Last May Russian President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Soviet or Russian head of state to visit Syria where he pledged assistance in developing the nation's oil and gas infrastructure and discussed constructing a nuclear power station.
However, blocked in the Security Council this time, the West has resorted to unilateral, what it refers to as "coalitional," expedients, the first of which is Obama's executive order.
Britain, France, Germany and Portugal circulated a draft for a Resolution 1973-type initiative against Syria earlier in the week, failing which Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain later on the 27th demanded the Syrian ambassadors to their countries condemn their government's actions at home.
Synchronized with the U.S. action on the 29th, the European Union announced it plans to impose a wide range of sanctions against Syria including the now typical portfolio of travel bans, the freezing of assets and an arms embargo.
What is underway currently is the realization of the former George W. Bush administration's project for "regime change" in Syria of six years ago following the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri in Lebanon and the subsequent Cedar Revolution - a term coined by then-U.S. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky - the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country and the recall of the American ambassador from Damascus.
In 2005 the major Western powers - the U.S., Britain, France and Germany - acted against Syria in the United Nations. At the time Russia and China blocked more punishing measures than were taken under Security Council Resolution 1636 in October of that year.
In the same month Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz acknowledged that Syria could be the target of American military action, saying "I won't be surprised if Syria gets a red card," according to Britain's Daily Telegraph.
Shortly before National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and the State Department's Karen Hughes visited Turkey where, according to the Turkish Daily News, "Both U.S. officials said the Washington administration is in search of ways to facilitate a change of regime in Syria."
Six years ago American and allied plans for overthrowing the government of Syria through subversion, military aggression or a combination of both were being justified by accusations of Syria's alleged role in the Hariri killing, subversion of the U.S. client regime in Iraq and support for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Today the rationale is that used for the war against Libya: The violent suppression of protests.
Justifications change. Political, particularly geopolitical, objectives do not.
1) http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/2011libya.eo_.rel_.pdf
2) Cyprus: U.S. To Dominate All Europe, Mediterranean Through NATO
Stop NATO, March 3, 2011
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/cyprus-u-s-to-dominate-all-europe-mediterranean-through-nato/
Libyan War And Control Of The Mediterranean
Stop NATO, March 25, 2011
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2011/03/25/3973/
3) http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=9cae435d-f7dd-27c7-bd7d-39e78c5ba2d0
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