https://socialistaction.org/2017/02/01/eva-bartlett-speaks-on-syria/
Eva Bartlett speaks on Syria
/ 2 days ago
jan-2017-bartlett-jeffBy JEFF MACKLER
At meetings initiated by the newly formed Hands Off Syria Coalition
(HOSC), independent Canadian journalist Eva Bartlett reported on her
several trips to Syria, including most recently to Aleppo in late
November. Bartlett toured the U.S. in mid-December addressing packed
meetings in New York City and other East Coast venues as well as
standing-room-only public forums in Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
More than 600 activists attended her meetings, which included lengthy
question and answer periods. Her slide show and video presentation
debunked the U.S. corporate media’s characterization of the events in
Syria as a civil war between democratic-minded Syrian “rebels” and the
government of President Bashar Assad. Instead, Bartlett, while noting
the legitimacy of the early mass protests for democracy in 2011,
asserted that this brief movement had long ago given way to a
U.S.-backed, NATO and Gulf State Arab monarchy abetted imperialist and
terrorist war aimed at “regime change” in Syria.
Based on two key points of unity, “No U.S. Intervention in Syria!” and
Self-determination for Syria!” the Hands Off Syria Coalition was formed
last year at the initiative of the United National Antiwar Coalition
(UNAC) and the U.S. Peace Council.
Security and transportation for Bartlett’s most recent visit to Aleppo
was provided by the Syrian government and included interviews with
President Assad. Bartlett was joined on this tour by journalists from
several countries, including the New York Times Bureau Chief based in
Lebanon, Anne Barnard. Bartlett traveled on the same bus with Barnard,
and both noted the massive destruction in Western Aleppo wrought by
so-called rebels based in Eastern Aleppo and backed by the U.S.
While Barnard’s reportage over the past years has frequently called
attention to the fact that the main fighting forces in Syria seeking the
Assad government’s removal are trained, financed, and abetted by the
U.S. and its sponsored “coalition” allies, The Times coverage most often
relegates this defining information to brief references buried beneath
the official CIA assertions that the Syrian government is guilty of war
crimes.
See Socialist Action, November 2016, for Barnard’s and other Times
reports on the central role of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front and
its essential domination of the fighting forces in Eastern Aleppo. For
example, the Aug. 25, 2016, New York Times reported, “The jihadists’
prominent role in the Aleppo offensive showed that they remain
militarily indispensable to the wider rebel movement and increased their
popularity at a time when many Syrians [unnamed] criticize the United
States for not doing more to protect Syrian civilians.”
And further from the July 14, 2016, Times, “The Nusra Front has been one
of the most effective anti-Assad forces and because of that United
States-backed rebel groups often coordinate their activities with its
units.”
Bartlett’s interviews and live footage demonstrate major support to the
Syrian government, a fact confirmed by the independent ORB polling
agency, which found in May 2014 that the Syrian government and President
Assad had more support among the Syrian people than the combined total
of all its opposition.
To date, more than 2000 organizations and individuals around the world
have signed the HOSC petition demanding U.S. Out Now! and Syrian
self-determination (see UNACpeace.org).
Bartlett’s tour was especially well received in Oakland and San
Francisco, where over $3000 was raised to help defray her travel
expenses. The Bay Area tour was also sponsored by UNAC and the Syria
Solidarity Committee. This writer, representing UNAC, opened the
meetings in Oakland and San Francisco to explain the basic political
principles that form the basis of the HOSC.
Photo by Roger Harris: Bartlett’s forum in Oakland (from left): Paul
Larudee, Syria Solidarity Coalition; Eva Bartlett; Jeff Macker, UNAC;
Rick Sterling, Veterans for Peace.
Share this:
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
2Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)2
Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
February 1, 2017 in Anti-War, Middle East.
Related posts
U.S. imperialism’s Syria strategy
Threat Rises of New Middle East War
U.S. Hands Off Syria!
Post navigation
← How to fight Trump? Defeating Democratic Party strategy is key
Mariela Castro and Cuba’s LGBT revolution →
Get Involved!
Donate to help support our work
Get email updates
Join Socialist Action
Newspaper Archives
Newspaper Archives Select Month February 2017 (3) January 2017 (13)
December 2016 (12) November 2016 (19) October 2016 (12) September
2016 (10) August 2016 (10) July 2016 (14) June 2016 (14) May 2016
(9) April 2016 (12) March 2016 (14) February 2016 (8) January 2016
(11) December 2015 (11) November 2015 (9) October 2015 (8) September
2015 (10) August 2015 (7) July 2015 (13) June 2015 (9) May 2015
(10) April 2015 (12) March 2015 (9) February 2015 (11) January 2015
(10) December 2014 (12) November 2014 (11) October 2014 (9) September
2014 (6) August 2014 (10) July 2014 (11) June 2014 (10) May 2014
(11) April 2014 (10) March 2014 (9) February 2014 (11) January 2014
(11) December 2013 (10) November 2013 (11) October 2013 (17)
September 2013 (13) August 2013 (10) July 2013 (11) June 2013 (15)
May 2013 (14) April 2013 (14) March 2013 (12) February 2013 (10)
January 2013 (17) December 2012 (7) November 2012 (8) October 2012
(19) September 2012 (2) August 2012 (27) July 2012 (18) June 2012
(3) May 2012 (19) April 2012 (14) March 2012 (17) February 2012 (19)
January 2012 (17) December 2011 (3) November 2011 (33) October 2011
(14) September 2011 (13) August 2011 (34) July 2011 (24) June 2011
(19) May 2011 (19) April 2011 (15) March 2011 (15) February 2011
(16) January 2011 (15) December 2010 (17) November 2010 (1) October
2010 (6) September 2010 (3) August 2010 (8) July 2010 (7) June 2010
(2) May 2010 (9) April 2010 (3) March 2010 (8) February 2010 (3)
January 2010 (9) December 2009 (6) November 2009 (5) October 2009
(16) September 2009 (3) August 2009 (2) July 2009 (5) June 2009 (2)
May 2009 (7) April 2009 (6) March 2009 (16) February 2009 (9)
January 2009 (10) December 2008 (11) November 2008 (8) October 2008
(16) September 2008 (14) August 2008 (18) July 2008 (12) June 2008
(3) May 2008 (2) April 2008 (3) March 2008 (14) February 2008 (11)
January 2008 (11) December 2007 (8) November 2007 (1) July 2007 (1)
June 2007 (1) April 2007 (1) March 2007 (1) February 2007 (3)
December 2006 (11) November 2006 (11) October 2006 (13) September
2006 (15) August 2006 (11) July 2006 (18) June 2006 (7) May 2006
(14) April 2006 (6) March 2006 (14) February 2006 (5) January 2006
(2) December 2005 (9) November 2005 (8) October 2005 (13) September
2005 (12) August 2005 (9) July 2005 (16) June 2005 (16) May 2005
(16) April 2005 (12) March 2005 (14) February 2005 (19) January 2005
(15) December 2004 (14) November 2002 (17) October 2002 (19)
September 2002 (22) August 2002 (21) July 2002 (15) May 2002 (21)
April 2002 (21) February 2002 (15) January 2002 (15) December 2001
(17) October 2001 (24) September 2001 (18) July 2001 (19) June 2001
(18) October 2000 (17) September 2000 (21) August 2000 (19) July 2000
(16) June 2000 (26) May 2000 (21) April 2000 (22) March 2000 (28)
February 2000 (18) January 2000 (20) December 1999 (20) November
1999 (26) October 1999 (25) September 1999 (18) August 1999 (40) July
1999 (38) June 1999 (24) May 1999 (27) April 1999 (25) March 1999
(26) February 1999 (29) January 1999 (24) July 1998 (12)
Search
View socialistactionusa’s profile on Facebook
View SocialistActUS’s profile on Twitter
View SocialistActionCT’s profile on YouTube
Subscribe to Our Newspaper
Upcoming Events
No upcoming events
Category Cloud
Actions & Protest Africa Anti-War Arts & Culture Black Liberation Canada
Caribbean Civil Liberties Cuba East Asia Economy Education & Schools
Elections Environment Europe Immigration Indigenous Rights International
Labor Latin America Latino Civil Liberties Marxist Theory & History
Middle East National Oppression Police & FBI Prisons South Asia
Uncategorized Vote Socialist Action Women's Liberation
View Calendar
Blog at WordPress.com.