Surviving Capitalism (Not) : Syria Conflict: Where Does It End?

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Syria Conflict: Where Does It End?

Click here to access article by anonymous author from Mornington Peninsula Bandicoot (Australia). (This is a local website for the inhabitants of the Mornington Peninsula located just south of Melbourne, Australia. A bandicoot is one those exotic creatures found only in Australia.)

Australia along with the rest of the former British Empire is now a part of the US-led Empire. Following WWII when Britain along with most of the developed world was in shambles and bankrupt while the US was completely intact with a huge military establishment. The British with its vast empire and the US ruling capitalist class saw a convergence of interests by merging the British Empire with the US. As a result the Brits retained control over their Empire and the US ruling class gained an empire. This latter Empire is ruled by a transnational class of capitalists from all the countries of this Anglo-American Empire (I usually refer to it as a US-led Empire).

So, I take issue with his/her description of the conflict in Syria as one of an "existential contest between the US and Russia". The author doesn't seem to be aware that Australia is an integral part of the US-led Empire. Just as corporate media is integrated across this Empire so is the outcome of this conflict: it will affect Australians as much as we Americans (although we might arguably suffer the consequences of a nuclear war more that the Australians).

The author provides an excellent summary of the history of the conflict in Syria that leads him/her to this conclusion:

There is a mountain of inconvenient facts and alternative interpretations that the media are not passing on to you, in favour of perpetuating a distorted narrative about a civil war and the “moderates” these outside governments are said to be supporting. In fact they are the groups (or their clones) against which we were supposed to be aligned in the “war on terror”. In any case this is no longer just a Syrian war but an existential contest between the US and Russia. The US is losing but is determined to win. Vladimir Putin, having committed Russian forces, cannot back off, either.

So be on your guard. Whether here or in the US or the UK, the mainstream media are parroting the government line. Look for alternative sources on the net and come to your own conclusions. For your sake, for the sake of Syria and its people, and for the sake of avoiding what Putin has described as America’s “irreversible course” towards war – a war that could be nuclear – do not allow yourselves to be played for fools again.