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Rex Tillerson comments at Stanford University about the future of the U.S. Policy re: Syria

Big Al
January 17, 2018
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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaking at the Hoover Institution today
Dear Friends of the Ron Paul Institute:

I would like to share with you a breaking story that I have just written up for the Ron Paul Institute website. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke today at Stanford University where he outlined the Trump Administration’s Syria policy.

Here’s my quick analysis/commentary on the Tillerson speech:

Breaking – Tillerson Unveils ‘New’ US Syria Plan: ‘Assad Must Go!’

Confirming that the US military presence inside Syria had little to do with fighting ISIS, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson unveiled in detail today the real US strategy for Syria: overthrow of the Assad government.

In a speech at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and introduced by President George W. Bush’s Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Secretary Tillerson vowed that the United States military would continue to occupy Syrian territory until three conditions are met:

First: ISIS must be destroyed.

This condition is made all the more problematic by the well-reported fact that it is the United States government that at every turn seems to pull ISIS chestnuts out of the fire. From handing them weapons to allowing them to escape when they are trapped in places like Raqqa, it almost seems like the US does not want to really see the end of ISIS.

Second: Assad must go. 

Tillerson’s admission that this is a sine qua non for any US military departure from Syria confirms that the Trump foreign policy is no different from that of Hillary Clinton or her former boss, President Obama. Recall that as part of his “thank you” tour, President-elect Trump reiterated promises made by candidate Trump to break with the past:

We will pursue a new foreign policy that finally learns from the mistakes of the past. We will stop looking to topple regimes and overthrow governments. …In our dealings with other countries we will seek shared interests wherever possible…”

It is clear that he lied, as it is reported that he signed off on this new Syria strategy last month at a meeting of his National Security Council.

Secretary Tillerson said today that new elections should be held in Syria and that President Assad should lose:

The United States believes that free and transparent elections … will result in the permanent departure of Assad and his family from power… Assad’s regime is corrupt, and his methods of governance and economic development have increasingly excluded certain ethnic and religious groups… Such oppression cannot persist forever.

Tillerson’s speech reveals that the old myth about the Syrian people “rising up” to overthrow Assad is still very much viewed as Gospel truth in Washington:

…our expectation is that the desire for a return to normal life … will help rally the Syrian people and individuals within the regime to compel Assad to step down.

Translation: we are going to continue to make life miserable for you until you overthrow Assad. Then it will return to “normal.” Presumably the people of Syria understand what “normal” life after a US “liberation” looks like from examples like LibyaIraq, and Ukraine.

Tillerson also made the bizarre assertion that US troops will remain in Syria to prevent the Syrian government from re-establishing control over the parts of Syria abandoned by a defeated ISIS. So the legitimate government of Syria will be prevented by an illegal United States military occupation from reclaiming its own territory? This is supposed to be a coherent policy?

Third: Refugees must be returned to Syria.

Secretary Tillerson said today at Stanford University:

America has an opportunity to help people who have suffered greatly. The safe and voluntary return of Syrian refugees serves the security interests of the U.S. and our allies and partners. We must give Syrians a chance to return home and rebuild their lives.

But the one event that led to the biggest return of refugees back to Syria was violently opposed by the US government: the Syrian government’s liberation of east Aleppo from al-Qaeda control!

For additional consideration:

The US military is busy creating a 30,000-strong Kurdish militia to reportedly guard Syria’s borders with Turkey and Iraq. NATO-ally Turkey is violently opposing US moves to further arm Kurd groups that it considers terrorist.

The discredited “Free Syrian Army” (FSA) is back in Washington begging the Trump Administration to re-open the CIA weapons pipeline. The FSA is perhaps best known for immediately handing any weapons it gets from Washington directly to al-Qaeda in Syria. Will Trump’s neocon-filled ecosphere convince him to once again put some wind in al-Qaeda’s sails?

Will Congress awake from its slumber and finally dust off the part of the Constitution directing the Legislative Branch to decide on matters of war and peace? It’s probably an ill-advised bet, however there are a few whispers on Capitol Hill that a shift in US military focus from anti-ISIS to anti-Assad and anti-Iran might be slightly problematic.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has just unveiled a 100 percent neocon approved “new” US policy for Syria: No more pussyfooting around. We won’t abandon our project in Syria like Obama “abandoned” Libya (presumably, as the neocon myth goes, on the verge of becoming a new Switzerland after its “liberation” only to be thrust back into the mire by Obama’s premature withdrawal).

President Trump is set to out-neocon the neocons with this foolish and destructive policy. The showman is shown to be nothing but a fraud.

Please continue to support hard-hitting analysis of US foreign policy with a tax-deductible donation to the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. Let’s work together for a better, neocon-free future!

Thank you very much for your continued support for peace and prosperity.

Sincerely yours,

Daniel McAdams
Executive Director
Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity
Discussion
42 Comments
    CFS
    Jan 17, 2018 17:05 PM

    In order to inform, first listen to Tillerson’s speech:

    https://www.hoover.org/events/tillerson_11718

    CFS
    Jan 17, 2018 17:38 PM

    Next the UN Resolution 2254:

    https://undocs.org/S/RES/2254(2015)

    This resolution was adopted unanimously by the Security Council.

    CFS
    Jan 17, 2018 17:57 PM

    Daniel McAdams believes Tillerson was misguided or deliberately misleading or lying with regard to U.S. intentions. I don’t believe that to be true.

    I do know that if the US withdraws unilaterally, we will end up with a large country (Syria) controlled by Assad, Russia and Iran.
    I would not expect Russia to withdraw voluntarily and neither do I believe the US should attempt to remove Russia.

      Jan 18, 2018 18:07 AM

      CFS:

      No doubt you hate the idea of free elections and countries choosing their own leaders but there were free elections in Syria supervised by international observers and Assad won the election.

      We do know Israel hates Syria and Israel owns Trump so the US not only supported the terrorists in Syria, the US took actions that created ISIS.

      Like all of the other blind fools who support Israel and all of the illegal wars they have gotten the US to fight for them, you want to destroy Syria but never mention any solution. The US destroyed Iraq on behalf of Israel, the US destroyed Libya on behalf of Israel but left a vacuum and in both cases made a bad situation worse.

      One day soon the US and Israel will pay for their lies and war crimes. Israel is literally committing suicide with the support of useful idiots. Of which you would be one.

      Russia has no warm water ports with access to the Med. Russia has had a port in Syria, Tartus, for the last 45 years and unlike Trump, Putin intends to defend Russian interests.

      Israel intends to fight wars in the Middle East to the last drop of American blood and that last dollar before bankruptcy. One day someone will begin to protect American interests the first part would be to identify both our friends and our deadly enemies. Russia and Iran are not enemies of the US.

        Jan 18, 2018 18:04 AM

        Now, now Robert…let’s not forget that this is the United States of Israel.

        Sharon even said so and so have other Israelies…”Every time we do something you tell me Americans will do this and will do that. I want to tell you something very clear, don’t worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it.”

        American soldiers and mercs gotta be in Syria and all over the Middle East…remember Israel will fight till the last American and the last America dollar.

        And if you don’t think the US Gooberment puts Israelie lives ahead of Americans just consider the USS Liberty massacre.

        Now get back to work, Robert, so you can pay those taxes…because the US Gooberment sends billions and billions of American dollars to the Israelie Gooberment every year. And that’s just what it admits to…the real number is far more. And besides, if they can’t get Uncle Sucker to give them what they want, they’ll just steal it…look at how they began their nuclear program.

        Face it Robert, we are just the goyim surfs on Uncle Sugar’s tax plantation and Tel Aviv is its headquarters.

          Jan 18, 2018 18:13 AM

          Oops…there I go again…denouncing everything…sorry, DT.

          Jan 18, 2018 18:39 AM

          Do you ever listen to George Carlin. Your satire is as good as his, Eddy.

            Jan 19, 2018 19:34 AM

            Ebo does come up with some good ones……… 🙂

        Jan 18, 2018 18:31 AM

        Robert, I really can’t comment on Iran. I interviewed Triti Parsi a few weeks ago and I did leave that interview a bit confused.

        Russia protecting her interests is a valuable point.

        We all know how you feel about Israel and the help that the U.S. gives it. If we ever run into each other again, this would certainly be an interesting conversation.

      Jan 18, 2018 18:26 AM

      CFS,

      I did notice that Sec. Tillerson did make a rather strong reference to free elections and that fact seemed to be diminished a bit and that it too bad..

      Jan 18, 2018 18:33 AM

      CFS, I have invited Daniel to be on our Show. He and Dr Paul do make some good points and it will be interesting to speak with him on this issue.

      Jan 18, 2018 18:33 AM

      I agree with what you are saying, CFS

    CFS
    Jan 17, 2018 17:01 PM

    Tillerson went on in conversation with Condoleezza Rice to talk about N. Korea.

    In that regard I have heard speculation that the Missile warning in Hawaii was caused by an actual missile launch from N. Korea, but the missile was shot down by a sea to air missile originating from a Chinese submarine. I was unable to verify that.

      Jan 18, 2018 18:41 AM

      I did not know that. Do you really think that Kim Jung un is that stupid?

      Please respond with your opinion, Professor.

    CFS
    Jan 17, 2018 17:08 PM

    We do know China has the capability to shoot down missiles and it, indeed, indeed, practiced that last September:
    https://www.realcleardefense.com/2017/09/06/china_039shoots_down_missiles039_in_drill_in_waters_near_north_korea_296539.html

    GH
    Jan 18, 2018 18:31 AM

    McAdams: “President Trump…is shown to be nothing but a fraud.”

    +1

      CFS
      Jan 18, 2018 18:25 AM

      Interesting that today unemployment for Blacks in the US is at the lowest since records began almost 50 years ago. Some racist, some fraud.

        Jan 18, 2018 18:36 AM

        Mostly fraud. The definition of “unemployed” has been totally corrupted.

        Jan 18, 2018 18:42 AM

        How about coupling that with the latest housing start numbers, CFS?

        GH
        Jan 18, 2018 18:26 PM

        Yes, ‘mostly’ is more accurate.

        To me the things that matter are the wars, the fraudulent financial system, and policies that are constitutionally illegal. I have yet to see that Trump will do anything to improve these matters, or ‘make America great again’.

        That said, I’ve always made it clear that I consider him to be preferable to Hillary.

    GH
    Jan 18, 2018 18:15 AM

    Turkey Notifies NATO Of Imminent Massive Invasion Of Syria To Fight Kurds

    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-01-16/turkey-notifies-nato-imminent-massive-invasion-syria-fight-kurds

    So much for peace breaking out in Syria. I don’t imagine that is something the Zionists will permit.

      b
      Jan 18, 2018 18:17 AM

      I notice your posting from Zerohedge about Turkey possibly attacking the Kurds in Syria.
      To be honust this has been a possibility for …maybe a week or two?
      Southfront is on top of whats happening in Syria.

      Syrian girl was targeted and pretty much got shut down.(still on patreon)

      u tube southfront or google southfront .org for up to date info.

      Syria has said they may shoot down Turkish fighters if they fly into Syria, Idlib is the focus right now, other countries are making moves while Syria is still tied up.

      The Syrians are still crushing isis, killing lots of them,(there are still lots to kill) funny how that doesnt get mentioned much.
      Or Russians killing isis or Hezbollah or Iran.
      I guess we dont want to give “the bad guys” any free publicity.

      Another interesting point,(if anyone still has their eyes closed) its more and more obvious these “moderate rebels” are isis.
      Be nice if the U.S. would just stop supporting them…even that would help.

        CFS
        Jan 18, 2018 18:28 AM

        Is U.S. supporting ISIS or was that Obama policy?

        Remember Obama the closet Muslim and American traitor (Uranium One)

          b
          Jan 18, 2018 18:15 AM

          Recall mujahideen afghanistan 1979, following the money we watch these guys change to al qaeda then isis.

          You could argue from afganistan it began a path of its own, but it was all paid for by the U.S. until Syria as far as I know, when some Arab countries decided to throw some cash in the isis direction.

          This plan has gone on awhile, 1982 is the “Yinon plan” date.
          We might assume thats when the Israelis started guiding the americans in that area.

          Thats the big significance of Trump bowing to Israel at the wall, that tells us there is no change and he is just another Israeli or Rothchild puppet.

          Anything “good” that might happen as a “consequence” of Trump….. most likely irrelevant.

            GH
            Jan 18, 2018 18:29 PM

            Is Wilbur Ross still in Trump’s cabinet? Another sign he’s a Rothschild puppet.

          Jan 18, 2018 18:00 PM

          The CIA first aligned itself with extremist Islam during the Cold War era. Back then, America saw the world in rather simple terms: on one side, the Soviet Union and Third World nationalism, which America regarded as a Soviet tool; on the other side, Western nations and militant political Islam, which America considered an ally in the struggle against the Soviet Union.

        Jan 18, 2018 18:57 AM

        You make a great point B! Thank you.

        GH
        Jan 18, 2018 18:37 PM

        Yeah, I don’t keep up to the minute on it. Thanks for the links.

        If the US stopped supporting terrorists, I think the war would be over, other than the Kurd issues.

        Disappointing that Trump has apparently decided to betray his non-interventionist campaign rhetoric.

      Jan 18, 2018 18:56 AM

      Let’s see if this actually happens. For me, the credibility of Zero Hedge is on the line.

        GH
        Jan 18, 2018 18:39 PM

        Good point, Al. Just because ZH says it, doesn’t make it so…we shall see.

    Jan 18, 2018 18:11 AM

    oops………Ripple up 24%……..pass the jug………

      Jan 18, 2018 18:08 AM

      But Jerry…you can have this bit coin for a Song…a Jimmy Song….:)

        Jan 18, 2018 18:50 AM

        A little Ripple Red, and a Song…..who could ask for anything more…….. 🙂

          Jan 18, 2018 18:02 AM

          Would that song be the Bitcoin Blues?

          Need wine when you sing the Bitcoin Blues…so you don’t whine…

            CFS
            Jan 18, 2018 18:29 AM

            Bitcoin climbing back up or deadcat bounce?

            Jan 18, 2018 18:10 PM

            Whine and shine to the Crypto BLues………

    Jan 18, 2018 18:30 AM

    “President Trump is set to out-neocon the neocons with this foolish and destructive policy. The showman is shown to be nothing but a fraud.”
    Bravo! Well said, Daniel. A fraud on practically every level one looks at, yet his base possesses such hatred of past politicians we’ll never get past the ‘blow up stage’ of his policies. jmo

    b
    Jan 18, 2018 18:29 AM

    Israel runs the U.S., everything Bob says on the subject is true.
    I dont think anything about that will change as long as the christians support Israel.
    There are just too many of them.

    Bob posted a wonderul explanation pointing out christians have basically been duped to think they have any reason to worship Israel as they do.
    But reason does not come into the equation when we talk about beliefs.

    Therefore, we should be demonstrating to our governments to build nuclear shelters for us.

    If Putin and China dont find a way to deal with Israel and the U.S. neocons(the christians wont, nor will the americans or Israelis)…..well, maybe rent a room on the iss before the rush.

    Ah heck, maybe the aliens will show themselves and the neocons evaporate.

      Jan 18, 2018 18:03 PM

      I had a lengthy conversation with retired professor from Trinity Western University and a published author. on this subject.

      His point as a strong Christian was that the situation with Israel is not a religous issue at all but a Geopolitical issue.

      I buy that.

        GH
        Jan 18, 2018 18:44 PM

        Tens of millions of Christians have been duped by bogus pastors like Hagee into believing that they must adore Israel in order to enjoy God’s favor.

        Hagee and his ilk are most likely either on the Zionist payroll, or have themselves been duped by those who are.

        So for believers it is a religious issue. But yes, big picture, they are pawns in a geopolitical struggle.

          Jan 19, 2018 19:37 AM

          I would have to agree with you….some of the Mega Preachers will have a lot of explaining to do……

        b
        Jan 18, 2018 18:46 PM

        I understand that you “buy it” Al

        And so will millions of christians, the support for zionist Israel will continue.