Saudi vs Syria: Imperial Policy Crisis

US president Obama has today assured the word of his intention to launch missiles at Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons, but he has also decided to make the action dependent on the decision of the US Congress to vote for blood. Such is the nature of imperialist democracy. This could delay the attack for a week or so, something that the warmongering news media are mightily frustrated with. It may also not be a foregone conclusion that Congress votes for its additional war, even though Obama, like UK prime minister Cameron, promised to constrain its scope to a 'one off' punishment. Cameron's defeat by a parliament sceptical of what value lay in another war (ie an overt military action, rather than just supporting the so-called rebels) and worried about potential blowback could find an echo in the US.

That is problematic enough for Obama and for US policy. However, what if no evidence emerges that the Syrian regime was responsible? The danger of a debate (even in Congress) is that you have to present some evidence. Even worse, what if there is some evidence that the Saudi-supported opposition to Assad were responsible?!

One report explicitly claimed this yesterday, but has (so far) received no widespread coverage - partly because it embarrasses the stance of the western media, partly because it will cause a major crisis in imperialist policy. However, the report is co-authored by an AP journalist with good credentials, rather than being the ramblings of a dissident blogger. The story is entitled: 'Syrians in Ghouta Claim Saudi-Supplied Rebels behind Chemical Attack'. This is the link to it.

Let's see how this plays out.

Tony Norfield, 31 August 2013