The lifting of the arms embargo against Syria by the EU shows nicely what it "Europe must speak with one voice" with the mantra repeated request is all about: you lacks any basis in doubt. The EU allowed each country now, in terms of arms supplies again for themselves to decide how they want to behave. This permission would not have been necessary - the sovereign nation-state is and will remain for the foreseeable future the ultimate reference size.
Were it not for the Nobel Peace Prize, which the EU recently awarded ... As the French and British insistence on arms supplies to the Syrian rebels already acts like a cruel joke. And awakens unpleasant memories of the colonial past of both countries in the region:
Sykes-Picot Agreement 1916: Distribution of French and British zones of influence (source: Wikimedia Commons)
As would be the secret Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916, a partition plan, which laid down, such as France and Britain wanted to divide their spheres of influence in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire among themselves. The Arabs have been duped, allowed on the division plans in the dark and promised them generous the liberation from the Turks and sovereignty - a lie that with the announcement of the secret agreement became public in 1918.
From 1920-22 the League of Nations France the mandate over the territory of present-day Syria, Lebanon and the Turkish province of Hatay today spoke to then. However, France was planning a fragmentation of its mandate territory into six smaller states along religious lines, a large, independent state was not provided.
Than 1920 Faisal I. an independent Arab kingdom Syria built on the territory of today's Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, France took that as a reason for war: It marched with troops, overthrew the king and occupied the country.
If the current discussion about how the Lebanese Hezbollah could insolence to intervene in the war in Syria, so you should know that Syrians and Lebanese feel at first as Arabs and look back on a common history. The boundaries are drawn European powers!
Hassan Nasrallah's reasons are totally understandable: The head of the Hezbollah party fears about a possible takeover of Syria by Americans, Israelis and takfiris (Sunni Islamist fanatics) impact on his country and an invasion of Israel in Lebanon (see Israel's bombing of Lebanon by 2006, 1100 deaths, mostly civilians). Hezbollah is currently active mostly in the Lebanese-Syrian border area to the infiltration of armed gangs and weapons against. Lebanon was the war to Syria with affected from the beginning: Even before the start of the "Arab Spring" had, for example, the NGO "Avaaz" established smuggling routes from Lebanon to Syria, as my article. "Avaaz.org and the secret information war to Syria " in April last year proved.
1925: mass executions of Syrian rebels by French troops (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
1925 came in today's Lebanon and Syria for the Syrian revolution against the French occupation and partition plans. Again - a piece of shared history. The revolt against France was primarily driven by Syrian Druze, but then also of Sunnis, Shiites and Christians. French troops lined up in the episode a bloodbath, especially among Druze civilians on. Attempts were reinforced to divide the land into his religious group to be the widening uprising Lord. But the Arabs won Damascus back.
You see: Trying countries along their religious or denominational boundaries to divide, is certainly not an invention of the 21st century (divide et impera)! Even then resisted the Syrians these experiments.
Western media would have us believe penetrant, in Syria to stand for more than two years against the rule of the Alawites. In this case, make this in the conscript army of Syria more than 25% off. The Syrian army is therefore less a "Assad troops" (Western media) as a reflection of religious and ethnic mosaic of the country. Both al-Assad Brothers (Bashar and Maher) are also married to Sunitinnen. Assad's ministers are also different faiths. So the religious argument does not really attracts and blocks the view on a clear analysis. Syria is the last truly secular state in the Middle East.
The Syrian Revolution 1925 France tested the "dirty war" counterinsurgency, what the former colonial power later in Algeria and Indochina repeated: You put heavy weapons in urban areas a, conducted mass executions and Verteibungsaktionen and finally settled bomb Damascus.
1925: French air attacks on Damascus (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
It was not until 1936, a treaty with France independence in view, but the agreement fell apart in the French parliament. As in World War II after the German victory over France, the French administration of Syria stood on the side of the Vichy regime, British and French troops marched again in Syria and then declared it independence, recognition was granted by other states. France was his "prey" but from not still, the last troops left the country until 1946.
One wonders where the face of this aggressive European past actually the cultural sensitivity of France and Britain against Syria remains today.
The lifting of the EU arms embargo is an important taboo, EU states are still the first time openly to war party, at least according to the announcement. What more happened so far away from the public, is now openly advocated: arms supplies to crisis areas. Austria, simply click on the Syrian Golan Heights with UN peacekeepers, had a fiery letter to the other EU countries written, which was completely suppressed in the media. Merely the Austrian "Press" reported: "'The supply of weapons to the Syrian opposition would be a breach of international law and EU law ', according to an Austrian position paper. Reference is made about the fact that the EU agreed in 2008 to strict criteria for arms exports to protect civilians and against spreading to neighboring regions. "The" Syrian National Coalition "was also of the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra -Front not sufficiently distant.
The fact that the EU does not respect its own laws and treaties - who could really surprise?
The pro-rebel-EU countries are the UK, France, Italy and Cyprus (calculated Want to be rehabilitated with arms shipments?); the rebel critical EU countries leads to Austria, with Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic and Romania. Germany also tends more to this position, but can, as always, large deviations from the US-line not afford. Foreign Minister Westerwelle was therefore limited to a "mediator", but Defense Minister de Maizière rang through : "We do not believe in arms supplies to the Syrian rebels. One would never talk again about German arms exports to areas of tension when we speak here in a conflict in arms. "
The fractious EU embarrassing situation led to a significant complaint by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay "The message from all of us should be the same., We will not support this conflict with weapons, ammunition, politics or religion."
For Syria there can be no military, but only a political solution, Pillay said during a special debate of the UN Human Rights Council.
This is Pillays demand close to the "alternate Friends of Syria", which now met at a conference in Tehran. The Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi criticized the EU openly : "States that are committed to democracy and to position themselves as supporters of the Syrian people must create conditions under which the Syrian people carry out democratic elections, and could decide on his future," Salehi who also condemned the lifting of the EU arms embargo sharp. The care of Syrian rebels with money and weapons would stir up the conflict.
Iran reject any interference in the Syrian conflict and support a peaceful solution. For the international community and especially the neighboring countries of Syria must come together to take steps to prevent the financing of armed groups in Syria and the penetration of fighters from abroad.
At the "alternative" Syria conference in Tehran attended by representatives from 40 countries and delegations of the United Nations, international aid and human rights organizations, reported the Russian news agency RIANovosti.
The conference shows that the Western states are increasingly getting in the region competition from a much more concise, more rational policy, the already developed their own magnetism.
The EU is faced with the ruins of its Syria policy. Among themselves at loggerheads, operate mainly Britain and France one reminiscent of the old times imperialist policy, which only differs from the former in that it is sold with moralizing rhetoric.
Last Monday raided members of the "Free Syrian Army" in revenge for the success of the Syrian arms in al-Kusair a small town called al-Duvair (Duwair) near Homs near the Lebanese border. They ravaged the town and killed all the Christian inhabitants, including women and children. The Syrian army came too late and could not prevent the massacre, but killed several dozen FSA "rebels" in battles.
These "rebels" will now be delivered more weapons. Great Britain and France (and Italy it seems) are willing to damage the European reputation for their selfishness. Its announced policy would at least consequent, if not criminal.
Islamist "rebels" destroy a historic shrine of Abraham in the Syrian province Rakkah in Syria. Abraham is the founding father of the three monotheistic world religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism).
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Tags: de Maizière , EU , Hague , Iran , Syria , UN , arms embargo
