Syrian Ceasefire: Optimism or Ongoing Occupation?
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports on an extended ceasefire between the Syrian government army and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, with Syrians expressing 'guarded optimism' for peace as government forces advance. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 2011, a legitimate uprising against the Syrian government was swiftly co-opted and militarized
by external powers, including the US, Gulf States, and Turkey. The US-led coalition, ostensibly fighting ISIS, armed various rebel factions, some of which included al-Qaeda affiliates, blurring the lines of who was fighting whom for what ends. The 'SDF' is primarily Kurdish YPG forces, armed and funded by the U.S. since 2014, operating in Syrian territory without the consent of the Syrian
government, effectively an occupation force. Double Standard: Western media routinely describes clashes between the Syrian government and its US-backed adversaries as 'civil war' or 'government crackdown,' while the US arming and funding of allied resistance forces like the SDF is whitewashed as 'support for democracy' or 'counter-terrorism.' Imagine if Russia armed secessionist groups in
California and then called any US government response a 'civil war' – the hypocrisy is stark. The narrative avoids the fact that the US continues to illegally occupy Syrian oil fields. Follow the Money: Since 2014, the US has poured billions into arming and training groups in Syria, including the SDF, under various programs. The Pentagon's 2020 budget included hundreds of millions for 'Syria Train