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Author : N. Platoshkin
Head, Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Moscow University for the Humanities,
Doctor of Science (History)
THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY two theories regard-
ing the causes of the civil war in Syria that are being
promoted throughout the world by Western propa-
ganda and intelligence agencies, as well as by Western
satellites such as the "pillars of democracy" Qatar
and Saudi Arabia.
First, Syria itself is too fragmented religiously and
ethnically. How can Kurds possibly get along with
Arabs or Sunnis with Alawites? Until 2011, however,
they did get along some way or other and then the
example of neighboring and even more diverse Lebanon shows that there is nothing impossible there.
It is certainly not always that diversity inevitably leads to a civil war.
Second, Western peacemakers (or rather mythmakers) are pointing fingers at the "unbearable tyranny"
of Bashar Assad or the Assad dynasty. Of course, the Syrian regime cannot be classed as pure democ-
racy of an ancient Athens kind. However, there is no question that until 2011 Syria was one of the
most secular, progressive and modern countries in the Arab world. And compared to the U.S. barbarous
medieval (to be more accurate, early medieval) and despotic allies/satellites such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
the UAE and others of their ilk, Syria is simply a fragrant oasis of eastern democracy.
If the legendary Caliph Harun al-Rashid, with the help of his beloved Scheherazade, transported
himself to modern Saudi Arabia he would see no difference in the political regime.
There was nothing "spontaneous" about the "popular unrest" of 2011 in Libya or Syria, unlike the
events in Tunisia. This time, the "revolutions" were organized by the United States and the Gulf monar-
chies with support from local oligarchs and the reactionary clergy that had long been receiving funds
from Saudi Arabia. If people in Egypt and Tunisia were brought out to the streets by the Internet,
antigovernment demonstrations in Syria and Libya began after sermons in mosques.
Now it seems that the U.S. has only one way out - namely, to agree to a political settlement in Syria
through negotiations that will inevitably reaffirm the mandate of Assad and Ba'ath (and Washington
always knew this).
Thus, the elimination of the last hotbed of socialism in the Arab world will be put on hold. Otherwise
the Americans will be faced with the terrorist international that has strengthened its positions with their
own help.
Then the West will have other things to worry about than Syria, but that will be too late. So, no matter
how badly it might want to finally cleanse the world of Soviet fragments, Washington will have to wait.
This is in its own best interests.
http://interaffairs.ru
The Causes of the Civil War in Syria