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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=tanstl@aol.com href="mailto:tanstl@aol.com">David Sladky</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=dlj725@hughes.net
href="mailto:dlj725@hughes.net">dlj725@hughes.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 28, 2012 12:03 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> SYRIA: US-NATO Behind the Killings of Civilians</DIV></DIV>
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<DIV class=ecxarticleTitle><FONT size=5><STRONG>SYRIA: US-NATO Behind the
Killings of Civilians</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxarticleSubTitle></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=ecxarticleAuthorName>by Ben Schreiner</DIV><BR></TD></TR>
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<DIV class=ecxbigArticleText12><A href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/"
target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>Global Research</FONT></A>, February 27,
2012</DIV></TD></TR>
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<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>Ever since its
failure to win United Nations Security Council backing for “regime change”
in Syria, Washington and its lackeys in the corporate media have been
unrelenting in voicing their great moral outrage at both the violence of
the Assad regime and the seeming indifference to it all by the likes of
Russia and China. Washington is no doubt long in forgetting
those that thwart the will of the “international
community.” After all, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
stated, the “travesty” of the Russian and Chinese veto left the entire
Security Council “neutered.” </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>Given this, it was
of little surprise to see Ms. Clinton mount her soapbox once more on
Friday at the meeting of the “friends of Syria” in Tunis. As
Ms. Clinton moralized:</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>"It’s quite
distressing to see two permanent members of the Security Council using
their veto when people are being murdered, women, children, brave young
men. Houses are being destroyed. It is just
despicable. And I ask, whose side are they on? They
are clearly not on the side of the Syrian people."</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>Clinton’s remarks
won swift and high praise from the American punditry. As Mark
Shields swooned on the <A
href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june12/shieldsbrooks_02-24.html"
target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>PBS Newshour</FONT></A> of
Clinton’s performance, “It was impassioned. It was
eloquent. It was really, I thought, quite
moving.” David Brooks likewise fawned, “The reaction was
something I think we should be proud of, clearly a lot of passion, a lot
of directness.”</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>The New York
Times, meanwhile, also weighted in on the Syrian crisis with a Friday
editorial (titled <A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/25/opinion/syrias-horrors.html?_r=1"
target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>"Syria's
Horrors"</FONT></A>). As the paper argued, “The United States
and Europe need to use all their powers of persuasion and shaming to get
Moscow and Beijing to cut all ties [with Syria].” In an editorial
published just a week prior (titled <A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/opinion/the-enablers.html?_r=1"
target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>"The Enablers"</FONT></A>),
the Times called on Russia and China to finally "meet the test
of leadership" by “standing against Mr. Assad’s siege on his
people.” Little doubt, then, that the Times also took
heart in Clinton’s Tunis exploits.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>But least one think
the violence gripping Syria really moves such pillars of the U.S. liberal
establishment like the New York Times and Ms. Clinton, let us
briefly recall how the both responded to Operation Cast
Lead. That is, Israel’s 23-day assault on the Gaza strip in
late 2008, early 2009. The Israeli assault—or more properly,
war crime—left a total of 1,385 Palestinians dead, 318 of which were under
the age of 18. (5,300 more Palestinians were also
wounded.)</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>So, as Israel
slaughtered Palestinians in Gaza, did Ms. Clinton deride the distressing
murder of women and children? Did she bemoan a “neutered”
Security Council unable to respond? No. Instead, just the
same as then President-elect Obama, Ms. Clinton hide behind the notion
that “there is only one secretary of state.” Not that she would
have acted any differently had she been actively serving as secretary of
state.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>But how about
the Times? Did the paper of record lament the horrors
unfolding in Gaza? Did it call on the U.S. to meet the test of
leadership and stand against the Israel siege of
Gaza? No. In fact, in the midst of the slaughter,
the Times boldly <A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/opinion/30tue1.html"
target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>editorialized</FONT></A>, “Israel
must defend itself.” Then to perhaps demonstrate their
“humanity,” the editorial board cautiously affirmed that, “Israel must
make every effort to limit civilian casualties.” The Israeli
motive behind its attack on Gaza, of course, was beyond rebuke for
the Times.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>The great anxiety
presently on prominent display by the U.S. liberal establishment at the
violence in Syria is then nothing but a public show of manufactured
disgust. Such displays of outrage by the likes of Ms. Clinton
and the New York Times are really little more than cynical ploys
veiling imperial aims. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>In fact, a
recent Times op-ed by former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy, arguing
that the ouster of Assad would lead to a strategic defeat of Iran,
encapsulates the real motives behind all such contrived outrage. As
Mr. Halevy <A
href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/opinion/to-weaken-iran-start-with-syria.html?_r=1"
target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>wrote</FONT></A>: </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>"Getting Iran
booted out of Syria is essential for Israel’s security. And if Mr. Assad
goes, Iranian hegemony over Syria must go with him. Anything less would
rob Mr. Assad’s departure of any significance.” </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>He noted further,
“The current standoff in Syria presents a rare chance to rid the world of
the Iranian menace to international security and
well-being.” </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA>No doubt, the
Syrian people have every right to resist despotic rule. But
they would be wise to give pause to their purported “friends” amongst the
U.S. liberal elite who stoop to such imperial cynicism.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><SPAN lang=FR-CA></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ecxMsoNormal align=justify><B><I><SPAN lang=FR-CA>Ben
Schreiner</SPAN></I></B><I><SPAN lang=FR-CA> is a freelance writer
living in Salem, Oregon. He may be reached at <BR><A
href="mailto:bnschreiner@gmail.com"><FONT
color=#0068cf>bnschreiner@gmail.com</FONT></A>.
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