The Cold War and the disintegration of Yugoslavia witnessed murky dealings by political elites in Washington and London respectively. Afghanistan became a rallying point for creating and molding not only Sunni Islamic terrorism but also spreading dangerous Islamist doctrines. This all happened throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The upshot of all this culminated with major international Islamist terrorist networks, the Taliban and “Islamist year zero,” growing hatred towards the Shia and non-Muslims, enforcing women into the shadows and September 11 highlighted this reality internationally. Issues related to the gradual erosion of mainstream Islam in Pakistan and women being forced into the shadows in both Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan, did not concern the Western elites. Also, terrorism which engulfed India from time to time was brushed under the carpet and was deemed to have been “collateral damage.” The same Islamist networks were then supported in Bosnia by political elites in Washington and London. All of this was music to the ears of Saudi Arabia and other draconian nations which support institutional religious discrimination. September 11 linked the policies of Afghanistan and Bosnia together because the majority of people involved in this crime against humanity had served in Bosnia. Also, the vast majority of individuals involved were Saudi nationals and clearly you had a major Afghanistan and Bosnia angle. However, it was hoped that after September 11 that the United States would have learnt from past errors. This applies to supporting Islamic terrorism for geopolitical gains. Of course, for Saudi Arabia, the issue was much bigger because this nation desires to Islamize both non-Muslims and Muslims deemed to be infidels because of their moderation. The Libyan crisis was the real “re-opening” of the “Washington-London-Riyadh axis” in the post September 11 world. Qatar and France also entered the fray. This new phase is now destabilizing secular Syria and currently Turkey is now in this axis of “outside meddling” and spreading chaos. However, a brief look at some of the Islamist terrorist networks in Syria clearly highlights the reality that major Western powers are in cohorts with terrorism, indoctrination, sectarianism and media lies – and clearly the “Arab Spring” is just a cover up. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is supported by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar openly. Meanwhile the United States, the United Kingdom and France are doing many things behind the scenes. On top of this is a media war within major media agencies in the Sunni Islamic dominated world of the Middle East and North Africa. Similarly, many major Western media agencies are spreading rhetoric against the government of Syria. Therefore, while the Cold War may be dead, it is clear that the propaganda war is alive and kicking. Currently it is known that you have many terrorist organizations in Syria which are being backed by many different forces. A partial list of these organizations include the FSA, Al Nusrah Front (supported by al-Qaeda), Tawheed Brigade, Free Sham, al Farouq Brigade, the Military Council, Open Battalion, Liwa al-Islam, Liwa al-Tawhid and several others. It is also more than likely that Abdullah Azzam Brigades and al-Qaeda in Iraq are also heavily involved and the same applies to Islamist networks in Libya. On top of this, you have international Sunni Islamists who have gone to Syria in order to persecute and kill Alawites, the Shia, Christians and Sunni Muslims who are loyal to the government. This fact clearly highlights the Sunni Islamist and Salafist angle which is extremely sectarian in nature. It also highlights the fact that the so-called opposition is basically a mish-mash of various Sunni Islamist terrorist organizations which are supported by outside nations. Alongside this are covert operatives who are loyal to their respective orders in Washington, London and Paris. The notion that the conflict against the Syrian government is based on “a revolution” is clearly false. After all, the reality on the ground is that various Islamist terrorist organizations desire to implement Sharia Islamic law and to create a sectarian state. These movements are being funded by outside nations and through charities which are funneling funds. The majority of the Syrian armed forces follow the Sunni faith and clearly the military of Syria is multi religious. Therefore, the sectarian angle doesn’t belong to the Syrian government. On the contrary, the Syrian government took in over one million refugees from Iraq and Palestine and clearly the biggest number were Sunni Muslims. This makes a mockery of using the “Alawite angle” in order to spread hatred and sectarianism against the government of Syria. After all, Syria welcomed Sunni Muslim refugees, Christian refugees, Shia refugees and refugees from other faiths and people who had no faith. The FSA and various Islamist terrorist organizations have openly beheaded people, tortured people, killed journalists, done car bombings and other ghastly things in order to spread fear and carnage. While this is happening leading Western nations and Sunni Islamic dominated nations in the Middle East have enforced an economic blockade. Likewise, various Syrian media agencies are being prevented from spreading their version of events. Also, killing journalists and TV reporters is a way of life for the FSA and various Islamist organizations. It appears that “all morality” is being “thrown out of the window” when it comes to Syria. This can be seen by the blind hatred of the FSA and various Islamist terrorist networks. In recent days some Christians have been tortured to death, Alawites have been beheaded, journalists have been attacked and countless terrorist attacks have happened. This is being done in the name of “democracy” to elites in Washington, London and Paris. While in Saudi Arabia and Qatar this is being done in the name of “Islamic jihad.” In Turkey, it is being done in the name of “opportunism” under the current leader of this nation. The Syrian armed forces need to focus especially on destroying the terrorist networks of the FSA, Al Nusrah Front, al Farouq Brigade, Liwa al-Tawhid and all major terrorist organizations. If these can be dismantled or reduced one by one, then other smaller terrorist organizations can be crushed at a later date. In order for this to happen the border areas also need to be controlled in order to surround “the Islamist and terrorist cancer,” which seeks to destroy the independence of Syria. leejay@moderntokyotimes.com http://moderntokyotimes.com