by Stephen Lendman

Syrians genuinely want peace. Washington wants regime change. SNC stooges represent US interests.

In January, talks convened in Geneva. Round one failed. So did round two. On February 14, UN/Arab League Syrian envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said:

"Failure is always staring us in the face. As far as the United Nations is concerned, we will certainly not leave one stone unturned if there is a possibility to move forward."

How can there be when Syrians have no legitimate peace partner? Opposition delegates want transitional government discussed.

Demanding Assad must go deadlocks talks. Syrians alone will decide who'll lead them. On Friday, opposition negotiator Ahmad Jakal said:

"Brahimi told us the talks will continue and there will be a third round, but he did not set a date." Current talks may extend into Saturday.

They're deadlocked. They're more pretense than real. On February 14, AFP headlined "Decisive day for deadlocked Syria peace talks," saying:

Talks are "faltering." Both sides are "under pressure to agree on an agenda to save the deadlocked Geneva talks from collapse."

An unnamed Western diplomat said final round two talks are "a big test for whether this process will move forward or not."

"We are in a dead-end, and I don't know if we will get out or not." Prospects look "grim." Both sides need to agree on what's separating them so far.

"If (they) can't get an agreement on an agenda, I don't know how Brahimi will uphold a round three."

On February 12, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov in Geneva.

He stressed Syria's commitment to dialogue on ending violence and terrorism.

"(W)e are still committed to the political track according to Geneva 1 communique (provisions) and will continue to attend the next round when agreement is made with us on its deadline."

He said Russia agreed on the need to follow Geneva 1 provisions. Especially ending violence and terrorism.

Gatilov praised Syrian efforts to "unblock the humanitarian situation in Homs."

"The Syrian government has made concrete and tangible efforts which helped improve the situation in some of Syria's regions, above all, in Homs," he stressed.

"Quite an effort has been made recently to ensure humanitarian aid deliveries to Homs, and everybody agrees that Russia has played a very important, even if not decisive, role in ensuring progress by authorizing the humanitarian operation in question," he added

"The President of the International Red Cross has spoken highly of the joint efforts of Damascus and Moscow to settle the situation around Homs."

On February 14, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concern about pretexts used to foil political dialogue.

"There are attempts to foil the international conference on Syria, Geneva 2, under various pretexts, including the politicization of the humanitarian issue," he said.

Declarations of possible force "slam the door in the face" of peace, he stressed.

"We have been witnessing systemic attempts" to make conflict resolution impossible.

"(W)e grow alarmed (when US and French presidents) say...the affair may go beyond negotiations." There's no ambiguity about what they mean.

"When the Russian-American initiative was announced, it was said clearly that these negotiations should not have any artificially set time parameters, or any artificial deadlines."

"It is being said today that any further talks are pointless because the (Syrian) government does not want to agree on the composition of a transitional ruling body."

"We are going in circles. I have already explained why such an approach can hardly be called logical and constructive."

Lavrov was more blunt than usual. He accused Washington of focusing solely on "regime change." Syrian delegates want all Geneva I communique provisions discussed.

Ending violence and terrorism comes first. It matters most. Since talks began in January, thousands of Syrians were killed. Many others were injured. Others were displaced.

Top priority is ending mass slaughter and destruction. Everything else is secondary.

On Thursday, Brahimi held closed-door talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.

"Russia and the USA promised here and in the capitals to help forward the process, in which there is little progress," said Brahimi.

He didn't explain what he meant. Russia has gone all-out for peaceful conflict resolution. Washington obstructionism prevents it.

Peace talks are fake. Obama's sole objective is regime change. Assad must go is official US policy.

It's been so throughout three years of conflict. Everything else is pretense. Perhaps Obama plans Libya 2.0. When is anyone's guess.

Pretexts are easy to invent. A previous article said direct US intervention is a major false flag incident away. It's an often repeated Washington way to start wars. Or escalate them.

Washington Post editors are hardline. Assad must go, they demand. They're mindless of Syrian suffering. They're encouraged by "Obama's new tone..."

Is he "creeping toward a rethinking of his Syria policy," they asked? He acknowledged policies so far failed.

WaPo editors consistently point fingers the wrong way. They ignore Obama's war. They turn a blind eye to imperial lawlessness.

They wrongfully accuse Assad of US-supported death squad crimes of war and against humanity. They support direct US intervention.

It "could help open humanitarian corridors and stop atrocities," they claim. They lied claiming Assad commits them. They ignore hard evidence proving otherwise.

Obama "has options on Syria," they say. "He should use them." WaPo editors believe ending wars depend on escalating them.

Washington "must reconsider its failed Syrian policy...With or without UN action, it is time for the Obama administration (to) check the regime's crimes and the growing threat of al-Qaeda."

Obama bears full responsibility for three years of conflict. Al-Qaeda and likeminded groups comprise US proxy forces. They're key US allies.

Washington supplies funding, weapons, training and direction. CIA and special forces operatives are involved. The only thing American mercenaries lack is air power.

In less than so many words, WaPo editors suggest supplying it. So do other US hardliners. All-out war is the final solution. Obama planned it all along.

He's waging so many direct and proxy ones it's hard keeping count. Special forces killers operate in over 120 countries. They're not good will ambassadors.

CIA agents operate everywhere. All independent governments are targeted. Regime change is longstanding US policy.

Democracy is a four-letter word. Unchallenged US dominance matters most. So is making the world safe for war profiteers.

Monied interests make policy. Neocons infest Washington. Wars rage without end. Victims are blamed for perpetrator crimes.

Millions suffer horrifically. One country after another is ravaged and destroyed. Previous articles explained. Syria is in the eye of the storm. Iran's turn awaits.

Washington wants client states replacing independent governments. Its Middle East agenda wants control over MENA (Middle/East) countries and Central Asia to Russia and China's borders.

It wants their regional influence marginalized or eliminated. It wants unchallenged global dominance. It's willing to risk WW III to get it.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs Fridays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour