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	America's New Middle East Agenda  
	  
	By Stephen Lendman 
	  
	Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, May 2, 2011 
	  
	Editor's Note: 
	  
	Stephen Lendman argues that the Arab revolution against dictatorship is 
	made in Israel and the USA. This is too simplistic and insulting to the 
	millions of Arabs who have been protesting and revolting against the 
	corrupt, despotice, dictatorial regimes imposed on them by the rulers of the 
	Zionist Empire.  
	Here's an alternative explanation of the Arab revolution: 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	Arabs Are Revolting Against the Brutal Regimes of 
	the Zionist Empire   
	  
	***  
	  
	A previous article on Syria quoted Middle East analyst Mahdi Darius 
	Nazemroaya, explaining Washington's longstanding plan to "creat(e) an arc of 
	instability, chaos, and violence extending from Lebanon, Palestine, and 
	Syria to Iraq, the Persian Gulf, Iran, and the borders of NATO-garrisoned 
	Afghanistan."    He explained it also includes redrawing the Eurasian 
	map, balkanizing or reconfiguring countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, 
	Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, perhaps Baltic states, the entire 
	Persian Gulf, Syria, Lebanon, and, of course, Libya to assure Western 
	control of its valued resources, besides already having created three Iraqs. 
	The strategy involves "divid(ing) and conquer(ing to serve) Anglo-American 
	and Israeli interests in the broader region."   Currently it's playing 
	out violently in Libya, addressed in numerous previous articles as Western 
	intervention heads closer to invasion, knowing air strikes alone can't 
	topple Gaddafi unless a "lucky" one kills him. It's a key administration 
	goal despite official denials, while defending the right to bomb his 
	compound having no other purpose than assassination.   Notably on 
	April 26, Los Angeles Times writer David Cloud headlined, "NATO widens air 
	war in Libya, targeting key sites in Tripoli," saying:   Predator 
	drones are being used "to strike directly at the pillars of the regime, 
	including (Gaddafi), in the heart of Tripoli," according to a senior NATO 
	officer, explaining:   "This is a shift, absolutely. We're picking up 
	attacks on these command-and-control facilities. If (Gaddafi) happens to be 
	in one of those buildings, all the better," stopping short of saying he, in 
	fact, is the target.   Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin 
	criticized the attacks, saying:   "They said they didn't want to kill 
	Gaddafi. Now some officials say: 'Yes, we are trying to kill Gaddafi.' Who 
	permitted this, was there a trial? Who took on the right to execute this 
	man, no matter who he is?"   Putin denounced the efforts, saying they 
	exceed the UN resolution's mandate. As a result, Libya asked Russia to 
	convene a new Security Council meeting to address illegitimate NATO action, 
	functioning as the insurgency's air force, taking sides instead of staying 
	neutral in Libya's internal affairs.    China also objects to Western 
	military "advisers" intervening, special forces aiding insurgents besides 
	CIA and MI 6 agents doing it also for months. Now Britain will deploy troops 
	on Tunisia's border with Libya, inching closer to invasion. UK Defense 
	Minister Liam Fox justifies it, saying Britain's prepared for the "long 
	haul," adding:   "It is essential that the international community 
	gives a very clear signal to the Libyan regime that our resolve isn't 
	time-limited....Politically, economically, militarily, we are moving 
	forward," stopping short of explaining key Western goals.   They're 
	unrelated to humanitarian intervention or protecting civilians, the bogus 
	reasons always given (besides WMDs or other spurious security threats) to 
	attack, conquer, colonize, and plunder targeted countries. Now it's Libya's 
	turn at the same Syria experiences Western destabilizing intervention, 
	perhaps ahead of "shock and awe" and whatever else US/NATO planners have in 
	mind.   In fact, the Obama administration threatens the entire region, 
	using "constructive chaos" to create "an arc of instability, chaos, and 
	violence," affecting all Eurasian countries to solidify unchallengeable US 
	control.   Moreover, at a time when "Let them eat cake" arrogance 
	trumps growing public needs, America plans more than ever military spending. 
	In addition, Britain's Fox said the Libyan campaign won't "be limited by 
	pounds, shillings and pence" to conclude the mission successfully.    
	Nor do royal weddings costing her majesty's subjects a shocking $10 billion, 
	including official understated expenses, security, and declaring a national 
	holiday, depriving millions of Brits of a day's pay they can't afford to 
	lose.   Kill Gaddafi   In America, congressional calls are 
	increasing to assassinate him, Washington's favored regime change method 
	besides externally instigated coups. In recent days, figures like Republican 
	Senator Lindsey Graham called for:    "cut(ting) the head of the snake 
	off. Go to Tripoli, start bombing Gaddafi's inner circle, their compounds, 
	their military headquarters....The people around Gaddafi need to wake up 
	every day wondering 'will this be my last?' The military commanders 
	supporting Gaddafi should be pounded. So I would not let the UN mandate stop 
	what is the right thing to do."   He wasn't asked to explain how 
	violating UN Resolution 1973, its Charter, as well as international and US 
	law is "right" when daily war crimes keep mounting. Nonetheless, others in 
	Congress agree, including Senator John McCain, preferring winning on the 
	ground only because it's chancy "taking him out with a lucky air strike." 
	Senator Joe Lieberman also says he's "got to start thinking about whether 
	they want to more directly target (him) and his family."    Bipartisan 
	support in both Houses concurs, as well as Obama, despite official denials. 
	In fact, current efforts may be to accomplish Ronald Reagan's failed 1986 
	objective. At the time, White House press secretary Larry Speakes called 
	killing Gaddafi "a fortunate by-product of our act of self-defense," against 
	what he didn't explain nor apologize for murdering 37 Libyans, including his 
	daughter, as well as injuring dozens more, mostly civilians, those always 
	harmed most in wars and other conflicts.   Earlier, however, House and 
	Senate members from both parties criticized Obama for not seeking 
	congressional authorization for war, saying it exceeded his constitutional 
	authority, but stopping short of wanting attacks stopped.    In fact, 
	under the Constitution's Article 1, Section 8, only Congress may declare 
	war, what hasn't happened since December 8, 1941 against Japan, making all 
	US wars since illegal. Obama once taught constitutional law at the 
	University of Chicago. In addition, as a presidential candidate in December 
	2007, he told the Boston Globe:   "The president does not have power 
	under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a 
	situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the 
	nation."   That was then. This is now as Republicans and Democrats 
	plan authorizing it after the fact either by resolution or a symbolic "sense 
	of the House and Senate" motion or confirmation.    If so, it will 
	legitimize the illegitimate as Congress can't invalidate UN Charter 
	provisions explaining under what conditions intervention, violence and 
	coercion (by one state against another) are justified. Article 2(3) and 
	Article 33(1) require peaceful settlement of international disputes. Article 
	2(4) prohibits force or its threatened use, including no-fly zones that are 
	acts of war.   In addition, Articles 2(3), 2(4), and 33 absolutely 
	prohibit any unilateral or other external threat or use of force not 
	specifically allowed under Article 51 or otherwise authorized by the 
	Security Council.    Moreover, so-called "humanitarian intervention" 
	amounts to modern-day colonialism to achieve geopolitical objectives. 
	Besides, America never showed concern for human rights in pursuit of 
	strategic aims.    Notably, dovish US diplomat, advisor, and father of 
	Soviet containment George Kennan (advocating diplomacy over force) explained 
	what became America's post-WW II foreign policy. In his February 1948 "Memo 
	PPS23," he stated:   "....we have 50% of the world's wealth but only 
	6.3% of its population. (It makes us) the object of envy and resentment. Our 
	real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships (to 
	let us) maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to 
	our national society. To do so we will have to dispense with all 
	sentimentality and daydreaming; and our attention will have to be 
	concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives. We need not 
	deceive ourselves that we can afford today the luxury of altruism and world 
	benefaction...."   "We should dispense with the aspiration to 'be 
	liked' or to be regarded as the repository of a high-minded international 
	altruism....We should (stop talking about) unreal objectives such as human 
	rights, the raising of the living standards, and democratization. The day is 
	not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. 
	The less we are hampered by idealistic slogans (ideas and practices), the 
	better."   As a result, when America intervenes militarily, it's for 
	policy goals, never for human rights or humanitarian priorities, rhetoric 
	notwithstanding.   Why Gaddafi Is Targeted   Previous articles 
	explained that he wasn't fully on board, or put another way, "with the 
	program." Specific reasons are explained below.   (1) He opted out of 
	AFRICOM, one of nine global Pentagon commands, to control the Africa and the 
	Mediterranean Basin, including its strategic energy transit routes and choke 
	points, crucial to keep open for world economies. All African countries 
	participate except Sudan, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, and Libya. He also 
	backed an initiative to create a United States of Africa, whereas Washington 
	wants easily exploitable divisions.   (2) Besides ranked ninth in the 
	world with 42 billion proved barrels of oil reserves (and large amounts of 
	gas), its untapped potential is believed much greater. Moreover, being 
	nearly sulfur-free, it's even more valued for its extremely high quality. At 
	issue isn't access, it's control over who develops, produces and receives it 
	in what amounts.   (3) In January 2009, Gaddafi wanted to nationalize 
	Libyan oil, but his timetable faced internal resistance. According to 
	Pravda.ru's March 25, 2011 article titled, "Reason for war? Gaddafi wanted 
	to nationalise oil," he considered the option because of low oil prices at 
	the time, saying:   "The oil-exporting countries should opt for 
	nationalisation because of the rapid fall in oil prices. We must put the 
	issue on the table and discuss it seriously. Oil should be owned by the 
	State at this time, so we could better control prices by the increase or 
	decrease in production."   In February 2009, he asked for public 
	support to distribute Libya's oil wealth directly to the people. However, 
	senior officials feared losing their jobs "due to a parallel plan by Gaddafi 
	to rid the state of corruption." He was also advised about the possibility 
	of capital flight.   As a result, Libya's Popular Committee voted 468 
	- 64 to delay nationalization plans, even though a 251 majority viewed the 
	change as positive.   Note: Gaddafi didn't consider how powerful 
	insiders manipulate all markets up or down for profit, including oil, 
	irrespective of demand. It's brazen fraud but goes on all the time, 
	especially on Wall Street in collusion with Washington.   (4) Libya's 
	Great Man-Made River (GMMR) is developing an ocean-sized aquifer beneath the 
	desert for irrigation, human consumption, and other uses. At 2007 
	consumption rates, it could last 1,000 years. No wonder Gaddafi calls his 
	Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) the "Eighth Wonder of the World."  
	  At issue, of course, is privatizing it, making water unaffordable for 
	many, perhaps most Libyans. In other words, neoliberal control will exploit 
	it for maximum profits, not equitable use as a public resource.   (5) 
	Ellen Brown's April 13 article titled, "Libya: All About Oil, or All About 
	Banking?" raised another, easily overlooked, issue. Who controls Libya's 
	money, the lifeblood of every economy? In 1970, Henry Kissinger said, 
	"Control oil and you control nations. Control food and you control people." 
	He neglected to add, control money and you control everything because 
	without it economies collapse.    At issue is whether it's public or 
	private like most nations, including America under the Federal Reserve that 
	isn't federal and has no reserves as Ron Paul explains.    Under 
	Gaddafi, "the Central Bank of Libya is 100% State owned." In other words, it 
	creates its own money, the Libyan Dinar, interest free to be used 
	productively for economic growth, not profits and bonuses for predatory 
	bankers.   However, after Washington's led NATO intervention, the 
	privately controlled Central Bank of Benghazi was established to let Western 
	bankers, not Libyans, run things. Money control indeed appears an important 
	reason for intervening, perhaps most important of all.   (6) On April 
	24, Manlio Dinucci's Global Research article headlined, "Financial Heist of 
	the Century: Confiscating Libya's Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF)," saying: 
	  Besides money, oil, gas, water, and other reasons, the "Libyan 
	Investment Authority (LIA) manages" an estimated $70 billion, "rising to 
	more than $150 billion (including) foreign investments of the Central Bank 
	and other bodies. But it might be more."    Confiscation gives US/NATO 
	interests easy money to use for their own purposes, no matter that doing so 
	amounts to grand theft, an American/Western specialty in league with Wall 
	Street and its European counterparts.   "Constructive chaos" takes 
	many forms, including conquering and colonizing nations, then carving up the 
	corpse for profit to the detriment of its people. That's always imperial 
	Washington's grand plan, playing out disruptively throughout the region and 
	violently in Libya.   A Final Comment   A previous article 
	discussed US intervention in Syria. On April 28, Washington Post writers 
	Joby Warrick and Liz Sly headlined, "Senators press Obama to take strong 
	action against Syria," saying:   Besides ongoin wars in Afghanistan, 
	Iraq, Pakistan and Libya, "Sens. John McCain (R.-AZ), Lindsey Graham 
	(R.-SC), and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) demanded tangible steps to pressure 
	Assad," issuing a joint letter stating:   "The escalating crackdown by 
	Bashar al-Assad's regime against the Syrian people has reached a decisive 
	point. By following the path of Muammar Gaddafi and deploying military 
	forces to crush peaceful demonstrations, Assad and those loyal to him have 
	lost the legitimacy to remain in power in Syria."   In fact, as the 
	earlier article explained, "peaceful demonstrations" include provocateurs 
	inciting violence that, in turn, trigger a robust government response, 
	resulting in security force deaths as well as civilians expressing 
	legitimate demands for reform.   According to reports, only sanctions 
	so far are being considered. In fact, they made be step one ahead of already 
	being discussed harsher measures. It takes little  insight to imagine 
	what kinds.   Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
	lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 
	Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to 
	cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio 
	News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time 
	and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy 
	listening. 
	 http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ 
	US Intervention in Syria  
	By Stephen Lendman 
	Despite genuine popular Middle East/North Africa uprisings, Washington's 
	dirty hands orchestrated regime change plans in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Jordan, 
	and Syria as part of its "New Middle East" project.   On November 18, 
	2006, Middle East analyst Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya's Global Research article 
	headlined, "Plans for Redrawing the Middle East: The Project for a 'New 
	Middle East,' " saying:   In June 2006 in Tel Aviv, "US Secretary of 
	State Condoleeza Rice (first) coin(ed) the term" in place of the former 
	"Greater Middle East" project, a shift in rhetoric only for Washington's 
	longstanding imperial aims.   The new terminology "coincided with the 
	inauguration of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Oil Terminal in the Eastern 
	Mediterranean." During Israel's summer 2006 Lebanon war, "Prime Minister 
	Olmert and (Rice) informed the international media that a project for a 'New 
	Middle East' was being launched in Lebanon," a plan in the works for years 
	to "creat(e) an arc of instability, chaos, and violence extending from 
	Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria to Iraq, the Persian Gulf, Iran, and the 
	borders of NATO-garrisoned Afghanistan."   In other words,
	"constructive chaos" would be used to redraw 
	the region according to US-Israeli "geo-strategic needs and objectives." The 
	strategy is currently playing out violently in Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya 
	and Syria, and may erupt anywhere in the region to solidify Washington's aim 
	for unchallengeable dominance from Morocco to Oman to Syria.    
	Partnered with Israel, it's to assure only leaders fully "with the program" 
	are in place. Mostly isn't good enough, so ones like Mubarak, Gaddafi, 
	Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, likely Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh (now damaged 
	goods), and Syria's Bashar al-Assad are targeted for removal by methods 
	ranging from uprisings to coups, assassinations, or war, perhaps in that 
	order.   Nazemroaya now says Syrian "protesters are being armed and 
	funded by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states via Jordan and Saad Hariri in 
	Lebanon," besides US and Israeli involvement.   Pack Journalism Goes 
	to War with Washington   America's pack journalism never met an 
	America imperial initiative it didn't support and promote, no matter how 
	lawless, mindless, destructive or counterproductive. For example, an April 
	28 New York Times editorial headlined, "President Assad's Crackdown," 
	saying:   He "appears determined to join his father in the ranks of 
	history's blood-stained dictators, sending his troops and thugs to murder 
	anyone who has the courage to demand political freedom."    Whether 
	about Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Haiti's Aristide, 
	former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, Venezuela's Chavez or others for 
	many decades, Times "journalists" and opinion writers have a sordid history 
	of supporting America's imperial ruthlessness, including perpetual wars 
	killing millions for power, profit, and unchallengeable dominance.   
	Now Times writers laud Obama for intervening in Libya and trying "to engage 
	Syria....in hopes that Mr. Assad would make the right choice," meaning get 
	"with the program" by surrendering Syrian sovereignty.   Despite clear 
	evidence of US intervention, Obama "issued a statement condemning the 
	violence and accusing Mr. Assad of seeking Iranian assistance in brutalizing 
	his people. That is a start, but it is not nearly enough."   War is 
	always a last choice so The Times endorses "international condemnation and 
	tough sanctions, (as well as) asset freezes and travel bans for Mr. Assad 
	and his top supporters and a complete arms embargo."   However, 
	"Russia and China, as ever, are determined to protect autocrats. That cannot 
	be the last word."   Times opinions are shamelessly belligerent, 
	one-sided, wrong-headed, and mindless on rule of law issues, including about 
	prohibitions against meddling in the internal affairs of other countries 
	except in self-defense until the Security Council acts.    Instead, 
	the "newspaper of record" remains America's leading managed news source, 
	backing the worst of Washington's imperial arrogance and ruthlessness. As a 
	result, it omits inconvenient facts to make its case, including America's 
	notorious ties to numerous global despots on every continent.   
	WikiLeaks Released Cables Expose America's Regime Change Plan   Though 
	widely reported since mid-April, The Times hasn't acknowledged information 
	(though sketchy) from Washington Post writer Craig Whitlock's April 17 
	report headlined, "US secretly backed Syrian opposition groups, cables 
	released by WikiLeaks show," saying:   Through its Middle East 
	Partnership Initiative (MEPI), "The State Department has secretly financed 
	Syrian political opposition groups and related projects, including a 
	satellite TV channel (London-based Barada TV) that beams anti-government 
	programming into the country, according to previously undisclosed diplomatic 
	cables."   "Barada TV is closely affiliated with the Movement for 
	Justice and Development, a London-based network of (pro-Western) Syrian 
	exiles."   Funding began at least after the Bush administration cut 
	ties with Damascus in 2005. In April 2009, a diplomatic cable from Damascus 
	said:   "A reassessment of current US-sponsored programming that 
	supports anti-(government) factions, both inside and outside Syria, may 
	prove productive."   In February 2006, Bush officials announced 
	funding to "accelerate the work of reformers in Syria." Nonetheless, Barada 
	TV denied receiving money, its news director Malik al-Abdeh saying:    
	"I'm not aware of anything like that. If your purpose is to smear Barada TV, 
	I don't want to continue this conversation. That's all I'm going to give 
	you."   America's National Endowment for Democracy: A Global Regime 
	Change Initiative   Besides covert CIA activities, US-government 
	funded organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and 
	International Republican Institute (IRI) operate as US foreign policy 
	destabilizing instruments. They do it by supporting opposition group regime 
	change efforts in countries like Syria, despite claiming "dedicat(ion) to 
	the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the 
	world....in more than 90 countries."   In MENA nations (Middle 
	East/North Africa) alone, NED's web site lists activities in Egypt, Tunisia, 
	Algeria, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait, Morocco, Lebanon, 
	Bahrain, Libya, Sudan, and Syria.   The IRI's web site includes 
	(destabilizing anti-democratic) initiatives in Afghanistan, Egypt, GCC 
	states, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, and Palestine.   Other US 
	imperial organizations are also regionally active, including the United 
	States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National 
	Democratic Institute (NDI), operating contrary to their stated missions. 
	  In January 1996, based on firsthand knowledge, former CIA agent (from 
	1952 - 1977) Ralph McGehee discussed covert NED efforts in Cuba, China, 
	Russia and Vietnam, saying:   The government-funded organization 
	"assumed many of the political action responsibilities of the CIA," 
	including:    -- "efforts to influence foreign journalists;"    
	-- money laundering;   -- isolating "democratic-minded intellectuals 
	and journalist in the third world;"   -- distributing propaganda 
	articles "to regional editors on each continent;"   -- "disseminating 
	an attack on people in Jamaica;"   -- funding anti-Castro groups in 
	South Florida as well as Radio and TV Marti, airing regime change 
	propaganda;   -- anti-communist grants; and   -- much more while 
	claiming its mission is "guided by the belief that freedom is a universal 
	human aspiration that can be realized through the development of democratic 
	institutions, procedures and values."   In a 2005 interview, another 
	former CIA agent (1957 - 1968), Philip Agee, author of "Inside the Company," 
	explained NED's origins and covert efforts to destabilize and oust 
	Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, calling efforts "similar to what (went on) in 
	Nicaragua in the 1980s minus the Contra terrorist operations (that) wreaked 
	so much destruction on the Nicaraguan economy."   Founded in 1982, NED 
	distributes government funds to four other organizations, including the IRI, 
	NDI, Chamber of Commerce's Center for Private Enterprise (CIPE), and the 
	AFL-CIO's American Center for International Labor Solidarity.    In 
	fact, a 2010 Kim Scipes book titled, "AFL-CIO's Secret War against 
	Developing Country Workers: Solidarity or Sabotage?" discusses its covert 
	anti-worker "labor imperialism," including regime change initiatives.   
	Manipulated Popular Uprising in Syria   Since late January, popular 
	uprisings began, suspiciously orchestrated by outside forces to destabilize 
	and oust Assad. In fact, Richard Perle's 1996 "A Clean Break: A New Strategy 
	for Securing the Realm," prepared for Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu 
	during his first term, stated:   "Israel can shape its strategic 
	environment, in cooperation with Turkey and Jordan, by weakening, 
	containing, and even rolling back Syria. This effort can focus on removing 
	Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq - an important Israeli objective in its 
	own right."   It added:   "Syria challenges Israel on Lebanese 
	soil. An affective approach, and one with which America can sympathize, 
	would be if Israel seized the strategic initiative along its northern 
	borders by engaging Hizbollah, Syria, and Iran, as the principal agents of 
	aggression in Lebanon...."   "Given the nature of the regime in 
	Damascus (much the same today), it is both natural and moral that Israel 
	abandon the slogan comprehensive peace and move to contain Syria, drawing 
	attention to its weapons of mass destruction programs, and rejecting land 
	for peace deals on the Golan Heights," Syrian territory colonized by Israel 
	since 1967.   Perle's report was a destabilization and regime change 
	manifesto, implemented in Iraq, Libya, elsewhere in the region, and now 
	Syria. The strategy includes managed news, funding internal and external 
	dissident groups, and other initiatives to oust leaders like Assad.   
	On March 30, 2011, Haaretz writer Zvi Bar'el headlined "Why did website 
	linked to Syria regime publish US-Saudi plan to oust Assad?" saying:   
	"According to the report....the plan was formulated in 2008 by the Saudi 
	national security advisor, Prince Bandar bin Sultan and Jeffrey Feltman, a 
	veteran US diplomat in the Middle East who was formerly ambassador to 
	Lebanon and is currently the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern 
	Affairs."   Dividing Syria into large cities, towns and villages, the 
	plan involved "establishing five recruitment networks," using unemployed 
	youths, criminals, other young people, and media efforts "funded by European 
	countries but not" America, as well as a "capital network of businesspeople 
	from the large cities."   Training included "sniper fire, arson, and 
	murdering in cold blood," journalists reporting it by hard to monitor 
	satellite phones depicting "human rights activists....demanding not the 
	regime's fall," but need for social networks training "as a means for 
	recruitment."   "After the recruitment and training phases, which 
	would be funded by Saudi Arabia for about $2 billion," thousands of 
	"activists" would be given communications equipment to begin public actions. 
	"The plan also suggest(ed) igniting ethnic tensions between groups around 
	the country to stir unrest," including in Damascus "to convince the military 
	leadership to disassociate itself from Assad and establish a new regime." 
	  "The hoped-for outcome is the establishment of a supreme national 
	council that will run the country and terminate Syria's relations with Iran 
	and Hezbollah."   The Jordan-based Dot and Com company was named as 
	the behind the scenes recruiter, a company run by Saudi intelligence under 
	Bandar to destabilize Syria and oust Assad.    Whether or not the plan 
	was implemented, some of its features are now playing out violently across 
	the country. Orchestrated in Washington, it's to install a totally "with the 
	program" regime, the same war strategy ongoing in Libya.   A Final 
	Comment   On April 28, Russia and China blocked a US-backed UK, 
	French, German and Portugal proposed Security Council resolution condemning 
	Syrian violence. Damascus' UN ambassador, Bashar Ja'arari, said it failed 
	because several members were fair-minded enough to reject it, knowing 
	Libya's fate after Resolution 1973, calling only for no-fly zone protection. 
	  UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe reported 
	about 400 deaths so far. Other estimates are higher. Russian, Chinese and 
	Syrian representatives say government security forces killed by armed 
	extremists are among them. According to RT.com:    "Russia's Foreign 
	Affairs Ministry had clearly outlined its position: it condemned all those 
	responsible for the deaths of protesters during the clashes with the police. 
	But, it urged (no intervention) in Syria's internal affairs," that could 
	easily escalate to Western regime change plans.   Federation Council 
	to the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, Rudik Iskuzhin, believes Syrian 
	intervention may mean Iran is next, saying:   "We very well understand 
	that the hidden motive of all of the recent revolutionary processes is Iran, 
	to which the destabilization in Syria will eventually ricochet. Libya, just 
	like Syria, was an important ally of" Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Western 
	powers and Israel want the alliance subverted.   On April 29, China 
	ruled out force against Syria, Foreign Affairs Ministry Vice-Minister He 
	Yafei saying it "cannot bring a solution to the problem and will only cause 
	a greater humanitarian crisis." Insisting proposed solutions comply with the 
	UN Charter and international law, he added:   "Any help from the 
	international community has to be constructive in nature, which is conducive 
	to the restoration of stability and public order and ensuring the 
	maintenance of economic and social life."   American intervention 
	assures "constructive chaos," the agenda Washington pursues globally, 
	focusing mainly on controlling Eurasia's enormous wealth and resources. 
	Either one or multiple countries at a time, it includes turning Russia and 
	China into vassal states, a goal neither Beijing or Moscow will tolerate. 
	  Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
	lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 
	Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to 
	cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio 
	News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time 
	and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy 
	listening. 
	
	
	http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ 
       
       
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