'Syria truce US psychological operation tactic'

In this episode of 'The Debate,' Press TV has interviewed Scott Bennett, a military expert and former US army psychological warfare officer from San Francisco, and Michael Lane, the founder of American Institute for Foreign Policy from Washington, to examine the reasons why the Syria ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia is widely perceived as having failed.

Scott Bennett is of the opinion that “there is no ceasefire; there never was and there never will be.” He rather believes that the United States has invested in this psychological operation called the ‘ceasefire.’ 

Bennet pointed out that the US-led airstrike that killed scores of Syrian soldiers was certainly no accident; rather, it served the military and the intelligence apparatus. He added that President Barack Obama, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and the US military commanders were in fact seeking to goad the Russian forces into a countermeasure.

“The US attack on the Ministry of Defense broadcast from Aleppo doesn't happen from guys hiding in caves firing mortars,” but with satellite reconnaissance technology and coordinated NSA/CIA listening, he said.

 “If you're arguing this in the UN Criminal Court, you simply could say the United States is engaged in targeting operations and the Russian intelligence forces will provide the appropriate electronic surveillance that will prove that the United States was engaged in chatter and conversations and targeting that resulted in the murder of 80 Syrian military personnel in order to roll back the Assad military that was attempting to cleanse the country of foreign invaders,” Bennet argued.

The expert believes that the Americans are on a wild reckless crusade that is going to lead them to war, calling for measures to have a new election of peacekeepers and fire a lot of military commanders.

 Finally, he hoped that the Russian, Iranian, Chinese forces and the European countries would recognize that the United States has been “recklessly and foolishly” engaged in a destabilization campaign in the interest of Saudi Arabia and Israel for oil as well as for the [so-called] "Greater Israel project."

 Also speaking on Press TV’s program ‘The Debate,’ Michael Lane predicted that Syria’s “problematic” ceasefire truce would not last, as there were repeated violations by both sides.

Lane thinks that there will be efforts to resurrect the ceasefire.“It may even be resurrected for another staggering, stumbling couple of days … but I don't hold any hope that this is going to be a successful ceasefire.”

Questioned about the US-led deadly airstrike targeting Syrian army troops, he acknowledged that it was a very serious incident, yet added, “I can't defend against that environment, because we don't have the facts yet.”

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