U.S. Counter-Terrorism and the Saudi-Turkish-Israeli Strategic Alliance to Overthrow Assad

[Jefferson23]

Investigative journalist Gareth Porter and TRNN's Paul Jay discuss U.S. policy in Syria and Iraq as its allies in the region push for the overthrow of the Assad regime - June 18, 2015

Transcript:

PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay.

The Saudi-Turkish alliance that was announced early in the spring and has developed where they have overcome their differences of who and how to promote the overthrow of Assad in Syria. Is that alliance now pushing towards the actual endgame, the real dissolution of the Assad regime? And if that's the case, is that at odds with American counter-terrorism policy? And is the United States going along with this because of their strategic need for this alliance with these Sunni-led countries?

Now joining us to talk about all this is Gareth Porter. Gareth is an investigative journalist, a regular contributor to The Real News Network. His recent book is Manufacturing Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare. Thanks for joining us, Gareth.

GARETH PORTER, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Thanks very much, Paul. Good to be back.

JAY: So we've been talking, you and I have said this before. We've been saying this on The Real News, that the fundamental U.S. strategy, and I think the same goes for Israel's strategy, was let them kill each other in Syria. Whichever side is losing, give that side a little beefing up. Which kind of explains why one week Assad is doing well and he's making a comeback, and the next week the opposition forces are about to overthrow Assad. And the news cycle and the reporting keeps going back and forth that way. And it seems to me it's because they're deliberately creating this endless war. But are they now kind of losing control of that policy? And with the Saudis and Turks now seem very intent on the, really bringing down the Assad regime, is this now kind of messing with the American objective here? Because I don't think the Americans really want that kind of takeover of Syria, do they?

PORTER: Well, they don't. You're right, Paul. I mean, this is where you get a very fundamental contradiction between some, the supposed interests of the United States in the Middle East in general and in Syria in particular, and the actual interests that appear to be at work with regard to this specific situation that we're seeing emerge in Syria, which is the power of, over the last several months, of a new command. A new military command that is dominated by the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.

And the United States government is at this point at least still acquiescing, I guess is the best word to use, in this strategy by the Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi group of states who have gotten together and have provided assistance to and encouragement to this new command to gain major territory at the expense of the Assad regime. And really, posing the most serious threat thus far of completely shifting the momentum in the war so that the real possibility of the overthrow of the regime, the defeat of the Syrian army, becomes quite, quite realistic.

in full: http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=14044

[bemildred]

1. I don't think we know what to do. I don't think we have a plan.

Obama as much as said so. The lily-pad thing in Iraq is just recycled Petraeus. We have no idea of getting anywhere, it's all about hanging onto appearances and illusions.

And we were never of one mind about what we wanted in Syria to begin with. We do things because we like or don't like people. Nobody thinks ahead much. Like when we went into Iraq, and Afghanistan, like Ukraine and Libya.

[Jefferson23]

2. And like Iraq, the consequences of the invasion have been so horrible, I am not sure

any longer if Americans still appreciate that today. They did enough in the 2008
election, but I honestly don't know anymore if we'll ever demand better of our
foreign policies. Are we so distracted from the economic crash, those financial predators
out there, the college kids overwhelmed with debt, shit jobs and enough police
violence and racism to make your head spin...maybe.

I am in an angry mood..so much waste. How in the hell you can look at the rise
of IsIs, which I find an amazing modern day phenomenon and not be cautious and
show restraint is beyond me.

When you look at what we did, going back to the sanctions under Clinton,
then the invasion..do Americans ever think of what that was/is like to witness
year after year? The US incited sectarian conflicts but what I hear is well, they always
hated each other, so they have to fix it now.... those are terrible lies.

I guess what I am saying is, perhaps if Americans demanded better, our leaders
would consider what they do and don't do with more serious consideration. It
does not look that way right now, it looks bleak with the exception of Obama's
shift with Iran.