Conspiracy
Making: This
short article, which dates back to May 25, 2015, continues to come up again
and again on social media, and although many people seem to take it as true,
since it is based on an unclassified Pentagon document, it actually offers an
insight into how conspiracy theories are weaved.
This is what the article claims
to reveal: “Confirmed Secret Pentagon Report Reveals US “Created” ISIS As A “Tool” in
a Proxy War Against Assad.” Below is an excerpt from the DIA report
meant to back this claim:
“… there is the
possibility of establishing a declared or undeclared Salafist Principality in
eastern Syria (Hasaka and Der Zor), and this is exactly what the supporting
powers to the opposition want, in order to isolate the Syrian regime, which is
considered the strategic depth of the Shia expansion (Iraq and Iran).”
But this is the full quote taken
directly from the unclassified document:
Can you spot the difference? The
document speaks of a hypothetical scenario that could develop
should the situation in Syria “unravels,” that is, should the state fail. The report,
then, points to sponsors of the opposition as favoring this development as part
of their effort to isolate Assad. There is no American plan here or a course
being advocated, and the whole scenario is premised on having the Obama
Administration continuing to do nothing.
Earlier in the report, the role
of Iran, China and Russia in supporting the regime is also acknowledged. The
report can be read here,
there are many redacted sections.
*
Un-American
& Un-Islamic: Slavery, racism and intolerance all have history
in America. Yet, when we talk about oppression, injustice and censorship, we describe
them as being Un-American. The reason for this apparent contradiction is
simple: a nation prefers to define itself by the best it has to offer, even as
it continues to combat its worst tendencies. The same goes for Islam. Slavery,
intolerance, misogyny, homophobia are all part of Islamic history and some of
their manifestations issues lingers to date to varying degrees. Still, Muslims
define themselves by the best that their religion has to offer, including
tolerance, conviviality, love of peace and justice, the “live and let live”
spirit, all of which are values that can be found in the Quran. Fringe groups
both in the U.S. and Muslim-majority countries exploit and revel in the
negative aspects of their culture, with hate groups hiding under the protection
of the First Amendment, and terrorist groups like Daesh justifying their acts
under the pretext of return to authenticity,” but both sets of groups are
denounced by the overwhelming majority as Un-American and Un-Islamic. No amount
of legal or theological trickery can blind decent people as to the basic
immorality involved in the speech and acts that reflect hate and nihilism.
But we have to note here that
both epithets, Un-American and Un-Islamic, often reflect an ethical and moral
judgement not a legal one. We cannot punish someone for being Un-American or
Un-Islamic, we can punish specific crimes. Generally speaking, it’s Un-American
to be intolerant, once again, we are referring to the aspirational nature of
the statement here, not the historical reality affiliated with it, but unless
the intolerant person decide to assault his neighbor for being different, then,
no crime has been committed, and no punishment can be meted out by law. But
society, in this case the neighborhood, can choose to shun the intolerant
person. In this sense, Muslims shouldn’t wait for someone to commit an overt
act of intolerance to be shunned, and for his behavior to be considered
Un-Islamic. Most Muslims, in fact, don’t associate with people who hold radical
views: extremists make them feel uncomfortable, just Christian extremists make
most other practicing Christians uncomfortable.
*
The same people who advocated and
now are busy defending and justifying the Iran deal are now focusing their
energies as well on attacking Saudi Arabia, both on its dismal human rights
record and its support for terrorism. The problem with stance, however, is that
these very issues still apply to Iran who in addition to supporting Shia death
squads in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, is also supporting the Assad regime of Syria,
the Houthis of Yemen, Hamas and its affiliates in the Gaza Strip and the
Territories, and even Daesh and Al-Qaeda. Iran is also still cracking down on
dissenters, and continues to execute political prisoners after sham judicial
processes. But none of this matter it seems. Iran is not simply giving a pass
on all of these issues, its behavior has also been rewarded with an accord
that, in practice, shields it from international and regional pressures, and
preserve its core nuclear capabilities and knowhow. Only Saudi is being
attacked. This lack of consistency by smart and knowledgeable people bespeaks
of an ideological frame of mind and an ideological agenda, and undermines the
issue of human rights and democracy, and the fight against terrorism. This
attitude will not bring peace and stability to the region, and will shield
America from repercussions. On the contrary, it is a way of stoking the fire,
and guaranteeing further mayhem.
*
Obama
Says Russia Faces Strategic Choice as Assad Can't Stay. “It is not
conceivable that Mr. Assad can regain legitimacy in a country in which a large
majority of that country despises Assad, and will not stop fighting so long as
he’s in power,” Obama said Sunday at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur. There
is an increasing awareness on Putin’s part that the extremist group is a much
bigger threat to Russia than losing an embattled ally in Assad or anything else
in the region, Obama said. The downing of a Russian passenger jet last month
drove that point home to Putin, he said. President Obama continues to
make statements and predictions which he is clearly unwilling to back with
actions. He believes fate will act on his behalf. In the last five years, fate never did, and
the situation in Syria and elsewhere worsened. It’s not clear what sort of
Archangel Mr. Obama is listening to, but he is either the Fallen One, or something
is being lost in translation.
