Kerry in Moscow: Part II

by Stephen Lendman

The public isn't privy to closed door political discussions, especially on issues as crucial as war and peace.

Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov are redoubtable, forthright figures, vital ones on the world stage. Perhaps on Monday in Moscow, they convinced John Kerry about Russia's intentions and objectives in Syria.  

It's fully committed to defeat ISIS and other terrorist groups for as long as it takes, working cooperatively with Syrian ground forces, as well as help from Iran and Hezbollah. It welcomes unity among all nations against a common scourge.

It doesn't buy the nonsense of so-called "moderate" bad guys. They don't exist, despite US claims otherwise.

It supports Syrian sovereignty, its citizens alone entitled to decide who'll lead them, no outside powers. Its operations conform fully to international law principles.

America's agenda is polar opposite on all counts. Ignore Kerry's diplomatic mumbo jumbo. Statements like "(w)e don't seek to isolate Russia as a matter of policy" is contrary to indisputable facts, even though Washington's scheme failed.

So is saying "we have consistently said that the world is better off when Russia and the US find common ground and an ability to be able to work together" - code language for Washington wanting Russia and all other countries to operate by its rules, regardless of how harmful to their vital interests.

US actions speak for themselves. They include endless wars of aggression. Syria is Obama's war from its onset - now dangerously escalated with greater US bombing of its infrastructure and government targets, as well as unknown numbers of Pentagon special forces and perhaps other combat troops involved on the ground, supporting ISIS, not combating it. 

Washington continues challenging Russia recklessly through vicious propaganda, sanctions and other devious tactics. 

It consistently says one thing while doing another, especially on issues mattering most. Obama and Kerry are notorious serial liars.

Nothing is resolvable in Syria or elsewhere as long as both countries have polar opposite objectives. Russia will never yield to US demands. 

Putin will do whatever it takes to defend Russia's homeland. Days earlier, he ordered its military to destroy any threat to its air, ground or naval forces. He always says what he means and means what he says.

Make no mistake, Obama launched war almost five years ago to replace Assad with a US-controlled stooge, isolate Iran, likely target its government next, to gain full control over the oil-rich region.

Might makes right is longstanding US policy, naked aggression its standard operating procedure. Confronting Russia directly in Ukraine and/or Syria risks open conflict between the world's leading nuclear powers, each able to strike targets anywhere worldwide with pinpoint accuracy, inflicting unimaginable mass slaughter and destruction.

Like Russia, Iran supports its Syrian ally. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei senior advisor Ali Akbar Velayati publicly called Assad Syria's legitimate leader. "Iran considers him as its redline," he said. "Only Syrian people, who elected Assad, are entitled to decide the future of their country…(N)o foreign country will be allowed to interfere in Syria's internal affairs."

His message is clear. Iran will do whatever it takes to prevent the defeat and removal of its valued ally, including deploying significant numbers of its armed forces to fight alongside Syria's.

It's military advisors have been involved throughout the conflict as well as unknown numbers of forces - more to come as needed.

Iran's future as a sovereign state, free from US-led hegemonic control, depends on Assad's survival along with preserving Syrian independence.

As long as US policy remains unchanged, in the Middle East, Central Asia and elsewhere, the risk of direct US/Russian confrontation remains ominously huge.

An eventual showdown, likely with nuclear weapons, is too great a danger to accept. How to avoid it is the major issue of our time.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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