and the west are playing their part."
He also said a senior Saudi officials believe toppling Assad will greatly benefit the Kingdom by weakening Iran.
Crooke explained today's "great game" strategy, saying:
"(S)et up a hurried transitional council as sole representative of the Syrian people, irrespective of (its legitimacy); feed in armed insurgents from neighboring states; impose sanctions that will hurt the middle classes; mount a media campaign to denigrate any Syrian efforts at reform; try to instigate divisions within the army and the elite; and ultimately President Assad will fall - so its initiators insist."
He believes Syrian strategy is failing, "in spite of heavy investment." He added that if pushed to the wall, sectarian violence may erupt in Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere regionally.
