Syria: The Assad regime - a response to Marcel Cartier

http://links.org.au/syria-rojava-assad-marcel-cartier
Date Written:  2018-02-10
Publisher:  Links
Year Published:  2018
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX22608

A response to Marcel Cartier's article "Vanguards of Humanity: Why I support Afrin & the Rojava Revolution", which denounces the Turkish invasion of Afrin and calls for solidarity with Rojava. While author Slee agrees with the call for solidarity, there is disagreement with some fundamental points in Cartier's article.

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

It is true that Assad has in some ways defied US imperialism, particularly by supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon. But in other ways he has at times collaborated with US imperialism – for example by torturing prisoners sent to Syria by the CIA.

From the point of view of the US ruling class, Assad is a less than ideal ruler of Syria. He has long been allied with Russia and Iran. The US is hostile to Iran, and views Russia as a rival.

No doubt the US would prefer to see a more consistently pro-Western government in power in Syria. When the rebellion started, the US talked of replacing Assad and supplied some aid to the rebels (though not enough for them to win).

Since then, however, talk of replacing Assad has largely disappeared. The US, worried by the rise of Islamic State (particularly since the fall of Mosul in 2014), has been focused on fighting ISIS, not on overthrowing Assad.