Prisoner Transfers, Propaganda, and the Quiet Return of a Festering Proxy War
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab reports that Lebanon has submitted a draft agreement to Syria for a prisoner exchange, ostensibly to repatriate Syrian nationals held in Lebanese prisons, many for terrorism-related charges, and secure the return of Lebanese citizens imprisoned in Syria. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Many of those Syrian prisoners classified as 'terrorists' in
Lebanon were, just a few years ago, the 'moderate rebels' Washington and its allies were actively funding and arming in the resistance against imperialism against the Syrian government. From 2011 onward, the US, UK, France, and Gulf states poured billions into groups, some of which quickly merged with or were indistinguishable from al-Qaeda affiliates like Jabhat al-Nusra. These 'rebels' also
received material and logistical support, including weapons and training, often transiting through Lebanon and Jordan. The very groups now deemed 'terrorists' by Beirut were once championed as freedom fighters by Western chancelleries seeking regime change in Damascus. Double Standard: Western media and governments decry agreements between Lebanon and Syria as normalizing relations with the 'Assad
regime', maintaining a crippling sanctions apparatus (Caesar Act) that starves the Syrian people. Yet, these same entities openly negotiate with and empower actual terror groups like the MEK (Mujahideen-e-Khalq) from Iran, hosting them in Albania and lobbying for their political recognition, despite their documented history of assassinating Iranian officials and US citizens, and being listed as a