Syrian Protests: When 'Reforms' Mean More Brutality
Mainstream media dutifully reports that three people were killed in Latakia during protests ignited by a bombing in Homs. The 'New Arab' article, like many others, frames this as internal strife, a natural consequence of 'Syria’s decade-long conflict.' What they neglect to mention, however, is the significant role the US and its allies played in arming various opposition groups—some of whom
morphed into al-Qaeda affiliates—since 2011, transforming peaceful dissent into a bloody proxy war. (Remember when Bashar al-Assad was a 'reformer,' then overnight, a 'brutal dictator' once the narrative shifted?) This convenient editing of history prevents any nuanced understanding, instead presenting a cartoonish 'dictator vs. people' narrative. It’s hard to call for 'freedom and democracy'
while simultaneously funneling billions to groups with questionable human rights records, all in a strategic game to control pipelines and geopolitical influence. One might wonder if the concern for Syrian lives applies equally when the US-manufactured 'conflict' is the core issue, not just its aftermath.