Premeditated US Aggression on Syria by Stephen Lendman
Putin called Trump’s overnight attack on Syria “aggression against a sovereign country, violating the norms of international law,” according to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov, adding:
“(I)t is unequivocal that (Friday’s aggression was) launched…in the interests of Daesh, al-Nusra Front and other terrorists.”
Sergey Lavrov called Trump’s action “an act of aggression under a completely far-fetched pretext,” adding:
“This is reminiscent of the situation in 2003, when the US and the UK, along with some of their allies, invaded Iraq without the consent of the UN Security Council and in violation of international law.”
Unverified photos were used as so-called evidence - anti-government elements, including al- Qaeda-affiliated White Helmets their source.
A pretext was manufactured out of whole cloth to launch naked aggression on Syria. Hopes for possible Russia/US cooperation in combating terrorism were dashed.
Peace talks are dead. Trump chose endless war for regime change instead of responsible resolution.
Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov accused Washington of carrying out a premeditated attack, planned well ahead Friday’s aggression, saying:
“It is evident that the US cruise missile strikes against a Syrian airbase have been prepared long before today’s events.”
“A large system of measures of reconnaissance, planning, preparation of flight tasks and bringing the missiles to launch readiness needs to be carried out to prepare such an attack.”
“We assess such actions of the US side as a gross violations of the memorandum on incident prevention and ensuring security in operations in the Syrian airspace signed in 2015.”
“The Russian Defense Ministry is suspending cooperation with the Pentagon within the framework of this memorandum.”
“The administrations of the United States are changing, but the methods of unleashing wars have remained the same since Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya.”
“And again, the pretext of aggression is not an objective investigation, but allegations, fact manipulation, shaking photos and pseudo-tubes at international organizations.”
Only 23 of 59 cruise missiles launched struck their targets. It’s unclear so far where others landed, what destruction and loss of life they likely caused.
The attack on Syria’s Shayrat airfield damaged and destroyed its facilities and equipment, including six aircraft.
At least four Syrian military personnel were killed, another six injured. Two others are missing.
Konashenkov said Russia intends bolstering and increasing the effectiveness of its aerial defense systems in Syria - without explaining why it wasn’t used against detected incoming cruise missiles.
Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said “Russian forces were notified in advance of the strike, using the established deconfliction line.”
Failure to act facilitates further US aggression, likely coming in the wake of Friday’s action - supported by Britain, France, Turkey, other NATO states, Australia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, a rogue’s gallery of ruthless regimes.
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: How the 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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