American intervention in Syria: Difference between revisions
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The [[United States]] has supported the | The [[United States]] has supported the [[Syria]]n opposition diplomatically and militarily during the [[Syrian Civil War]]. Prior to the war, the United States had a role in funding and organizing opposition to Syrian president [[Bashar al-Assad]]. In many cases this US-backed opposition included [[al-Qaeda]].<ref name=":1">https://mronline.org/2021/10/11/bellingcat-funded-by-u-s-and-uk-intelligence-contractors-that-aided-extremists-in-syria/</ref><ref name=":2">https://www.mintpressnews.com/us-support-isis/245868/</ref><ref name=":3">https://www.rt.com/news/345636-us-siding-al-qaeda-ford/</ref> | ||
== | |||
== History == | |||
After the May-June 2012 collapse of the Assad–Free Syrian Army ceasefire and subesequent escalation of the war, Russia and China once again vetoed a US draft resolution in the UNSC which would increase pressure on Assad.<ref name="unsc 538 press">{{cite web | title=Security Council Fails to Adopt Draft Resolution on Syria That Would Have Threatened Sanctions, Due to Negative Votes of China, Russian Federation | website=UN Press | date=19 Jul 2012 | url=https://press.un.org/en/2012/sc10714.doc.htm | ref={{sfnref | UN Press | 2012}} | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref><ref name="unsc 538 text">Text of the resolution: {{cite web | title=S/2012/538 : UN Documents : Security Council Report | website=October 2023 Monthly Forecast | date=19 Jul 2012 | url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/un-documents/document/s2012538.php | ref={{sfnref | October 2023 Monthly Forecast | 2012}} | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> The United States responded by immediately ramping up intelligence support and communications equipment to the rebels, including the FSA.<ref name="nation dreyfuss">{{cite web | last=Dreyfuss | first=Bob | title=Obama's Regime-Change Policy in Syria | website=The Nation | date=13 Aug 2012 | url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/obamas-regime-change-policy-syria/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716232800/https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/obamas-regime-change-policy-syria/ | archive-date=16 Jul 2020 | url-status=live | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref><ref name="nyt myers">{{cite web | title=State Dept. and Pentagon Planning for Post-Assad Syria | website=The New York Times | date=4 Aug 2012 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/world/middleeast/state-dept-and-pentagon-planning-for-post-assad-syria.html?_r=1&ref=syria | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507130339/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/world/middleeast/state-dept-and-pentagon-planning-for-post-assad-syria.html?_r=1&ref=syria | archive-date=7 May 2020 | url-status=live | ref={{sfnref | The New York Times | 2012}} | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> The CIA circumvented restrictions on arming the rebels by sending weapons through Turkey and US-allied gulf states. One declassified report shows that by August 2012 the Pentagon already knew that Salafists, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Al-Qaeda in Iraq ("AQI", later known as [[ISIS]]) were the "major forces driving the insurgency"; that AQI had played a role in the opposition movement "from the beginning"; and that, in the case of a power vacuum, the AQI was powerful enough to possibly establish a "Salafist principality" or an "Islamic state".<ref name="2012 dia report">{{cite report|date=Aug 2012 | title = Information Report | url = http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Pg.-291-Pgs.-287-293-JW-v-DOD-and-State-14-812-DOD-Release-2015-04-10-final-version11.pdf| website=judicialwatch.org | publisher = Defense Intelligence Agency | format = PDF| url-status=live |access-date=18 Oct 2023| archive-date=7 Jan 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107011353/http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Pg.-291-Pgs.-287-293-JW-v-DOD-and-State-14-812-DOD-Release-2015-04-10-final-version11.pdf}}</ref><ref name="guardian milne">{{cite web | last=Milne | first=Seumas | title=Now the truth emerges: how the US fuelled the rise of Isis in Syria and Iraq | website=the Guardian | date=3 Jun 2015 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/03/us-isis-syria-iraq | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> By 2015, CIA training, arming, and support for rebel groups became one of its largest operations, reaching $1 billion of the CIA's annual budget of $15 billion.<ref name="wapo miller">{{cite web | last=Miller | first=Greg | title=Secret CIA effort in Syria faces large funding cut | website=Washington Post | date=12 Jun 2015 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/lawmakers-move-to-curb-1-billion-cia-program-to-train-syrian-rebels/2015/06/12/b0f45a9e-1114-11e5-adec-e82f8395c032_story.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613094330/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/lawmakers-move-to-curb-1-billion-cia-program-to-train-syrian-rebels/2015/06/12/b0f45a9e-1114-11e5-adec-e82f8395c032_story.html | archive-date=13 Jun 2015 | url-status=live | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> | |||
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DIA report | |||
<ref name="2012 dia report">{{cite report|date=Aug 2012 | title = Information Report | url = http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Pg.-291-Pgs.-287-293-JW-v-DOD-and-State-14-812-DOD-Release-2015-04-10-final-version11.pdf| website=judicialwatch.org | publisher = Defense Intelligence Agency | format = PDF| url-status=live |access-date=18 Oct 2023| archive-date=7 Jan 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107011353/http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Pg.-291-Pgs.-287-293-JW-v-DOD-and-State-14-812-DOD-Release-2015-04-10-final-version11.pdf}}</ref> | |||
Dreyfuss, Nation, 2012, arming and supplying rebels, military and intel support from US, gulf state inv, | |||
<ref name="nation dreyfuss">{{cite web | last=Dreyfuss | first=Bob | title=Obama's Regime-Change Policy in Syria | website=The Nation | date=13 Aug 2012 | url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/obamas-regime-change-policy-syria/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716232800/https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/obamas-regime-change-policy-syria/ | archive-date=16 Jul 2020 | url-status=live | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> | |||
Myers, NYT, 2012, | |||
<ref name="nyt myers">{{cite web | title=State Dept. and Pentagon Planning for Post-Assad Syria | website=The New York Times | date=4 Aug 2012 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/world/middleeast/state-dept-and-pentagon-planning-for-post-assad-syria.html?_r=1&ref=syria | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507130339/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/world/middleeast/state-dept-and-pentagon-planning-for-post-assad-syria.html?_r=1&ref=syria | archive-date=7 May 2020 | url-status=live | ref={{sfnref | The New York Times | 2012}} | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> | |||
Schmitt, NYT, 2012, CIA arming rebels, role of Turkey, gulf, intel and satellite support, | |||
<ref name="nyt schmitt">{{cite web | title=C.I.A. Said to Aid in Steering Arms to Syrian Rebels | website=The New York Times | date=21 Jun 2012 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/world/middleeast/cia-said-to-aid-in-steering-arms-to-syrian-rebels.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410030054/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/world/middleeast/cia-said-to-aid-in-steering-arms-to-syrian-rebels.html | archive-date=10 Apr 2020 | url-status=live | ref={{sfnref | The New York Times | 2012}} | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> | |||
UNSC 538 press outline. | |||
<ref name="unsc 538 press">{{cite web | title=Security Council Fails to Adopt Draft Resolution on Syria That Would Have Threatened Sanctions, Due to Negative Votes of China, Russian Federation | website=UN Press | date=19 Jul 2012 | url=https://press.un.org/en/2012/sc10714.doc.htm | ref={{sfnref | UN Press | 2012}} | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> | |||
UNSC 538 full text. | |||
<ref name="unsc 538 text">{{cite web | title=S/2012/538 : UN Documents : Security Council Report | website=October 2023 Monthly Forecast | date=19 Jul 2012 | url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/un-documents/document/s2012538.php | ref={{sfnref | October 2023 Monthly Forecast | 2012}} | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> | |||
grayzone jolani | |||
<ref name="grayzone jolani">{{cite web | last=Norton | first=Ben | last2=Blumenthal | first2=Max | title=How Washington is positioning Syrian Al-Qaeda’s founder as its ‘asset’ | website=The Grayzone - News and investigative journalism on empire | date=9 Jun 2021 | url=https://thegrayzone.com/2021/06/09/washington-positioning-syrian-al-qaeda-mohammad-jolani-asset/ | access-date=18 Oct 2023}}</ref> | |||
--> | |||
== Objectives == | |||
=== Regional interests === | |||
Syria presents a major threat to American [[imperialist]] interests in the Middle East. The country is one of the main threats to the existence of [[Israel]], a state that is one of America's co-conspirators in the region. The secular and [[Arab socialism|Arab socialist]] government of Syria has found an enemy in the [[reactionary]] [[Wahhabism|Wahhabist]] government of Saudi Arabia; the Saudis also being allies of the United States. | Syria presents a major threat to American [[imperialist]] interests in the Middle East. The country is one of the main threats to the existence of [[Israel]], a state that is one of America's co-conspirators in the region. The secular and [[Arab socialism|Arab socialist]] government of Syria has found an enemy in the [[reactionary]] [[Wahhabism|Wahhabist]] government of Saudi Arabia; the Saudis also being allies of the United States. | ||
==Israeli | [[Oil]] is a major factor driving the American intervention in Syria. The American intervention has focused on securing control of Syrian oil and gas production.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20200421044048/https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-us-troops-syria-oil-bashar-al-assad-kurds-wisconsin-rally-1482250</ref><ref>/web/20210117203827/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/25/world/middleeast/esper-troops-syria.html</ref> | ||
Israel has illegally occupied the Golan Heights region of Syria since 1967. Syrian rebels on the Golan border have received Israeli guns and pay.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20201110142630/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/israel-gives-secret-aid-to-syrian-rebels-1497813430</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210117064400/https://www.rt.com/news/448818-israel-arming-rebels-admission/amp/</ref> | |||
The United States has set up military bases in northeastern Syria. These bases are surrounding [[Iran]] with American troops.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20200207034701/https://amp.abc.net.au/article/11855542</ref> American soldiers stationed in Syria are also involved in extracting Syrian oil from the land.<ref>https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/08/10/heres-the-current-us-plan-to-build-up-syrian-proxies-including-an-oilfield-guard-force/</ref> | |||
=== Israeli interests === | |||
[[Israel]] has illegally occupied the [[Golan Heights]] region of Syria since 1967. Syrian rebels on the Golan border have received Israeli guns and pay.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20201110142630/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/israel-gives-secret-aid-to-syrian-rebels-1497813430</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210117064400/https://www.rt.com/news/448818-israel-arming-rebels-admission/amp/</ref> | |||
==Support for extremists== | |||
The American military officially began operations to train and arm Syrian rebels in 2012.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20200716232800/https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/obamas-regime-change-policy-syria/</ref> Covert funding and armament lasted until 2017.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210117071625/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/world/middleeast/cia-arming-syrian-rebels.html</ref> Support is now provided by the [[US Congress]] passing bills that fund the rebels.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210117074141/https://www.realcleardefense.com/2020/03/20/congress_pushes_for_syria_funding_boost_312632.html</ref> | |||
== | ==="Moderate" rebels=== | ||
Most US support has been delivered to "moderate" rebel groups. What is uncertain though is just how moderate or secular these groups are. Many of the groups falling under the umbrella term “moderate rebels” are not considered moderate in any place but Syria, Muslim Brotherhood affiliated organizations for instance. Various groups descended from [[Iraqi]] [[Sunni]] [[jihadist]] organizations have also been deemed "moderate" by the United States. | |||
===Jihadist rebels=== | ===Jihadist rebels=== | ||
Military support to | US support for jihadists and fundamentalist rebels is documented by a number of sources. Military support to jihadist organizations is officially prohibited by the American military and Congress. Organizations with covert goals or even jihadist organizations within larger organizations have received American arms and training despite the rule. There is also the cooperative relationship the moderate rebels have with Syrian branches of Al-Qaeda.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> | ||
Overtly extremist groups have also received support from the United States government. | |||
== Propaganda == | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 17:51, 18 October 2023
The United States has supported the Syrian opposition diplomatically and militarily during the Syrian Civil War. Prior to the war, the United States had a role in funding and organizing opposition to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. In many cases this US-backed opposition included al-Qaeda.[1][2][3]
History
After the May-June 2012 collapse of the Assad–Free Syrian Army ceasefire and subesequent escalation of the war, Russia and China once again vetoed a US draft resolution in the UNSC which would increase pressure on Assad.[4][5] The United States responded by immediately ramping up intelligence support and communications equipment to the rebels, including the FSA.[6][7] The CIA circumvented restrictions on arming the rebels by sending weapons through Turkey and US-allied gulf states. One declassified report shows that by August 2012 the Pentagon already knew that Salafists, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Al-Qaeda in Iraq ("AQI", later known as ISIS) were the "major forces driving the insurgency"; that AQI had played a role in the opposition movement "from the beginning"; and that, in the case of a power vacuum, the AQI was powerful enough to possibly establish a "Salafist principality" or an "Islamic state".[8][9] By 2015, CIA training, arming, and support for rebel groups became one of its largest operations, reaching $1 billion of the CIA's annual budget of $15 billion.[10]
Objectives
Regional interests
Syria presents a major threat to American imperialist interests in the Middle East. The country is one of the main threats to the existence of Israel, a state that is one of America's co-conspirators in the region. The secular and Arab socialist government of Syria has found an enemy in the reactionary Wahhabist government of Saudi Arabia; the Saudis also being allies of the United States.
Oil is a major factor driving the American intervention in Syria. The American intervention has focused on securing control of Syrian oil and gas production.[11][12]
The United States has set up military bases in northeastern Syria. These bases are surrounding Iran with American troops.[13] American soldiers stationed in Syria are also involved in extracting Syrian oil from the land.[14]
Israeli interests
Israel has illegally occupied the Golan Heights region of Syria since 1967. Syrian rebels on the Golan border have received Israeli guns and pay.[15][16]
Support for extremists
The American military officially began operations to train and arm Syrian rebels in 2012.[17] Covert funding and armament lasted until 2017.[18] Support is now provided by the US Congress passing bills that fund the rebels.[19]
"Moderate" rebels
Most US support has been delivered to "moderate" rebel groups. What is uncertain though is just how moderate or secular these groups are. Many of the groups falling under the umbrella term “moderate rebels” are not considered moderate in any place but Syria, Muslim Brotherhood affiliated organizations for instance. Various groups descended from Iraqi Sunni jihadist organizations have also been deemed "moderate" by the United States.
Jihadist rebels
US support for jihadists and fundamentalist rebels is documented by a number of sources. Military support to jihadist organizations is officially prohibited by the American military and Congress. Organizations with covert goals or even jihadist organizations within larger organizations have received American arms and training despite the rule. There is also the cooperative relationship the moderate rebels have with Syrian branches of Al-Qaeda.[1][2][3]
Overtly extremist groups have also received support from the United States government.
Propaganda
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://mronline.org/2021/10/11/bellingcat-funded-by-u-s-and-uk-intelligence-contractors-that-aided-extremists-in-syria/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.mintpressnews.com/us-support-isis/245868/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.rt.com/news/345636-us-siding-al-qaeda-ford/
- ↑ "Security Council Fails to Adopt Draft Resolution on Syria That Would Have Threatened Sanctions, Due to Negative Votes of China, Russian Federation". UN Press. 19 Jul 2012. Retrieved 18 Oct 2023.
- ↑ Text of the resolution: "S/2012/538 : UN Documents : Security Council Report". October 2023 Monthly Forecast. 19 Jul 2012. Retrieved 18 Oct 2023.
- ↑ Dreyfuss, Bob (13 Aug 2012). "Obama's Regime-Change Policy in Syria". The Nation. Archived from the original on 16 Jul 2020. Retrieved 18 Oct 2023.
- ↑ "State Dept. and Pentagon Planning for Post-Assad Syria". The New York Times. 4 Aug 2012. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 18 Oct 2023.
- ↑ Information Report (PDF). judicialwatch.org (Report). Defense Intelligence Agency. Aug 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 Jan 2023. Retrieved 18 Oct 2023.
- ↑ Milne, Seumas (3 Jun 2015). "Now the truth emerges: how the US fuelled the rise of Isis in Syria and Iraq". the Guardian. Retrieved 18 Oct 2023.
- ↑ Miller, Greg (12 Jun 2015). "Secret CIA effort in Syria faces large funding cut". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 13 Jun 2015. Retrieved 18 Oct 2023.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200421044048/https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-us-troops-syria-oil-bashar-al-assad-kurds-wisconsin-rally-1482250
- ↑ /web/20210117203827/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/25/world/middleeast/esper-troops-syria.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200207034701/https://amp.abc.net.au/article/11855542
- ↑ https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/08/10/heres-the-current-us-plan-to-build-up-syrian-proxies-including-an-oilfield-guard-force/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20201110142630/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/israel-gives-secret-aid-to-syrian-rebels-1497813430
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210117064400/https://www.rt.com/news/448818-israel-arming-rebels-admission/amp/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20200716232800/https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/obamas-regime-change-policy-syria/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210117071625/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/world/middleeast/cia-arming-syrian-rebels.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210117074141/https://www.realcleardefense.com/2020/03/20/congress_pushes_for_syria_funding_boost_312632.html