Anderson uses an academic style with linked references after his essay to document his evidence. After perusing his references, I think that he presents a solid essay in support of the headline and the two myths used to justify US foreign policy:
Washington maintains two closely linked myths as regards terrorism in the Middle East. Then there is a ‘fall-back’ story. The first ‘existential myth’ is that, from 2014, the US became engaged in a war against extremist terrorists, in both Iraq and Syria. This followed several years of trying to topple the Syrian Government by backing illegal armed groups, which it calls ‘moderate’. Through this myth the US claims to be playing a protective role for the benefit of the peoples of the region. The second myth is that there is a significant difference between the ‘moderate rebels’ the US arms, finances and trains, and the extremist terrorists (DAESH or ISIS) it claims to be fighting.The Empire is clearly attempting to destroy the Assad government in Syria and replace it with one more supportive of Empire interests, and is using these myths to justify their actions for the gullible American public.
These claims represented a shift in the rationale for the war on Syria, from one of ‘humanitarian intervention’ to a revival of the Bush era ‘war on terror’.