The Geopolitical Bidding War for Syria's Future
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports that former US President Donald Trump has lauded Syrian President al-Sharaa following an offensive against the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), ahead of al-Sharaa's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The US involvement in Syria, often framed as combating ISIS or supporting
'moderate rebels,' has a far darker origin. In 2011, US-backed groups, many with direct links to al-Qaeda (Jabhat al-Nusra/HTS), were unleashed to destabilize Syria. Former Secretary of State John Kerry admitted in 2016 that the US knew ISIS was growing but hoped it would put pressure on the Assad government. The 'White Helmets,' heavily funded by Western governments, were instrumental in
manufacturing consent for interventions, as revealed by former UK ambassador Peter Ford. This isn't about 'democracy'; it's about pipelines and challenging Russia's influence. Double Standard: Western media universally condemns 'authoritarian regimes' like Syria when they launch offensives against US-backed proxies, yet celebrate US-allied states, like Israel, as they routinely bomb Syria, often
targeting Iranian advisors or Syrian infrastructure. The very 'human rights' concerns invoked to justify intervention in Syria evaporate when Saudi Arabia decimates Yemen or when the US maintains crushing sanctions that starve ordinary Syrians. The 'offensive' by al-Sharaa against the SDF, a Kurdish-led force that often serves US interests, is positioned as nefarious, while similar actions by