Russia and Iran Excluded from Meeting in Washington on ISIS

by Stephen Lendman

US hostility toward both countries is longstanding. Russian air power, Iranian advisors and Hezbollah fighters alone are aiding government forces combat terrorism in Syria.

America, NATO, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other rogue states support the scourge they claim to oppose.

On March 22 and 23, Washington will host ministers from 68 so-called coalition countries supporting, not combating ISIS - why Russia and Iran aren't invited - besides US hostility toward both nations.

Trump was co-opted to renege on pursuing improved relations with Moscow. Throughout the campaign and post-election, he's been militantly anti-Iran - pressured by Israel, its US lobby and other dark forces in Washington.

The meeting on ISIS is likely about the Trump administration getting to know its imperial partners firsthand, along with giving them marching orders on continuing the US-led war OF terrorism on humanity, using ISIS and other terrorist groups as imperial foot soldiers.

America created ISIS, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. It continues supporting them. The State Department lied, saying the March 22-23 meeting aims to "accelerate international efforts to defeat ISIS in the remaining areas it holds in Iraq and Syria and maximize pressure on its branches, affiliates, and networks."

"The coalition's working group co-leads will meet as well to coordinate across all lines of effort. That includes military, counter-finance, counter-messaging, counter-foreign-fighters, as well as stabilization - all aspects of the campaign."

The meeting follows deployment of hundreds of marines to northern Syria. Along with US special forces, they're aiding terrorist fighters seize Syrian territory, not liberate it.

On Friday, Fars News cited senior Iraqi volunteer forces leader Hashd al-Shaabi, saying US forces helped chief ISIS commander Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi escape from Western Mosul.

Reportedly, he's hiding somewhere between al-Qayravan and al-Hazar, south of Mosul.

Cooperating with Russia in combating terrorism is off-the-table - a disturbing sign showing Washington wants endless war continued, not resolved.

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: How the 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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