Syria’s deputy foreign minister on accusations over chemical weapons

[Coyotl]

Source: euronews.com

As the use of chemical weapons tips the Syrian civil war into unchartered territory, euronews spoke to the country’s deputy foreign minister, Faysal al-Mikdad.

euronews: “After 10 years of the Iraq war, now we have Syria under focus. There are threats especially from the US and France to bomb against Syria. How is this impacting on Syria and the Syrian government?”

Faysal al-Mikdad: “The goal of colonialism was always to weaken the Arabs against Israel. It is not a war yet but an aggression and the principle goal of this aggression is to eliminate all the potential military force of Syria as happened with Iraq and has been happening with Eygpt. The government of Syria is ready to confront this war and aggression. This war has no reason but to show that the colonialist powers – US and especially France – are supporting al-Qaeda, al-Nusra and the Islamic state of Iraq against the Arabic people of Syria.”

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Read more: http://www.euronews.com/2013/09/02/syrias-deputy-foreign-minister-on-accusations-over-chemical-weapons/

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VIDEO with translator and subtitles, plus transcript in English.

To say the USA is supporting Al Qaeda is ridiculous, of course, even though the primary rebel group is Al Qaeda.

[Turbineguy]

1. He seems to have left out

"capitalist-imperialist running dogs".

[yoloisalie]

6. Cos money has very

little to do with it. Its all about control of territory. The amount of money spent buying mercenary and weapon for the rebel side will surpass anything that can be gained from controlling Syria. So please lets retire this idea that it is because of money.

When its Iran's turn, despite their oil reserves, it would also be about control

[daleo]

2. Let's say the U.S. is "reluctantly supporting" Al Qaeda

That sounds better. But, hey, they were the "moral equivalents" of the founding fathers back in Reagan's day.

From "moral equivalent of the founding fathers" to "sworn terrorist enemy" to "reluctant ally" over a generation.

The phrase "I can't quit you" comes to mind.

[MyNameGoesHere]

3. I think the Contra/Sandinista debacle is more appropriate

I think Reagen actually called them freedom fighters or some shit. All whilst they were merrily committing atrocities with US greenbacks in their pockets.

[bemildred]

7. Good, reliable "enemies" are hard to find these days.

The drug war is ending, the old wars are ending, none of our real opponents, our peers and potential peers as nations, are interested in the old game of rapine and larceny, they have figured out that less violence results in more money, you don't have to waste it on all those fancy weapons, and you don't have to worry about the general getting big ideas.

Nukes do make a great deterrent to aggression, too.

[daleo]

11. Yeah, the military-industrial complex's enemies aren't what they used to be

I think a significant proportion of the world's population is outgrowing war, the way they outgrew acceptance of slavery and blind obedience to religion. But it's a long term thing, and there are powerful elements that always try to drag people back to the old ways.

nice to talk to you.

[bemildred]

13. "The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."

Indeed.

[Sand Wind]

4. the primary group is not aq but defected soldiers

Last edited Mon Sep 2, 2013, 12:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Armed Conflict in Syria:
U.S. and International Response
Jeremy M. Sharp
Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
Christopher M. Blanchard Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
June 14, 2013
CRS Report for Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
Congressional Research Service
7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33487

European and Middle Eastern media have published estimates of the number of volunteers in the mid-hundreds to low-thousands, along with anecdotal reports about individuals from Europe, North Africa, Turkey, the Gulf states, and the Levant.37 Northern Lebanon and the Turkish border with northern Syria appear to be the most popular transit points for volunteers, presumably because of better regional air-travel linkages with Beirut and Turkish cities.
Statements from some armed groups indicate that their leaders are cognizant of the risks that certain tactics and rhetoric may pose (i.e., suicide bombing or attacks against civilians). The underlying incompatibility of different groups’ motives and intentions is difficult to ignore, particularly to the extent that some extremist groups are critical of other armed groups and may oppose efforts to establish democracy in any post-Asad Syria. The pro-sharia rhetoric and transnational orientation of some extremist groups make it possible that they may end up in conflict with secular, nationalist, or Islamist opposition elements. The prominent Syrian Salafist- Jihadist ideologue Abu Basir al Tartusi has openly rejected other jihadists’ criticism of the Free Syrian Army and characterized some of the groups and individuals now active in Syria as “extremists” and “fanatics.”38
34 Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyam Zebari said, “We have solid information and intelligence that members of Al Qaeda’s terrorist network have gone to Syria.” Al Jazeera English, “Iraq says al-Qaeda flowing into Syria,” July 5, 2012. See also, Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu-Bakr al Baghdadi’s remarks in OSC Report GMP20120721586002, “Islamic State of Iraq Amir Calls on Sunni Tribes to ‘Repent,’” July 21, 2012.
35 OSC Report GMP20120618125001, “Al Shinqiti Calls Jihad in Syria ‘Duty,’ Advocates Joining Al Nusrah Front,” July 6, 2012; OSC Analysis GMF20120706420001, “Syria—Salafis Possibly Eying Larger Role in Post-Al-Asad Syria,” July 6, 2012.
36 OSC Report GMP20120612405002, “Abu-Yahya al-Libi Urges Iraqi, Jordanian, Turkish Mujahidin ‘To Champion’ Syria,” June 12, 2012.
37 The National (Abu Dhabi) “Syria, Jihad And the Boys From Tunisia’s Ben Guerdane,” July 3, 2012; OSC Report GMP20120607648001, “Al-Jazirah.net Says Jordan Charges 6 With Trying To Enter Syria To Wage Jihad,” Al- Jazirah.net (Doha), June 6, 2012; OSC Report EUP20120523029004, “Foreign Jihadis Flock To Syria in Bid To Overthrow Al Asad,” Le Figaro (Paris) May 22, 2012.
38 “Abu Basir al Tartusi” is the pen name of Abdel Moneim Mustafa Halimah. For more on this topic, see Aron Lund, “Holier Than Thou: Rival Clerics in the Syrian Jihad,” Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor, Volume: 10, Issue:

[Coyotl]

9. Look at who contols what territory and you will find otherwise.

[Sand Wind]

10. nope, the map confitm

[daleo]

12. It's also a matter of intellectual, ideological and religious leadership

Defected soldiers might ultimately fall in behind any of the leadership elements, including AQ. My guess is AQ types might be quite appealing to an amorphous group like "defected soldiers" who could yearn for decisive leadership, who see the world in black and white, rather than the shades of grey of liberal democracy.

[Sand Wind]

14. Nope, they are under local insurgent authority.nt

[daleo]

15. Whatever that is

Forever long it lasts.

[L0oniX]

5. Awww ain't that special ...we're pals with Al Qaeda now. No more terrorists now.

Can we eliminate the NSA and DHS now?

[treestar]

8. So he does not admit they used chemical weapons nt