Whoever believes the US will keep in mind the concerns and aspirations of the Syrian people at the international conference in Switzerland next month (known as Geneva 2) is wrong.
The Syrian people’s agony cannot possibly be very important to the US administration. When it comes to Syria, America will be more concerned about its national interests, which are only preceded by its national security — especially after 9/11 and the emergence of Al Qaida.
This comes as no surprise.
Furthermore, it is the right of American citizens to see that their government prioritise things in this manner.
If the US government did not set its priorities in this way, it will in fact be seen as an act of treason. Different American administrations have harnessed US power to safeguard the nation. Washington has also set up laws that violate human rights — including those of the American people. All this does not come as a surprise as Americans compete with the French about who was the first to come up with human rights legislation. Despite this competition, we find that both countries show their disregard for human rights whenever they face a security issue. The Americans threw away all their values after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour during the Second World War. They then did the same after 9/11 and came up with the Patriot Act.
The French also violated their human rights legislations a few weeks after they were established in 1789. This is because the declaration was born in an environment wherein the majority believed in the superiority of the white race. Hence, it was not possible to give blacks and people of the colonies the same rights.
The US provides military assistance to different degrees to different countries. However, America’s military support is limitless towards its special ally, created in 1948 after gaining “international legitimacy” — Israel.
This artificial entity resembles an octopus with its multitude of arms reaching everywhere. Israel uses the heavy stick of its ally and also places itself at America’s disposal.
That is why the Zionist state’s national security is an essential component of US national security, something that is oft-repeated by past and present US administrations.
The national security concerns of these two countries stem from a theory-based Machiavellian thought: Ends justify the means.
They are also based on the collapse of values and ethics, wherein international law is disregarded and all international organisations are manipulated to achieve joint US and Israeli national security.
The struggle in Syria is also seen in this context. Whatever the US says about “red lines”, the real issue is Zionist national security.
Moreover, there is always scope for change, as today’s foe may well become tomorrow’s ally — if that enhances Israel’s security. Additionally, friends and allies that do not serve Zionists security interests are soon regarded as enemies and very possibly as terrorists.
Accordingly, the Russians are playing their game with a lot of cunning, given the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin was an agent in the KGB, the intelligence service of the former Soviet Union.
Putin is also assisted by a diplomatic team that is no less cunning then he is, with people like the long-serving Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister.
Putin and his team are capitalising on contradictory Arab stances, the disunited Syrian opposition and the ever-growing intersection of Russian interests and those of its new ally, Iran, which in turn is in dire need of a world power to support its nuclear programme.
All this is considered a great gain for Russia, which embodies the vision of Vladimir Lenin in partitioning influence in the Mediterranean with western powers, while being present in force in northern Syria and reaching the Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf through this ally. This, especially after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the deployment of Nato missiles in Russia’s backyard in Poland, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine.
Accordingly, history is repeating itself. Promises that were made to Arabs in the Sykes–Picot Agreement of 1916 are being renewed today in different forms, by the Americans and Russians.
The Geneva 2 conference will be controlled by two great powers that are unconcerned with Arab interests; Zionist national security is the priority for these two powers.
Hence, this dialogue will not mean anything to Arabs in general and Syrians in particular if they do not identify their interests and defend them.
Trusting America and Russia is not in the interests of the Syrian people and Arabs in general, simply because the West has let their ancestors down before.
Dr Khalifa Rashid Al Shaali is an Emirati writer who specialises in legal affairs.
