Post #4047

Expanding a bit on my thoughts in an informal post I made on social media October 16. I am not going to develop this into a proper essay at the moment. I expressed my thoughts in brief after seeing many comments made on various platforms following the repugnant meeting with al-Qaeda/ISIS Abu Mohammad al- Joolani in Moscow. The following is not directed at any one person, it is some of my thoughts after much time and consideration since the fall of Syria. Caveat: I write this as someone who since 2014 spent significant time in Syria (1.5 years much of that time from 2014-2019, during some of the hardest, most dangerous, years, also going there in 2020 & 2021), with a focus on the suffering of Syrian civilians under the Western-Gulf-backed terrorism and the crushing sanctions against Syria. I'm not callous or indifferent to their current ongoing suffering, and am in no way whitewashing it. To the contrary, I've written and spoken a lot about the ongoing terrorism and crimes against civilians under Joolani's rule, and I've tried to help who I can, including (with the help of some others) getting out of Syria and to safety. * The recent meeting with Joolani was a disgusting sight. The blood of the untold thousands of Syrian civilians slaughtered under Joolani’s rule is still fresh, and still flows, with ongoing assassinations of civilians for no reason other than their sect or for no reason whatsoever. Under Joolani's rule, untold numbers of women and teenage girls have been kidnapped for sex slavery. The persecution of minorities, and even Sunnis who reject Joolani's reign of terror, continues. Like anyone who cared about Syria, much less spent significant time there, I’m devastated about Syria's descent into chaos and terrorism. But, I’ve never found the “Russia made a deal” on Syria theories credible, and I have not endorsed the “Russia betrayed Syria” accusations. What is most logical is that Syria fell due to a combination of extreme betrayal from some of those close to President Assad (this is certain) and within elements of the army. [I'm not blaming the entire army, nor accusing them of cowardice. I've always had great respect for the former Syrian Arab Army.] in coordination with the usual players who orchestrated the global war on Syria in the first place. That Russia saw then stood back doesn’t equate Russia “making a deal” on Syria. It cut its losses. If Russia is now acting based on its own interests, it was always acting on its own interests, people just chose to frame Russia's actions in a way that fit their world view, including as allied to or supportive of the axis of Resistance. That doesn't make Russia the reason Syria fell, nor does it make Russia a "traitor". Why would Russia bother saving Bashar al-Assad and his family, as well as thousands of Syrians (I'm told between 5000-10,000 have been given asylum in Russia)? I don't believe this was a PR move. Regarding the claims that the “The Assads are under house arrest”, I have good reason to believe this is untrue and that they have been treated with respect and care in Russia. I also do not believe that Russia will hand over Bashar al-Assad to Joolani. Russia maintaining a presence in Syria also does not equate “betrayal”, nor evidence of a “deal” made. It is pragmatism, which we don’t have to like, but our personal feelings are irrelevant. Where are the supposed gains of Russia having "made a deal"? The US continues to back Ukraine and speak of sending more weapons to Ukraine. Russia continues to win on the ground, as it had been, without any need for a "deal". Who does benefit from the fall of Syria? Israel, the US, Turkey, primarily. Regarding al-Qaeda/ISIS terrorist Joolani's words to the media: If Joolani tells media that Syria is now “free” and all are equal in Syria, there have been no massacres of minorities, Syrians are flourishing under his rule...etc, you would say, this is utter nonsense, he's lying. [continues in next post] ➡️Subscribe