The United States' Mistake in Syria

Since the war in Syria began, the United States government has publicly expressed its military and economic support for the mercenaries who are trying to seize power. However, as these mercenaries back down, the American government still wants to directly attack under the excuse that the Syrian government used chemical weapons. The attack would weaken the army and would help mercenaries enter from Jordan. However, only France and Israel supported the United States in its efforts. And, before the Russian proposal that Syria destroy its chemical weapons, the attackers were left without a policy to follow.

What is now being discussed is not a possible attack on Syria, but how the government’s chemical weapons will be destroyed, which was what Russia proposed and to what Bashar al-Assad agreed. As Obama and those who control the United States government know that an attack would be difficult, they now justify retreating, saying that the Syrian government should destroy its chemical weapons, or rather, that it should follow the Russian-Syrian proposal.

There are many reasons why the United States wants to control Syria.

Let’s look at some of them:

1. To strengthen its presence in Eurasia, as Syria unites the two continents.

2. To weaken Russia where it has influence.

3. To corral Iran, which could be the next target of attack. Iran has the second largest reserve of gas and fifth largest of petroleum in the world.

4. To prevent the construction of the Iran-Iraq-Syria gas pipeline, which, financed by Iran and Russia, would export gas to Europe.

5. To strengthen Israel’s control over Syria’s water resources in the Golan Heights.

Control over Syria and the expansion of the United States in that area of the world would also permit the United States to recover lost hegemony. The International Monetary Fund estimates that in 2016, China will have the leading economy in the world, with 17 percent of the world GDP, versus the United States’ 16 percent. China is already the leading exporting power and the United States is third, surpassed even by Germany. The end of the reign of the dollar is nearing.

However, the new balance of global powers makes it difficult for the American government to do everything that it wants. Russia, China, Iran and the left-winged and progressive governments in South America are too strong and will not let the empire act as it pleases.

Everything seems to show that the plan shared by the United States and France collapsed. Syria has support from Russia and Iran and enough military vigor to confront Israel and the NATO troops in Iraq and Lebanon. And in response to an attack by the United States, Russia could ignore the sanctions against Iran and stop NATO supplies to troops in Afghanistan from its bases in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

As the European population understands the implications of a conflict that may get out of control, neither the English Parliament nor the U.N. supported the aggression. Furthermore, Russia and China have veto power in the Security Council. It is too complicated for the United States government to act without many allies in confronting Russia.

Obama knows that an attack on Syria would create a very large and unprecedented conflict. For that reason, he tried to engage Congress. However, it is almost certain that the U.S. legislature is not deliberating over the topic, because Russia seems to have successfully imposed its power.