America and Israel: Imperial Partners in Crime (Part II)

Stephen Lendman
Activist Post

In late January, Lebanese military sources reported multiple Israeli violations of Lebanon’s airspace. One or more targets on the Syrian-Lebanese border were struck.

Around the same time, Israeli warplanes attacked a military research center in Jamraya. It’s about 10 miles from the Lebanese border. Early Sunday morning, Israel struck it again.

On May 5, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) headlined “Explosions Hit Scientific Research Center in Jamraya Caused by an Israeli Rocket Attack, Casualties Reported.”

The Damascus al-Hameh area was struck. Syrian state television said:

The new Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups which have been reeling from strikes by our noble army. 

This new Israeli aggression is a clear attempt to alleviate the pressure on the armed terrorist groups after our army beat them back in several regions and after the army’s victories on the road to recovering security and stability in Syria. 

This attack proves the direct involvement of the Israeli occupation in the conspiracy against Syria and its links with terrorist groups in the aggression supported by Western countries and some Gulf countries.

Israeli officials confirmed Saturday’s attack. YNet News said an unnamed “senior” Israeli source corroborated the second one. He claimed missiles intended for Hezbollah were targeted.

Previous articles suggested otherwise. Assad needs all the weapons he can get. If reports were accurate, evidence would have corroborated them. None was forthcoming.

Video footage showed multiple explosions. Huge fires followed. Obama ignored Israel’s naked aggression. He claimed it’s entitled to defend itself against enemies, saying:

The Israelis, justifiably, have to guard against the transfer of advanced weaponry to terrorist organizations like Hezbollah.

He shares responsibility for what happened. These type incidents are jointly planned. Both nations partner in imperial crimes. Doing so is longstanding.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague also supports Israel’s naked aggression. He called it self-defense. He said it’s justification for “lifting the arms embargo” against Syrian insurgents. He wants them getting more weapons than already supplied.

Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al Mekdad correctly called Israeli aggression “a declaration of war.” He added that Syria will decide when and how to respond.

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour condemned “the Israeli aggression and the silence of the international community. It’s time for the Arab League to take a clear stand in light of the repeated Israeli aggression against Arab countries.”

On April 30, Syrian expert Patrick Seale headlined “How Israel Manipulates US Policy in the Middle East.”

It’s doing what it did many times before. It’s “inciting the United States to attack Syria.”

By accusing Syria of using chemical weapons, Israel’s goal seems to have been to trigger an early American armed intervention with the double objective of ousting Bashar from office, while preventing his replacement by the redoubtable Jabhat al-Nusra.

Israel wants Washington “to destroy both the Syrian regime and its Hizbollah ally,” Seale added. Iran comes next.

Israel wants no limits on the extraordinary freedom it has long enjoyed to attack its neighbours at will and never be hit back. From Israel’s point of view, if America could be persuaded to do the job for it, so much the better.

On May 5, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi condemned Israel’s “evil acts.” They occurred after a “US green light.” Fars News quoted him saying:

The inhuman acts and adventurism of the Zionist regime in the region will strengthen the waves of anti-Zionism in the region and will shorten the life of this fake regime. 

Such desperate moves are not a sign of power and might but they show the regime’s desperateness and confusion in dealing with the regional developments.

Mossad-connected DEBKAfile claimed Israel attacked “to prevent the transfer of Iran-supplied Scud D and Fateh-110 missiles to Hizbollah units fighting in Syria….”

It cited unnamed Arab sources saying “Israeli rockets also hit two 4th Division Republican Guard battalions.”

There were also claims that rockets were fired on or close to Mount Qassioun, one of Bashar Assad’s presidential palaces and the site of command posts and arsenals overlooking the capital. 

The BBC’s Arab sources add that Hizballah forces stationed in Damascus were also targeted.

Earlier, Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah denied sending fighters to Syria. He said party members may be acting individually.

He added that around 30,000 Shitte Lebanese inhabit 22 Syrian villages. Volunteers defend them against terrorist attacks.

On May 4, Hezbollah official Ibrahim Amin Sayyed said:

Hezbollah is ready to prevent Syria falling under the control of Tel Aviv and Washington. 

This is a strategy and not an intervention in the Syria crisis. It is an intervention in the conflict against America and Israel.

He added that Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria is “political and strategic.” It’s to “support the people in their demands to reach a situation that preserves their dignity and freedom and ensures their participation in political life.”

Days earlier, Nasrallah said his fighters were defending Lebanese citizens in Syrian border villages. He suggested that Iran, Russia, and unidentified “resistance groups” would act to prevent Assad’s ouster.

Longstanding US/Israeli policy prioritizes regional destabilization and conflict. At issue is replacing independent governments in Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah in Lebanon with pro-Western puppets.

Doing so would achieve joint Washington/Israeli control. Iraqi and Libyan puppet regimes were installed. Replicating them in Syria, Iran, and Lebanon is planned.

Syria’s being ravaged to do it. Iran and Lebanon may follow. Countless more lives may be lost. America and Israel don’t do body counts. Their pockmarked histories claimed millions.

Many more die daily. Survivors endure appalling misery. It’s hard imagining how much worse things can get. Expect it. It’s planned. It’s coming. Unchallenged dominance alone matters. Human suffering is a small price to pay.

Israel’s attacks were lawless. They’re clear provocations. They appear designed to get Syria to retaliate. Doing so would give Washington-led NATO pretext to intervene. Pentagon plans were prepared long ago.

A previous article said hindsight may show Israel’s attacks preceded full-scale intervention. It may happen if Syria doesn’t retaliate.

Proxy Western fighters are no match against Assad’s military superiority. Nor were anti-Gaddafi insurgents in Libya.

Air power turned the tide. Expect similar tactics ahead against Syria. They’ll begin as soon as Obama signs off. It could happen any time.

Israel’s very much involved. It’s a NATO partner country. It’s a Mediterranean Dialogue member. It’s practically a full-fledged one. It’s covertly and overtly involved.

It’s part of Washington’s regional strategy. It’s own prioritizes eliminating all regional rivals.

Both countries wage war on humanity. Syrians are in the crosshairs of their ruthlessness. Hundreds of thousands more may die before conflict ends.

Another country is being systematically ravaged and destroyed. It won’t be the last one. Obama, Netanyahu, and rogue NATO partners have lots more death and destruction in mind. Rogue states operate that way.

Part 1: America and Israel: Imperial Partners in Crime

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at [email protected]. His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/