Like a stroke or a fatal heart attack, apparently out of nowhere, Syria has fallen. The initial shock caused a lot of confusion and blame for what and how it happened. With the West and those in the thrall of Western propaganda to hail to ‘fall of the dictator’ as a good thing, when it’s actually a catastrophe for not just Syrians, but as I noted in my previous post, Palestine and all of Central Asia, and even Russia and China.
There are several excellent commentaries on what happened whose links are here:
The Horror and Tragedy of Syria: Yet Another Episode in a Century of Western Imperialism
December 13, 2024 by Eric Arnow
Sykes Picot 2.0? A Century of Treachery and Betrayal
Table of Contents
How Did Syria, After Resisting Western Backed Terrorists Since 2011, Suddenly Collapse?
The Role of Zionism in the Suppression of Palestine Since the Balfour Declaration
How Did Syria, After Resisting Western Backed Terrorists Since 2011, Suddenly Collapse?
I myself was shocked that Russia and Iran had not alerted Syrian President Al-Assad about a buildup of forces to take him down. It’s paradoxical, to say the least, that Erdogan, Putin’s ‘friend’, who shot down a Russian jet and went groveling back to apologize, then killed the Russian ambassador in Istanbul, then mediated a truce between Ukraine and Russia, promising not to release Azon Nazi war criminals from custody in Turkey, and then released them anyway, is taken seriously in Moscow.
However, it now appears, according to UN Weapons Inspector and highly respected analyst, Scott Ritter, that both Iran and Russia warned Assad well before the assault on Syria from late November to its fall in December, 2024. They urged Assad to take precautions, but due to pressure on Assad from both inside Syria and from false promises from his ‘Arab brothers’—the right wing oligarchic monarchies, he declined to follow through.
Yet Russia keeps doing deals with Turkey, even supplying it with valuable S-400 anti aircraft weapons. And building nuclear power plants for them, and protecting Erdogan from the 2016 coup. And then Turkey breaks the agreement to keep Islamist extremists under wraps in Idlib. Why Russia didn’t just finish them off in the first place is a good question.
Now, they’ve roared back into Syria. From what people like Scott Ritter say, the “Syria project’ took years of wearing down Syria through war and sanctions, occupying its land, stealing its resources, impoverishing its people, starving its economy, so that its soldiers were too demoralized to resist. So the story goes.
Meanwhile, Assad forgot what his true identity was. He had to choose between being an anti imperialist and nationalist defending his country, or siding with his fair weather friends, the Arab monarchies, oligarchs and lackeys of the West. Traitors to their own people. They seduced Assad with promises of Arab Unity, and then let him twist in the wind—even as his real friends, Russia and Iran warned him, urged him to watch his back about the pending planned attack emanating from Idlib.
According to Ritter, Russia and Iran both offered help to rebuild Syria’s military exhausted by years of war, but Assad refused. Turkey talked of negotiations while building up HTS and its extremist offshoots.
But all of this should be seen in context of the 110 year war by the West against the Arab world.
The Betrayal of the Arab World in WWI and Its Consequences
The Arab world entered World War I with hopes of liberation from Ottoman rule, lured by promises of “freedom and democracy” made by Western powers, particularly Britain and France. Arab leaders, such as Sharif Hussein of Mecca, believed that their support against the Ottoman Empire would lead to independence and self-determination.
Instead, the Arab Revolt of 1916-1918 became a cruel betrayal. The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 revealed the true intentions of the West: the division of Arab lands into colonial mandates, carving up the Middle East into zones of British and French control. Rather than democracy, puppet kings and dictators were installed, ensuring Western dominance over the region’s resources and politics.
In the mid-20th century, the Arab world attempted to assert its sovereignty through secularism and socialism. Figures like Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi envisioned an Arab renaissance based on social justice, pan-Arab unity, and resistance to imperialism. These movements, however, were systematically undermined by Western powers.
The CIA and other Western agencies orchestrated coups and interventions, exploiting internal divisions and fostering extreme conservative Islamic factions to destabilize secular governments. The strategy of divide and conquer allowed the West to maintain control while sowing discord among Arab nations.
The Afghan conflict of the 1980s marked a pivotal moment, as the West armed and funded radical Islamist groups to counter Soviet influence. This tactic unleashed forces that would later contribute to widespread instability.
By the 21st century, the Arab Spring exposed both the aspirations for change and the vulnerabilities of the region. Libya descended into chaos after the NATO-backed illegal removal of Gaddafi. Egypt’s brief democratic experiment was crushed by military authoritarianism.
Syria, the last bastion of secular Arab socialism, became the final battlefield. The Syrian socalled Civil War, fueled by foreign intervention and sectarian manipulation, epitomized the tragic culmination of decades of betrayal. As of 2024, the destruction of Syria underscores the systematic dismantling of Arab autonomy, a legacy of promises broken and dreams deferred.
A Timeline of Tragedy
Here is a chronological list of interventions, coups, assassinations or assassination attempts, and military attacks on Arab lands by the British, French, or United States since the fall of the Ottoman Empire:
1918-1940s: Colonial Mandates and Control
1919-1920: British suppression of the Iraqi Revolt against the British Mandate.
1920: French military intervention to suppress the Syrian Arab Kingdom, culminating in the Battle of Maysalun and the establishment of the French Mandate in Syria and Lebanon.
1936-1939: British suppression of the Arab Revolt in Palestine, involving heavy military action and mass arrests.
1941: British invasion of Iraq to depose the pro-Axis government of Rashid Ali al-Gaylani. https://www.globalresearch.ca/timeline-of-cia-interventions-in-syria/5479875 “
“1940s and 1950s “…if you want to understand the origins of authoritarian rule in Syria today, it is important to go back to the 1940s and the 1950s and see the role the CIA played in that land.” See also here, p. 122: “In the late 1940’s, U.S. policymakers grew alarmed when the Syrian government, bowing to public pressure, refused to let a U.S. oil company build a pipeline through its territory. Washington also found the strong anti-Western sentiment and the large Communist party in the country ominous. Concerned that Syria was ‘drifting leftward’, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) laid plans to overthrow its three-year old civilian government.” CIA operatives met with right-wing military leaders in Damascus to discuss installing a “military-supported dictatorship”.
1947-1948 CIA attempts “to influence the 1947-8 elections by backing right-wing figures in the Nationalist Party…”
March, 1949 CIA sponsors Syrian coup d’etat; CIA directly involved.
1950s-1960s: Early Cold War Interventions
1952: CIA-backed support for the Free Officers Movement in Egypt, though not directly orchestrated, aligned with U.S. strategic interests to counter Soviet influence.
1953: CIA and MI6 orchestrate the coup in Iran (technically non-Arab but influential on Arab geopolitics) against Mohammad Mossadegh, securing control over oil resources.
1956: Anglo-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt during the Suez Crisis after Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal.
1958: U.S. military intervention in Lebanon during its civil conflict under the Eisenhower Doctrine to counter perceived communist influence.
1970s: Oil Politics and Proxy Wars
1973: U.S. military aid to Israel during the Yom Kippur War, leading to significant Arab losses and reinforcing Arab perceptions of U.S. hostility.
1978-1979: Support for Islamist groups in Afghanistan (later impacting Arab nations) as part of the anti-Soviet strategy.
1980s: Rise of Radical Islam and Proxy Conflicts
1982: U.S. support for Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and involvement in the Lebanese Civil War, including the bombing of Beirut.
1986: U.S. bombing of Libya (Operation El Dorado Canyon) in response to alleged Libyan-sponsored terrorism.
1987-1988: U.S. naval operations in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War, indirectly impacting Iraq’s Arab population.
1990s: Post-Cold War Interventions
1991: U.S.-led Operation Desert Storm to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait, (justified by the ‘Babies thrown out of incubators’ lie) followed by years of devastating sanctions on Iraq. 500,000 children died but US Secretary of State Madeline Albright said, “we think the price is worth it”
1998: U.S. bombing of Sudan (pharmaceutical plant alleged to produce chemical weapons, later discredited).
2000s: War on Terror
2003: U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, toppling Saddam Hussein and destabilizing the region.
2011: NATO-backed intervention in Libya, leading to the overthrow and brutal killing of Muammar Gaddafi and subsequent chaos.
2014-2021: U.S. and coalition airstrikes in Syria and Iraq during campaigns against ISIS, with civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. False accusations that Syria used chemical weapons.
2010s-Present: Modern Conflicts
2015-present: U.S. and British support for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, contributing to a humanitarian disaster.
2021-present: Continued U.S. and allied military presence in Syria, complicating the country’s civil war and reconstruction efforts.
This list highlights over a century of external interference, demonstrating a pattern of prioritizing strategic and economic interests over the sovereignty and stability of Arab nations.
2020s: Ongoing Interference and Geopolitical Maneuvering
2022: U.S. airstrikes in Syria, targeting Iranian-linked groups under the justification of countering threats to U.S. forces illegally occupying the region.
2023: Ongoing Israeli attacks in Palestinian territories, supported diplomatically and militarily by the U.S., including raids and airstrikes in Gaza and the West Bank.
2024: Western sanctions and continued indirect involvement in the Syrian conflict, exacerbating economic hardships and impeding reconstruction efforts.
2024: Tacit or overt support for Turkish and Israeli backed extremists, who administered the final blow to destroy the decimated and exhausted Syrian state.
Recurring Patterns and Impacts
The cumulative effect of these interventions has been devastating for the Arab world, fostering instability, conflict, and the erosion of sovereignty. These actions often prioritize Western strategic interests, such as securing oil resources, countering rival powers (first the Soviet Union, now Iran and China), and maintaining geopolitical influence.
Divide and Conquer Tactics
The use of “divide and conquer” has been a recurring strategy, most evident in the:
Encouragement of sectarian divisions in Iraq post-2003, fueling Sunni-Shia conflict.
Support for radical Islamist groups during the Cold War, which later evolved into forces destabilizing Arab nations.
Exploitation of regional rivalries, such as the Saudi-Iranian divide, to ensure dependence on Western military and economic aid.
Economic and Social Consequences
Sanctions: Decades-long sanctions on countries like Iraq and Syria have crippled economies and harmed civilian populations disproportionately.
Refugee Crises: Military interventions have displaced millions of Arabs, creating one of the largest refugee crises in modern history.
Stalled Progress: Interference has repeatedly undermined homegrown efforts toward political, economic, and social reform, often labeling secular or socialist leaders as threats to Western interests.
Destruction of Secularism
Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the West’s backing of conservative regimes and Islamist factions, while opposing secular or socialist governments, systematically dismantled the foundations of Arab secularism. Examples include the fall of Nasserism in Egypt, the undermining of Baathist regimes in Syria and Iraq, and the destruction of Libya’s Gaddafi-era system.
The Arab World in 2024
By 2024, the Arab world remains fractured and weakened, its sovereignty compromised. The destruction of Libya, Yemen’s devastation, and the ongoing disintegration of Syria exemplify the lasting consequences of foreign meddling. While some nations have sought to recover and assert their autonomy, the shadow of Western intervention looms large. Palestine resistance has been dealt a severe blow by Israel’s ongoing starvation, bombing and assassinations of resistance leaders, in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran. Israeli leaders have gloated over the ongoing genocide project.
Israel has just destroyed Syria’s army and navy, and occupied the highest point in Syria, as well as the rest of the Golan Heights, all in flagrant violation of international law. And nobody is doing anything to stop it. Compare this with the US destruction of Iraq based on the lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction or ‘Babies thrown out of incupators’.
The betrayal of the Arab world began with promises of freedom and democracy but evolved into a century-long saga of control, exploitation, and devastation. The dream of a united, independent Arab world remains unfulfilled, repeatedly thwarted by external forces prioritizing their own interests. Recognizing this history is essential for understanding the region’s current struggles and the need for a future rooted in genuine sovereignty and self-determination.
The Role of Zionism in the Suppression of Palestine Since the Balfour Declaration
The suppression of Palestine by Zionist forces can be traced back to the Balfour Declaration of 1917, when Britain publicly endorsed the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. This declaration, made without consulting the indigenous Arab population, set the stage for decades of dispossession and conflict. British control under the Mandate system enabled the growth of Zionist settlements, often at the expense of Palestinian lands and rights, creating tensions that would culminate in the catastrophic events of the Nakba. And now in December 2024, Israel is planning Nakba 2.0, forced exile from whatever areas of historic Palestine in Gaza or the West Bank they still live in.
Einstein’s Warning: A Voice of Conscience
Albert Einstein, along with other Jewish intellectuals, openly criticized the violent and expansionist tendencies of Zionism. In a letter to the New York Times in December 1948, Einstein and his co-signatories condemned the actions of Zionist militias such as the Irgun, led by figures like Menachem Begin, as reminiscent of European fascism.
The letter highlighted atrocities such as the massacre at Deir Yassin, where over 100 Palestinian villagers were killed, and warned against the militaristic and authoritarian direction of the Zionist project. Einstein’s moral objection underscored the broader ethical conflict between Zionism’s colonial ambitions and the rights of the indigenous Palestinian people.
“Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the “Freedom Party” (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine….”
The Nakba: A Catastrophe for Palestinians
The Nakba (“catastrophe”) of 1948 marked the violent displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians from their homes during the establishment of the State of Israel. Villages were destroyed, families were separated, and refugees were forced into exile, often living in camps under harsh conditions. The Nakba was not a one-time event but the beginning of a systematic campaign to erase Palestinian presence and identity.
The Occupation: Gaza and the West Bank
Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These territories became flashpoints for resistance and further suppression:
Gaza Strip: Repeated incursions and military assaults have devastated Gaza, killing thousands of civilians and destroying infrastructure. The blockade imposed since 2007 has turned Gaza into what many describe as an “open-air prison,” with severe restrictions on movement, trade, and basic necessities.
West Bank: Military checkpoints, roadblocks, and a sprawling network of settlements have fragmented Palestinian communities and restricted their freedom of movement. The construction of the separation wall has further entrenched apartheid-like conditions, isolating Palestinians from their lands and each other.
Illegal Settlements and Extremism
One of the most egregious aspects of Zionist expansion has been the establishment of illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian lands. Despite international condemnation and clear violations of international law, these settlements have continued to grow, driven by armed extremist settlers often protected by the Israeli military. Settlers frequently engage in violence against Palestinians, destroying homes, farmland, and olive groves, all while expanding their foothold in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The Broader Impact
The Zionist project, as it has unfolded, has not only dispossessed Palestinians but also destabilized the region. Attempts at peace have repeatedly failed due to the expansionist policies of Israel and the refusal to acknowledge Palestinian rights to self-determination, return, and statehood. The systemic suppression of Palestinians has been accompanied by ongoing human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, mass incarceration, and the use of collective punishment.
From the Balfour Declaration to the present, Zionism has facilitated a century of dispossession and violence against the Palestinian people. Figures like Einstein foresaw the moral and political dangers of a movement that prioritized colonial expansion over justice and coexistence. The Nakba, the occupation, and the illegal settlements represent not isolated incidents but a continuous strategy of erasure and domination. Addressing this legacy requires a global commitment to justice, accountability, and the recognition of Palestinian rights as fundamental to peace in the region.
Syria, supported by Iran, helped the Lebanese Resistance. They all supported Palestine, and Israel sees all three as obstacles to Israeli hegemony.
The Failure of Secular Arab Nationalism
Secular leaders such as Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, and recently, Bashar al-Assad of Syria share common traits in their governance, ideology, and policies, which explain both their appeal in the Arab world and the consistent opposition they faced from the West.
What They Had in Common
Commitment to Secularism
All three leaders rejected the imposition of political systems based on religious ideology. They promoted secular governance to foster national unity across religious and ethnic lines. Their secular stance often clashed with Islamist movements, which they perceived as divisive or as tools of foreign interference.Nationalism and Pan-Arabism
Nasser was a leading advocate of Pan-Arabism, aiming to unite the Arab world politically and culturally under a vision of shared sovereignty and independence.
Gaddafi, while ideologically distinct, also sought to unite Africa and the Arab world, challenging Western dominance through his unique “Green Book” ideology.
Assad’s Baathist government in Syria upheld Pan-Arab ideals and sought to resist foreign domination, maintaining alliances with other anti-imperialist forces in the region.
Resistance to Western Hegemony
All three leaders strongly opposed Western interference in the Arab world. They sought to assert independence from colonial powers and resisted economic and political arrangements that favored Western interests, particularly regarding natural resources like oil.Socialist-Inspired Policies
They implemented policies aimed at redistributing wealth and fostering economic development:Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal and undertook land reforms to benefit Egypt’s peasantry.
Gaddafi used Libya’s oil wealth to fund large-scale infrastructure projects, free education, and healthcare, elevating Libya to one of Africa’s wealthiest nations.
Assad promoted state-led economic development and provided subsidized education and healthcare in Syria.
Support for Palestinian Rights
All three leaders were staunch supporters of the Palestinian cause, opposing Israeli expansionism and Western backing of Israel. Their alignment with Palestinian liberation movements further strained relations with Western powers.Alignment with Non-Western Powers
They sought alliances with the Soviet Union (during the Cold War) and later with other non-Western states like China, Iran, and Russia, to counterbalance Western influence.
Why the West Opposed Them
Challenging Western Economic Interests
Their policies of nationalizing key industries, particularly oil and other natural resources, directly threatened Western corporate and governmental control over regional wealth. The West often preferred regimes that were more compliant with its economic and strategic goals.Resistance to U.S. and Israeli Policies
Their opposition to U.S. influence and unwavering support for Palestine put them at odds with Western powers that prioritize Israeli security and dominance in the region.Threat to Regional Allies
These leaders’ ideologies and policies often threatened the stability of pro-Western monarchies and conservative regimes in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The West, therefore, viewed them as destabilizing forces that needed containment or removal. [Why did the West favor repressive monarchies over secular leaders?]Fear of Independent Models
Their success in fostering independent development and standing up to Western powers served as potential models for other nations. For instance:Nasser’s nationalization of the Suez Canal inspired anti-colonial movements globally.
Gaddafi’s ambitious projects for African unity and the proposed gold-based dinar currency alarmed Western financial institutions.
Assad’s alliances with Iran and Russia represented a significant challenge to U.S. dominance in the region.
Association with Authoritarianism
While the West often tolerated or supported authoritarian regimes that aligned with its interests, the authoritarian nature of these secular leaders was used as a pretext to justify opposition and intervention. Their human rights abuses, real or exaggerated, were highlighted to delegitimize their rule. But where they any less authoritarian than Wahabi and Salafist regimes of the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, QATAR, which were blatant oligarchies?Divide and Conquer Strategy
The West has historically exploited sectarian and ideological divisions in the Middle East to maintain control. Secular leaders who sought to unify their nations and promote broader Arab or regional unity were seen as obstacles to this strategy.
Conclusion
The commonalities among Nasser, Gaddafi, and Assad and others, such as Saddam Hussein, Yassir Arafat, lie in their rejection of Western dominance, pursuit of secular and nationalist policies, and efforts to build independent states. The West’s opposition to them stems from their challenge to its strategic, economic, and geopolitical interests in the Arab world. By undermining these leaders, the West not only curtailed their influence but also destabilized the region, paving the way for conflicts and power vacuums that persist today.
The West has used religious Islamic conservativism to undermine Arab aspirations. So it is fully consistent with the rise of such entities as Hamas, Al Qaeda, ISIS, and now HTS, to result in failure of Syria to fend of Islamist extremism.
Literally for decades, the West has been strangling Syria, a secular state which tolerated its numerous ethnic groups and religions, until if finally collapsed.
Share this post