Putin/Trump Deal to Carve Up Syria? Not Likely! And Knocking the Hell Out of ISIS”
Dispatches from
STEPHEN LENDMAN
I sraeli military intelligence-connected DEBKAfile (DF) suggested Putin and Trump struck a deal “to establish US, Russian and Turkish security zones in Syria…transfer(ing) military control of the country to those three powers.”
DF’s credibility blows hot and cold, at times best to take it with a grain of salt, suspect on this issue. It added Iran and Hezbollah would be required to leave Syria under the above scenario.
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It makes no sense, Damascus, Tehran and Hezbollah certain to oppose it. It’s hard imagining Russia agreeing. Throughout years of Obama’s war, Putin and Sergey Lavrov consistently expressed support for Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity. Assad insists on it as part of any conflict resolution agreement. So should every responsible leader. Russia is currently involved in helping Syria draft a new constitution, based on suggestions from Damascus, opposition groups and regional countries.
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Its draft states, in part, that “the Syrian Republic is an independent democratic sovereign state, based on the principles of people and supremacy of law and equality and social unity and respect of the rights and the liberties of all citizens without any differentiation.” It says Syrian sovereignty “is united, inviolable and indivisible.” Its territory is “inalienable.” Its state borders can only be changed by national referendum involving “all” its citizens.
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It rejects war as a way “to resolve international conflicts.” It prohibits use of its military to suppress its own people. Assad as president and whoever succeeds him is head of state, elected by popular vote, permitted to serve a maximum two seven-year terms. “The Constitution shall come into force on the day of its official publication following the results of (a nationwide) referendum.” It says nothing about carving up the country into security zones controlled by Russia, America and Turkey. Any such move would destroy Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Best Way to “Knock Hell Out of ISIS”
On Thursday, Trump told Fox News “if we can get along with Russia that’s a great thing.”
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“It’s good for Russia. It’s good for us. We go out together and knock the hell out of ISIS, because that’s a real sickness.” Defeating ISIS and other terrorist groups begins by ending all support. Stop recruiting, arming, funding, training and directing their fighters. They can’t exist without foreign support except in very weak form easy to roll over and eliminate. As long as America uses these groups as imperial foot soldiers, Trump’s talk is demagogic bluster.
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Reportedly he’s drafting a presidential directive to hit ISIS harder, including use of heavily armed US forces on the ground along with airpower. Defense Secretary (“mad dog”) Mattis is working with Joint Chiefs Chairman General Joseph (‘fighting Joe) Dunford in drafting a plan of action. Numerous times Trump said he welcomed Putin’s support in combating ISIS. Both leaders will speak by phone on Saturday, their first conversation since Trump’s inauguration.
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Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained the first discussion between both leaders “can hardly (be) expect(ed) (to cover) substantive contacts on all the issues on the agenda.” He didn’t elaborate on what would be discussed. “So far, I don’t know,” he said. “Let’s wait for the conversation. It will depend on (what topics both) heads of state” wish to cover. Peskov knows nothing about possible US plans to lift sanctions. Trump senior advisor Kellyanne Conway said he and Putin will discuss a range of issues, including Moscow and Washington cooperating in combating terrorism.
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Trump earlier said “(w)ouldn’t it be nice if we actually got along with Russia? I am all for it. In mid-January, he told the Wall Street Journal “if Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions if somebody’s doing some really great things.” He said meeting with Putin is “absolutely fine” with him. It’s likely a way’s off. Both leaders speaking on Saturday is a good thing, as Trump himself might say.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
STEPHEN LENDMAN lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." ( http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html ) Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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