Syed Javed Hussain
The US and its allies in the West expected that the death of former Lebanese PM Rafik Harari, which according to certain elites in the West initiated a ‘cedar revolution’ in Lebanon, referring to the cedar tree that appears on Lebanon’s national flag as the country’s symbol, would snowball a big change in the region. When it was perceived that the inertia of regional realities had not allowed things drift beyond the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon then yet another subterfuge was tried. A UN sponsored inquiry was kick started.
The US agenda is beyond seeking justice for Hariri family and Lebanon. The inquiry, initiated at the behest of the UN by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis was to yield dividends and push the ball further down the slope to ‘trammel up’ desired changes.
Hence the hasty session of the UN Security Council as well as constant rattling of Mr Bush and Condoleezza Rice demanding sterner actions against Syria since Oct 21, is understandable. What kind of action is to be expected? Sanctions or military adventure against Syria? It is quite obvious even to an ordinary wit that demand for justice over Rafik Hariri’s murder is yet another ruse for the establishment of Israel’s suzerainty in the region and regime change in Syria. At the end of the same day Detlev Mehlis report was presented.
Mr Bush talking to an Arabic channel demanded that: (a) Syria should crush Palestinian movement at home against Israel. (b) It should stop insurgents entering Iraq (c) and should also stop further interfering in Lebanon. What if Syria obliges and accepts Bush’s demands? Will Rafiq Hariri’s murderers be allowed to go scot-free? With his veracity at its lowest Mr Bush this time is not able to sell himself even to the aggrieved family.
In reaction to Bush’s vitriol against Syria and his perpetual demands for strong action against Lebanon’s neighbouring country which had saved Lebanon from Israel’s hegemony 15 years ago, Rafik Hariri’s son, Saad Hariri, after meeting the French President on 27th October said Lebanon was against imposition of economic sanctions against Syria. He said that Lebanon and Syrian had long-standing friendly relations and any such move would jeopardize those relations and would not be in favour of Lebanon.
Even in the Security Council, the US has found it difficult to win substantial majority on its own terms. China came out quite unequivocal and explicit and did not agree with the US that Detlev Mehlis report had in anyway implicated Syria of the crime.
The earlier resolution was watered down to accommodate Chinese objections. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told the UN Security Council that it would ‘be inappropriate’ to threaten Syria with sanctions to force it to cooperate fully with the UN probe into the murder of Rafik Hariri. Mr Li said, “China always urges that no use or threat of sanctions should be allowed in international relations.”
Why is the US suddenly so active on Syria. The answer brings to light hidden New Middle East Order of the US. (a)- According to the US perception Syria is still ferrying guns to Hezbollah in Lebanon, that must be stopped immediately. (b)- trong Syria in Israel’s neighbour-hood is a de facto challenge to Israel’s suzerainty in the region. After Iraq it must be neutralized.
Further, unless Syria is weakened, the strongest link between Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon cannot be broken. Moreover, until this link is broken Hezbollah cannot be neutralized to make room for Israel’s inroads into Lebanon, forestalled sixteen years ago by Syria. (c)- Before dealing with Iran effectively Syria must be neutralized on the Western flanks of Iraq. (d)- There is no chance Israel will ever cede Golan Heights to a Hashemite regime, therefore, a regime change in Syria is a must to redraw the Middle East map. (e)- The Iran-Syria axis must be broken to stabilize and protract US hold on Iraq.
However, mired deep in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is very difficult, rather impossible, for the superpower of the world to initiate a ground assault against either Syria or Iran.
The divided Security Council is yet another obstacle, making things difficult for the US to realize its diabolical agenda in the region. The only recourse left with the US and couple of other gullible fanatic Christian regimes in the West is aerial strikes.
That too is a very dangerous proposition because hostilities thus unleashed would spiral out of proportion beyond anyone’s capacity to contain. Presently, the only course left with the US-Western nexus is to hand-over powers to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan and get out of the region real quick. The dictates of wisdom should have their partners in action.
Introduction
The US agenda is beyond seeking justice for Hariri family and Lebanon. The inquiry, initiated at the behest of the UN by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis was to yield dividends and push the ball further down the slope to ‘trammel up’ desired changes.
First appeared in Pakistan Observer on November 17, 2005