By Michael Collins Piper
In one swift measure—working in conjunction with the besieged Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad—Russian President Vladimir Putin has spared the United States the ignominy of once again getting involved in a foolish and needless war in the Middle East.
The truth is that Putin—the leader of the Cold War colossus that was America’s presumed “enemy” for so long—did what the battle-tested leaders of the American military wanted. He put a stop to the attack on Syria the pro-Israel lobby, standing virtually alone, was demanding Congress endorse in spite of overwhelming opposition from the American public.
Even after President Barack Obama, on the evening of September 10, in a speech from the White House, tried to make a case for attacking Syria, polls show 60% of Americans still oppose getting involved in Syria’s civil war. Only 19% of those surveyed believe the U.S. military should attack Damascus. Legislators are certainly feeling this pressure from their constituents, who are calling and writing Washington to tell their elected representatives they do not want to get involved in any more wars. As a result of this, initial support for attacking Syria on the part of the Republican leaders appears to be unraveling. On the morning of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced that he would not support Obama’s plan for even limited strikes in Syria.
It’s no secret that America’s military elite opposed any kind of military action against Syria. In taking such a stand, they were endorsed by the large majority of the American people, who have come to realize—after a decade of disastrous intervention in the Middle East—that such wars (and let’s call them what they are: wars on behalf of Israel’s imperial designs) are not in the best interests of the United States or the world for that matter.
Putin may well have averted a third world war, and—if the reaction of Israel’s cheerleaders is being judged correctly—he has also put a roadblock in the way of Israel’s continuing push for America to wage war against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a longtime ally of the secular regime of Syrian leader Assad.
Michael Collins Piper is an author, journalist, lecturer and radio show host. He has spoken in Russia, Malaysia, Iran, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Canada and the U.S.
On February 4th, 2013, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, addressed the Duma (Russian Parliament), and gave a speech about the tensions with minorities in Russia.
Vladimir Putin: Russia does not need minorities
“In Russia live Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia, to work and eat in Russia, should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws. If they prefer Sharia Law, for instance, then we advise them to go to those places where that’s the state law. Russia does not need these minorities. These minorities need Russia, and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell ‘discrimination.’ We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France, if we are to survive as a nation. The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of many minorities. When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest first, observing that the minorities who come here are NOT Russians!”
The politicians in the Duma gave Putin a standing ovation that lasted for five full minutes!
God Bless Russia
(There is no evidence that President Putin gave any such speech—Ed.)