Analysis, Side Feature

Views on the News – 23 July 2016

Headlines:

  • Kerry continues to pursue joint operation with Russia in Syria despite opposition in US government
  • The Western-backed Assad regime presses its onslaught of civilians in Aleppo
  • Erdogan carries out widespread crackdown under 3-month emergency


Kerry continues to pursue joint operation with Russia in Syria despite opposition in US government

America is reaching new levels of desperation in Syria as Kerry continues to pursue an accommodation with Russia over its demands for a joint US-Russian operation. Reuters reports internal opposition from within the US government to Kerry’s plans:

‘Several U.S. military and intelligence officials called the plan naive, and said Kerry risks falling into a trap that Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid to discredit the United States with moderate rebel groups and drive some of their fighters into the arms of Islamic State and other extremist groups.’

America has until now been using Russia to carry out its filthy work in Syria while refusing to participate jointly with Russia in operations there. But America’s desperation is such that it is having to give in to Russian demands for this.

 

The Western-backed Assad regime presses its onslaught of civilians in Aleppo

The Washington Post is reporting a “‘Massive tragedy’ in the making in the opposition-held areas of Aleppo”. In its reporting, the Post says:

‘Rebel-held neighborhoods in the Syrian city of Aleppo have endured food shortages and devastating attacks throughout the civil war. Now pro-government forces have cut off the only road into those areas, leaving an estimated 300,000 people at risk of starvation.’

Wars conducted by or supported by the West are always so devastating because of the deliberate targeting of civilians. The West calls for self-determination for people but if the people choose Islam instead of secular values, then the ideal of self-determination is disposed of.

America is the true supporter of the Assad regime and the true enemy of Muslims and sincere Muslim groups. America and the West are tormented by the re-emergence of Islam amongst Muslims after the West exterminated the Uthmani Khilafah. Now a broken city in Syria has become a threat to the West’s domination and exploitation of the world.

 

Erdogan carries out widespread crackdown under 3-month emergency

Even almost a century after Mustafa Kamal severed the Islamic Khilafah and imposed secularism in Turkey, President Erdogan is unable to directly attack the secularist agenda. Meanwhile, Erdogan cites the Gulen movement as justification for carrying out a far reaching sweep of Turkish military and civilian personnel. According to a Reuters report:

‘Erdogan accuses Fethullah Gulen, a charismatic United States-based cleric and former ally, of masterminding the plot, which crumbled early on Saturday. In a crackdown on Gulen’s suspected followers, more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, civil servants and educators have been suspended, detained or placed under investigation.’

Secularism is the basis of the present Turkish Republic and the basis on which Erdogan’s own power rests. Despite knowing that it was the secular elements in the army that instigated the coup against him, Erdogan has chosen the easy target of attacking Gulen rather than attacking the secularist faction in the army.

The people of Turkey demonstrated their loyalty to Islam and opposition to secularism again this last week by standing up to the coup. But Erdogan is not the leader of courage who can give political expression to the will of the people.