Iran–Syria Relations: How has Assad not fallen?

DR. ABDUL RUFF

__________________

[Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal, Educationist,  Chronicler of Foreign occupations & Freedom movements (Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Xinjiang, Chechnya, etc.) Chancellor-Founder of Centor for International Affairs(CIA); Specialist on State Terrorism ; Commentator  on world affairs & sport fixings, Expert on Mideast Affairs,Former university Teacher; Editor:INTERNATIONAL OPINION; Editor: FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES;  Palestine Times: RANDOM THOUGHTS; (http://abdulrubb.wordpress.com);  website: http://abdulruff.wordpress.com/ mail: abdulruff_jnu@yahoo.com]

__________________________________

Israel, western powers, Sunni powers in Mideast, the rebels in Syria among others want to draw America into the war in Syria and extend it to Iran. . Without US involvement Assad would remain in power against the wishes of Arab world.

Strange bedfellows - Saudi Arabia and Israel against Iran and Syria!

Syrians need peace. The people of Syria do not support the armed portion of the opposition that may be trained in nuclear operations. Syrians are increasingly realizing that many of the insurgents are mercenaries, controlled by foreign powers and pursuing their agendas targeting both the regime, and people.

That was what exactly happened in Libya too where opposition was a mere tool in the hands of anti-Islamic west. People know too well that Saudi Arabia led Persian Gulf countries support the crisis in Syria.

As the threat for Syria-Iran is growing for the entire region, the power struggle in Syria has been escalating since the beginning of the year, and chemical weapons may have been used. Iran, Assad's large ally, is playing a key role, both openly and behind the scenes. There are indications that poison gas was used in Syria. The foreign mercenaries were the culprits. The Syrian government brought the victims of poison gas attacks to the attention of the United Nations. 

President Assad has a large army with hundreds of thousands of men under arms. Over the decades, his government has armed itself against its ruthless enemy, Israel, and he doesn't need a few guns from here or there. Those who believe that Bashar Assad is becoming fickle or that his government is collapsing are suffering from an illusion. The president is pleased with the progress his military is making. He says that his military leaders have the upper hand. The Syrian government is putting up such impressive resistance.

Shiite Iran government can't afford an overthrow of the Assad regime. Damascus is indeed an important partner for Tehran, one that Iranians don't want to lose. But some countries believe that by striking Syria they'll weaken Iran. In that sense, the struggle for Syria is partly a proxy war.

A few months ago, there may have been some sympathy for these rebels among a portion of Syrians, but that has now changed. The people have awakened and now oppose them as they see a weakened Mideast.

CIA inspired media created an impression that Damascus is under siege and Assad is falling by offering fabricated twists of war.  President Bashar Assad has the situation completely under control. He is very well informed about everything that is going on. Assad believes in victory and will resolutely pursue his path.

As Assad stays, the Western intelligence agencies say that Iran already has a plan B for the event that Damascus can no longer serve as a hub for Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah: an airlift between Tehran and Beirut.

Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi had a lengthy meeting in Jordan with King Abdullah II before flying to beleaguered Damascus to discuss the situation in Syria with President Bashar Assad. After two conferences on Syria last year, Salehi is now planning another meeting with the aim of putting an end to the bloodshed. Salehi, 64, is a key figure in the Middle East and one of the few Iranian politicians to enjoy the trust of many powerful figures in the region while at the same time having an appreciation for the West. A nuclear physicist, Salehi is seen as relatively open-minded.

Salehi said there will be serious consequences if Israel doesn't exercise restraint. You can burn down an entire forest with a single match. However, an expansion of the conflict would be extremely dangerous for the Zionists, which is why they'll think carefully about what they do. He also wrote a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and urged him to investigate these horrific incidents. Iran has called upon the UN to send inspectors.

Russia, a key supplier of weapons to Iran and Syria, has been doing everything possible to support the Assad regime. In addition to supplying weapons and ammunition, Moscow has troops stationed at its naval basis in the Syrian port city of Tartus and in air defense positions. But when Israel attacked Syrian targets, Russians did nothing to counter them. In reality, Moscow appears to be playing for time, primarily to prevent United States President Barack Obama from intervening militarily. President Obama wants to preserve the government apparatus in Syria to avoid total chaos. Moscow and Washington have announced an international summit on the Syrian crisis. 

Iran elects a new president on June 14. The next president will undoubtedly approach the matter with new vigor. His most important task will be to improve Iran's international relationships. Tehran is trying to buy time so that it can continue to pursue its nuclear program.

For Iran and Syria, this means that the end of Assad cannot be a precondition of talks. Only Iran could initiate negotiations between the opposition and the government in Syria. But the conflict can only be resolved if everyone seeks a solution without restrictions and no outsider imposes its will on Syria. Iran will support the proposals of Egypt. Egypt will be able to achieve a great deal in the Arab world with its political influence. Iran shares three demands on Syria: There should be no foreign intervention, the country's integrity and sovereignty must be preserved, and the government and opposition should form a shared interim leadership. This leadership must lead the country into a new era. There is no other alternative.