After numerous US-led Western reports of nonexistent “Russian aggression” in Ukraine, how could anyone believe its military intervened in Syria – especially when Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (speaking for Putin) categorically denied it, and no verifiable evidence refutes him.
Believe nothing Western media claim, Peskov stressed. “(T)his issue has never been discussed in any way” – nor has Assad asked for direct Russian involvement.
Commenting on an earlier statement by Russian airborne troops commander Vladimir Shamanov, Peskov added: There ought to be no doubts that Russian airborne troops will fulfill any order from their-commander-in chief” Vladimir Putin.
“(U)se of Russian military aircraft in Syria is out of the question at the moment. The issue is not looked at now.”
Commenting from Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said “(w)e consider various possibilities (about confronting the Islamic State, but military operations aren’t) yet on our agenda.”
“We will hold consultations with our Syrian friends and the countries of the region. (W)e are providing (Assad) with a rather serious support and equipment and training forces with armament” – nothing more so far.
His comments were in the context of fighting Islamic State and other takfiri terrorists. He explained months of US air strikes did nothing to deter them – plenty to destroy Syrian infrastructure and kill noncombatant civilians in harm’s way.
Putin wants to create an anti-terrorist coalition – cooperatively with regional and Western countries, he said, so far unable to agree on a common approach to resolving Syria’s conflict.
“We are not imposing anything,” Putin stressed. “(W)e are ready to contribute to (an) intra-Syrian dialogue.” Assad is Syria’s legitimate leader – overwhelmingly reelected in June 2014 in a process international observers called open, free and fair.
Russia opposes outside interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Under core international law, it’s illegal except in self-defense if attacked and authorized by Security Council members.
On September 1, Sergey Lavrov told International State Institute of International Relations students
“(n)ow (Western leaders) are trying like previously for eliminating Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi to give the top priority on Syria to the resignation of Bashar Assad saying he is illegitimate. But he is very legitimate.”
Syrians alone have the right to choose who’ll lead them and hold parliamentary seats – not outside powers.
The reliable Saker web site provides important information about Russia and geopolitical issues. Commenting on recent reports in two separate articles (here and here) alleging Moscow’s military intervention in Syria, he said don’t expect it there or anywhere else.
On the one hand, acting unilaterally is illegal. Security Council members alone can authorize intervention. On the other, popular internal Russian support is lacking.
“It is one thing to defend your own country or your own citizens (when attacked) and quite another to intervene” in another nation’s conflict hundreds of miles away, said The Saker.
Russia is legally justified in aiding Assad by “sending advisors, sharing intelligence and supplying weapons.” Unilateral direct military intervention in another country is another matter entirely.
Moscow learned a “painful” lesson in Afghanistan. What began in the 1980s as a “limited military intervention” became protracted conflict and bitter defeat. It wants no repeat decades later.
The Saker cited Russia’s Federal Law N61-F3 “On Defense”, Section IV, Article 10, Para 2. It states the mission of the Russian Armed Forces is to “repel aggression against the Russian Federation, the armed defense of the integrity and inviolability of the territory of the Russian Federation, and to carry out tasks in accordance with international treaties of the Russian Federation” – nothing else.
Russia’s Constitution, Chapter IV, Article 80, Para 2 states:
“The President of the Russian Federation shall be guarantor of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, of the rights and freedoms of man and citizen.”
“According to the rules fixed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, he shall adopt measures to protect the sovereignty of the Russian Federation, its independence and state integrity, ensure coordinated functioning and interaction of all the bodies of state power.”
Unlike America, Russia isn’t the world’s policeman and doesn’t operate this way, The Saker explained. It doesn’t wage endless wars of aggression anywhere – or maintain a global empire of bases, used as launching points for premeditated conflicts.
Syria is Obama’s war. So are Afghanistan and Iraq inherited from George Bush, Libya, Donbass, Yemen and partnered with Israel’s anti-Palestinian crusade on his own, as well as covert destabilizing efforts against various other countries.
America is the greatest threat to world peace. Humanity’s survival depends on stopping its madness.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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