Henry Kissinger to Der Spiegel: US Stance on Crisis in Syria Was Wrong

BERLIN, (ST)-Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger believes that the world is now experiencing a state of chaos more than ever before, because of wars, crises and the spread of weapons of mass destruction and cross-border terrorism, urging Washington to adopt an effective foreign policy

 In an interview with the German “Der Spiegel” Magazine published on Saturday, Kissinger said Washington was wrong in its stance towards the crisis in Syria, stressing that the United States should have had dialogue with Russia before forming its strategy which depended on unreliable partners.

 He clarified that the US stance towards the Syrian leadership was wrong from the very beginning because such a stance has made the US lose the ability to cooperate with the Syrian state in fighting Daesh terrorist organization and led to an American conflict with Russia that made a deal regarding the Iranian nuclear program becomes more difficult.

Kissinger pointed out that fixing problems in Syria and solving the crisis through military intervention means military procedures and confrontation and this will lead to a state similar to that of Libya where there are many ungoverned territories and militias fighting each other in addition to opened arms stores.

He pointed out that what prevents the United States from cooperating with the Syrian government is that this cooperation “would be a denial of years of what the US has done and asserted.”

He said that Russia is an important part of the international system and it helps find solutions to all types of crises, stressing that America should not impose its dictates on the world and should not even think it could do that.

He affirmed that the United States can become a super power not only through possessing power, but through enjoying enough wisdom and farsightedness.

Hamda Mustafa