Illusory Idlib, Syria Demilitarized Zone

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Putin cut a deal with the devil, agreeing with Turkish despot Erdogan to delay liberation of Syria's Idlib province.

Will delay become deny? The province is infested with countless tens of thousands of US, NATO, Turkish, Saudi, Israeli supported cutthroat killer terrorists.

Along with freeing Syria from foreign occupation, it's essential to eliminate them, liberating the country unattainable without achieving these objectives.

Delaying the offensive lets dire conditions in the province fester, its residents brutalized and held hostage as human shields, the area a platform for endless jihadist attacks and atrocities.

It's the last major terrorist stronghold in the country. If not now, when will Putin green light a liberating offensive? Or has he abandoned the idea altogether?

Delaying what's essential could make things tougher by showing weakness, not strength - essential to deal effectively with Washington's hegemonic aims. Much uncertainty persists, important questions unanswered.

The agreed on Russian/Turkish demilitarized zone in northern Idlib is more illusory than real.

Al-Nusra and likeminded terrorist groups rejected the agreement, refusing to surrender their heavy weapons and leave - with full US/NATO/Israeli support and encouragement.

Forcing them to comply requires a liberating offensive now delayed for an indefinite time. 

It fails to prevent a CW false flag in the province to be wrongfully blamed on Assad, used as pretext for escalated US-led aggression, including against Syrian forces, maybe striking Damascus.

Trump regime hardliners threatened Russia and Syria, warning against an offensive to liberate the province, saying escalated aggression will be launched to combat it if initiated.

Putin has a choice - either surrender to US imperial interests or challenge them. The former option could doom Syria's liberation, preventing conflict resolution, a dismal possibility by not pressing ahead to liberate Idlib.

Appeasement is self-defeating, encouraging Trump regime hardliners, its imperial partners, and terrorist foot soldiers to be more aggressive than already.

Endless war persists because of half-way Russian tactics. I'm by no means advocating Moscow escalate greater war to achieve resolution - other than continuing the battle to defeat jihadists infesting the country.

It's an essential liberating objective. Otherwise important progress toward preventing Washington's aim to replace Assad with pro-Western puppet rule could be lost.

Triumph could become defeat. Syria could be lost, Iran isolated ahead of a similar scheme to topple its legitimate government, greater regional war possible by failing to take a stronger stand now against Washington's imperial agenda.

Why Putin agreed to an illusory demilitarized zone in Idlib is for him and/or other Kremlin officials to explain.

How to accomplish the unattainable wasn't explained. Clearly Trump regime hardliners aren't about to remove jihadists they control from any Syrian territory where they want them deployed.

Washington, NATO, Turkey and Israel can never be trusted. They support the scourge of terrorism they pretend to oppose.

Giving them breathing room in Idlib appears counterproductive and could be self-defeating after coming this far and accomplishing so much.

Ancient Roman official Cato once said: "He who hesitates is lost…Swift and resolute action leads to success. Self-doubt is a prelude to disaster."

The John Stuart Mill's quote, falsely attributed to Edmund Burke, about evil able to triumph because good men do nothing to contest it is an important hard truth - applicable to what's going on in Syria and elsewhere.

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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