American Administration perceives Syria stronger than ever, start negotiations with President Bashar Assad

What’s happening between the United States and Syria? Is it true that the American administration decided to break all red lines in its campaign against the Syrian leadership? How can the American ambassador’s inciting statements be understood and perceived? Did Syria take the decision of confrontation in return?

These questions seem to be legal in light of the American-Syrian front developments, mainly the American unprecedented fierce and verbal assault on the Syrian regime.

WHEN CLINTON CLAIMS ASSAD LOST LEGITIMACY
Indeed, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claimed that Syrian President has “lost legitimacy”. "President Assad is not indispensable and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power”, she told reporters. "If anyone, including President Assad, thinks that the United States is secretly hoping that the regime will emerge from this turmoil to continue its brutality and repression, they are wrong", she added.

In response, the Syrian foreign ministry accused Clinton of incitement. "Syria vigorously condemns the remarks of the US secretary of state that amount to further proof of the flagrant interference of the United States in the internal affairs of Syria," it said in a statement. "These remarks are an act of incitement aimed at continuing the internal crisis and for objectives which do not serve the interests of the Syrian people or their legitimate ambitions," it said.

US DOUBLE STANDARDS WITH SYRIA
Yet, analysts believe that the United States has spared no effort to make sure its officials’ statements do not break red lines. They remark that President Assad was not criticized, like other leaders, and that he has not even been called to step down.  They note that the American administration used to urge Assad to lead reform in his country, unlike France for instance, which declared war with the Syrian President.

During the last stage, some double standards couldn’t be hidden in the American policy. At one side, it supports Assad and backs his reformist approach. But at the other, it supports his opponents and provides them with all their needs from money to weapons. Even more, its ambassador visits the municipality of Hamah and takes part in the anti-government demonstrations without taking the permission of the Syrian Foreign Ministry, which constituted a clear violation of all international norms and laws concerning diplomatic relations.

Nothing seems to be strange in such double standards. Actually, and according to well-informed sources, the American administration of Barack Obama took the decision to open a direct dialogue with the Syrian regime after the failure in overthrowing it. But, how could America negotiate with Assad at one side and back his opponents at the other?

The answer is so simple. This is how the American behaves. When he chose the negotiation path, he threw all the papers he possesses, thus increasing his support for the criminal gangs in Syria, releasing the first version of the famous indictment in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in Lebanon alongside threatening of expanding accusations, warning of sedition in Lebanon and encouraging his followers to escalate and raise the voice.

US CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR
According to former lawmaker Nasser Qandil, there is accurate news of a change in the American stance towards the Syrian leadership. He pointed in this regard to two main axes: the European-Turkish-Qatari at one side and the American at the other. “It is clear that the Americans decided to take the path of negotiations, leaving their allies behind them,” he said. “It seems that the Turkish, Qatari and European sides perceived this American change of behavior and its considerations. They also became aware that the Americans are reconsidering the possibility of resuming the whole assault on Syria.”

GANGS SEEKING TO ESTABLISH EMIRATES
Qandil told Al-Manar Website that the US new stance has its reasons and considerations. “The media campaign that accompanied the tense internal situation and the pressure that aimed to divide the Syrian army has fallen,” he emphasized. “It became clear that the main problem in Syria nowadays is a confrontation with organized and armed groups, that seek to establish extremist emirates in a number of Syrian sites,” he added. He also pointed to the role played by some media panels that sought to mislead the public opinion and tarnish the image of the leadership.

PLOT TO REPRESS SYRIA FELL
The former lawmaker also said that the plot to repress Syria through international pressure and economic sanctions reached a deadlock throughout the last three months. He noted that Russia would not decline to resort to the veto right within the United Nations Security Council whenever the Syrian issue is raised. “Russia will not be alone in this initiative as the UNSC witnesses what we can call the group of world’s independent powers which are facing the American hegemony. These powers, including India, Brazil and South Africa, in addition to Russia, China, Lebanon and Argentina, constitute a new international balance based on the combination of the independent states’ efforts to confront the American hegemony’s projects.”

SYRIA OVERCAME CRISIS
According to all these facts, the United States became confident that the regime of President Bashar Assad has overcome the crisis and restored its strength, and that Syria readies to become even stronger than it was before the crisis, in light of the reform resolutions taken by President Assad, which actually exceeded the national opposition’s demands. “The American, European, Turkish and Qatari sides perceived that they can’t act anymore just as if nothing changed in Syria,” Qandil stressed. He pointed out that the Syrian people are today at the side of the President, the army and the security forces. “However, the international community is divided over the stance towards Syria. This proves that Syria has overcome the most dangerous and difficult part of the crisis.”

That’s it. The American factor chose the negotiation path, after he incited and prepared the Turkish-Qatari duo, before adding the French side. “When the negotiation game started, he adopted it alone,” Qandil said, as he revealed that the American administration has actually started negotiation with Syria. “I believe Turkey, Qatar and France are regretting the fact that they were involved in the plot of targeting Syria,” he added.

Despite the American openness, it is clear the Syrian regime is committed to the reforms previously announced by President Assad, which proves that the regime is confident the reforms are in Syria’s interest and therefore, does not deal with them as part of a foreign agenda.

Report prepared by Nader Ezzeddin - Translated