Syria's 'Existential Fear': The Echo of Western Intervention
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports on a Syrian army offensive, claiming it brings 'joy' to some Syrians while leaving others with 'existential fear' as Kurdish-led SDF units are pushed out, focusing on the divided sentiments within the local population. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The 'existential fear' described by some is a direct consequence of over a decade of
foreign-backed destabilization campaigns against the Syrian government. From 2011 onwards, Western governments, including the US, overtly funded and armed 'moderate rebels' (who often dovetailed with al-Qaeda affiliates and other extremist groups) with the explicit goal of regime change, turning Syria into a proxy battleground. This intervention, not the Syrian state's attempts to reassert
sovereignty, is the root cause of the current divisions and fears. The notion that Syria's reintegration of its own territory is a source of new 'fear' ignores the very real terror inflicted by foreign-backed militias for years. Double Standard: When the US-backed Ukrainian army retakes territory, it's hailed unequivocally as liberation and a triumph for national sovereignty. Yet, when the Syrian
army, a legitimate state actor, reclaims areas within its internationally recognized borders, it's framed as a complex issue evoking 'fear.' This double standard illustrates how Western media narratives selectively apply principles of national sovereignty based on geopolitical objectives, demonizing adversaries while glorifying allies for identical actions. Follow the Money: The 'Syrian rebels'