Syria Ceasefire: Who is Interested in Upsetting the Deal?

To resolve the Syrian conflict, Washington should persuade Ankara and Riyadh to call of their “dogs” and halt their support to Islamic extremists in the region, US author Stephen Lendman stresses, commenting on the US-Russia ‘cessation of hostility’ agreement.

Failure to impose punitive measures on state-sponsors of terrorism, following Daesh’s Sunday attacks in Damascus and Homs, undermines the US-Russian announced cessation of hostilities terms on the eve of their implementation, US author and syndicated columnist Stephen Lendman underscores.

“Moscow and Washington will work with pro-Western UN envoy to Syria Steffan de Mistura, a US-appointed stooge, aiming to assure all parties abide by ceasefire terms. So far, no meaningful mechanism was established to mediate reported violations, no enforcement procedure, nothing to hold violators accountable,” Lendman writes in his article for Global Research, as reported by the Sputnik.

The columnist expresses his deep concerns over Ankara and Riyadh’s support to Islamic extremists in the region, referring to the fact that the US, Britain and France have not raised a finger to bring the controversial and destructive collaboration to an end.

He suggests that the upcoming ‘cessation of hostility’ will be used by Washington and NATO as a stick to beat Moscow and Damascus with.

“Obama’s war on Syria continues, its objective unchanged — destroying Syrian sovereignty, replacing it with another US vassal state,” the US author notes.

“Realpolitik has no Hollywood endings,” Lendman remarks, “Expect no meaningful change for the better on the ground ahead.”

In an exclusive interview with Radio Sputnik Larry Johnson, retired CIA intelligence officer and State Department official echoed Lendman’s concerns.

“The Syrian army with the backing of Russia and Iran is operating very effectively and retaking significant swats of territory from the terrorists and pushing them towards Turkey. I don’t see why Syria would go for the ceasefire now when the situation is working out to their advantage,” the CIA veteran underscored.

On February 22 the United States and Russia reached a compromise on the Syrian ceasefire starting on February 27.

However, in accordance with the deal, military actions conducted by Syria, Russia and the US-led coalition will continue against Daesh, al-Nusra Front, and other UN-designated terrorist groups.

According to international relations scholar Pami Aalto the agreement is a “diplomatic victory for both sides.”

The breakthrough deal is a “very positive development” and a sign showing that Washington and Moscow can ultimately come to agreement, Aalto told Radio Sputnik.

According to the academic, the best way to implement the ‘cessation of hostility’ agreement would be “to have UN-approved troops to be on the ground in Syria in order to collect information, oversee the implementation of the agreement and confirm that things actually go as the agreement stipulates.”

In light of the ceasefire deal it is possible that the Geneva peace talks scheduled to resume on February 25 would be postponed until early March.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced yesterday that a coordination center was established at Hmaimim base in Lattakia countryside for the purpose of monitoring the cessation of combat activities and humanitarian aid distribution in Syria.

Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that the center was opened as per the Russian-American agreement on the cessation of combat activities of Syria, noting that the center has already begun its work.

Konashenkov added that its goals also include helping establish dialogue between representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition, with the exception of ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other groups labeled by the Security Council as terrorist organizations.

He also said that opposition forces that are committed to the cessation of combat activities can contact the center around the clock via phone, and that assistance will be provided to those who approach the center to coordinate contact with the Syrian authorities.