Global Research

In any war, collateral damage is inevitable. And no matter how careful Russia attempts to be, one cannot avoid eventually killing innocent civilians. That is why it is so important to make sure any war fought is justified to begin with – so that when a tragic mistake is made it is not compounded by the fact that the war within which it took place shouldn’t have been fought in the first place.

Russia’s intervention in Syria, however, is justified. The sovereign nation of Syria is openly being dismembered by foreign states, led by the US, joined by Syria’s neighbors, Turkey, Israel, and Jordan, as well as regional state-sponsors of terrorism including the despotic regimes of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

The potential loss of human life in confronting the proxy army of terrorists this coalition of multinational military aggression has arrayed against Syria pales in comparison to the outcome should Syria fall entirely to these forces. The perpetual chaos that has unfolded after America’s successful dismemberment of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya are but warnings of the fate that could befall Syria should order not be restored, and Syria’s sovereignty not protected. What’s more is that for each and every nation the US destroys, the terrorist organizations and all accompanying infrastructure that fill the void left behind by toppled governments has an accumulative effect. The strength of this threat and its ability to project violence further increases exponentially.

In that light, Russia’s alleged bombing of a “field hospital” in terrorist-held territory in Syria would be a tragic mistake at best… if such an allegation had credible evidence underpinning it. However, it does not.

The Incredible Expanding Atrocity 

When reports of Russian military aviation striking what AFP called a “field hospital” came to light, they were met by immediate skepticism, even by critics of Russia. AFP’s article, “13 dead as Russia strike hits Syria field hospital: monitor,” reported that:

At least 13 people including medical staff were killed when Russian warplanes struck a field hospital in northwestern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday.

Of course the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is actually a single individual named Rami Abdel Rahman, who is admittedly sympathetic to those seeking the division and destruction of Syria. Rami Abdel Rahman is also based in the UK, so is not actually “observing” anything in Syria. He himself has been observed coordinating his activities with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

The “clinic” in question was allegedly run by the Syrian-American Medical Society (SAMS), which according to their website is a multi-million dollar US-based NGO, provided with full support by the US State Department. Upon SAMS’ website is even a video by US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Powers, hailing SAMS as one of her “personal heroes.”

SAMS has played an instrumental role in using its alleged medical work to support terrorist organizations seeking to divide and destroy Syria and help disseminate propaganda peddled by the US State Department itself in attacking and undermining the credibility of the Syrian government in Damascus. This includes repeating the State Department’s unfounded narratives regarding “barrel bombs” and the use of “chlorine gas” by the Syrian government.

Telling however, is even those from this organization apparently drawn upon by the Western media have not mentioned Russia as perpetrating the bombing. AFP’s article would cite a SAMS staff member stating:

“Our initial reports from the ground show that we have lost two hospital staff, a physiotherapist and a nurse,” the staffer said in an emailed statement. 

Speaking on condition of anonymity, she did not specify whether the strikes were conducted by Russian warplanes.

This unconvincing narrative was quickly augmented by the Western media with other “strikes.” The number quickly went from 1 to 3, then 4, and then up to 7 – 7 hospitals allegedly struck by Russian warplanes, all according to the same handful of Western-backed fronts, echoed by an increasingly discredited Western media.

Just Warming Up – Russia “Strikes” 3 Hospitals 

The International Business Times in their article, “Russian air strikes hit hospitals in Syria claims NGO,” would report:

A US-based NGO has claimed the ongoing air strikes in Syria carried out by Russian forces have hit at least three medical facilities. The bombings took place in different locations – Idlib, Hama and Latakia provinces.

The NGO cited is the US-based “Physicians for Human Rights” (PHR), who in their latest annual report (PDF) reveals that it is in fact directly funded by multiple departments and agencies within the US government including the US State Department itself.  It too is a clearinghouse for a multitude of discredited propaganda campaigns aimed at Syria’s government, in support of an opposition now clearly revealed as foreign-sponsored terrorists.

The London Guardian would report in its article, “Four Syrian hospitals bombed since Russian airstrikes began, doctors say,” that:

At least four hospitals have been bombed by fighter jets in north-western Syria since Russia’s intervention in the war began in late September, doctors and international observers claim.

It also cites SAMS, Physicians for Human Rights, as well as the opaque Medical Relief for Syria, which operates independently of internationally recognized relief agencies, and appears to be involved in cross-border logistical support for terrorist-held territory in Syria.

Lie Big or Go Home – Russia “Strikes” 7 Hospitals  

The New York Times places the capstone upon this growing propaganda campaign with its article, “Group Cites 7 Attacks on Hospitals Across Syria.” The article states:

At least seven hospitals or medical facilities in Syria have been hit by airstrikes since Russia entered the civil war there, killing at least four people, according to an international human rights group and Syrian relief workers.

Notable, however, is that amid this growing lie, the New York Times adds a cautionary disclaimer further down in its propaganda piece which states:

It was impossible to independently confirm who had carried out that attack and earlier attacks on medical facilities in Hama, Latakia and Aleppo Provinces. 

The New York Times is also citing the US State Department-funded Physicians for Human Rights. Repetitive lies emanating from such an organization should be no surprise. Not only does their funding and activities betray whatever supposed humanitarian work they claim to be engaged in, in name alone they make a mockery out of the oath and duty of actual physicians.

And while such organizations eagerly create or repeat unverified narratives regarding Russian warplanes intentionally strafing medical facilities when Russia and the Syrian Arab Army are admittedly engaged in a nationwide war against a demonstrably vicious enemy – all in an attempt to portray Russia and Syria as threats to humanitarian aid efforts and medical relief, it should be noted that those who dishonestly pose as humanitarian aid personnel or peddle a political agenda under the guise of providing medical relief, in fact do more to endanger both than any warplane ever could.