US-led attack on Syria was done out of desperation: Academic  

The recent US-led strike on Syria was done out of desperation as the American position continues to deteriorate, says Dennis Etler, an American political analyst who has a decades-long interest in international affairs.

Etler, a former professor of Anthropology at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, made the comments in an interview with Press TV on Saturday, hours after the armed forces of the US, Britain and France launched a barrage of cruise missiles on three different targets in Syria.

Trump declared "mission accomplished" in Saturday morning’s strike and argued that it "could not have had a better result."

"A perfectly executed strike last night," Trump tweeted Saturday. "Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!"

PressTV-Trump says 'mission accomplished' in Syria

President Donald Trump has praised Western strikes on Syria, saying "mission accomplished."

Etler called the attack on the Syrian government an act of desperation, and said that “there was no recourse other than this futile, last ditch attempt to declare victory in the face of defeat.”  

“As the fall of Eastern Ghouta and Douma show the terrorists are on the run and the Syrian Arab Republic is mopping up after their defeat. While the fight is not yet over the insurrectionists funded, trained and supported by a coalition of the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel has been vanquished over much of its territory, forcing their retreat to Idlib and Afrin in the northwest on the Turkish border,” the professor added.

“The Western media continues with is deceptive coverage of the Syrian insurrection, promoting the idea that the ‘rebels’ are a ‘moderate opposition to the dictatorial Assad regime.’ This is the big lie that they have pushed from the get-go which turns reality on its head. There is no moderate opposition. The militants in Eastern Ghouta are Takfiri terrorists, commonly referred to by a variety of names such as IS, Al-Qaeda, Al Nusra. They are all in the pay and serve the interests of US, Saudi and Israeli imperialism,” he stated.

“These cut-throat terrorists are known for their disregard of human life. They have enslaved thousands of civilians for use as human shields during battle and have no qualms in gassing them if it can serve their purpose,” the scholar said.

“The US and its allies desperate to stem the tide and reverse the verdict of history have pulled out or stops in trying to turn black into white and white into black. The democratically elected secular government of Bashar al-Assad with the help of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah has preserved Syrian sovereignty and turned back the onslaught of terrorism within its borders. Rather than being praised and supported as heroes they are disparaged and demonized as beasts and monsters,” he noted.

‘Syria had no reason to conduct chemical attack’

“As many have said the Syrian government had no reason to conduct chemical warfare against Douma. The population of the enclave consisted of the terrorists, their families and supporters, as well as civilians held captive. The only way to dislodge them was through combat and the Syrian Arab Army and its allies had accomplished that. So why launch a chemical attack,” the academic asked.

“The only ones to gain are the rebels themselves, setting up a pretext for the West to intervene. Although accusations have been leveled against the Syria government as the culprits, no evidence has been forthcoming. Whatever evidence is said to be had is classified and cannot be released. On the ground investigations have not yet been held, yet Washington, London and Paris insist they have all the necessary evidence to launch an attack. After all their previous lies and deceptions what shred of credibility do their pronouncements still have?” he further asked.

“The attack against Syria will have no real affect or impact. It is a puerile attempt at bullying and intimidation and served no purpose except for Trump to declare ‘Mission Accomplished.’ Once all the hoopla recedes and the Syrian Arab Army succeeds in regaining control of their country the US and its allies will continue to try by whatever means possible to sow dissent and destabilize the Syrian Arab Republic. It will continue to attempt to destabilize Iran, Russia and whatever other countries stand in its way. But the heroic Syrian people have shown that all their efforts will come to naught,” the scholar concluded.

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