US Fails to Recognize New Reality in Middle East




The United States is looking at whether Russia has violated a UN Security Council resolution on military dealings with Tehran by using an Iranian air base to carry out strikes inside Syria, the State Department said on August 17.
The Resolution 2231 governs some military interactions between Iran and other countries, including the supply, sale or transfer of military technologies or the provision of training or financial assistance related to the acquisition of new technologies.
«As I understand it, it’s not just supplying the Iranians certain weapons or certain offensive weaponry. It’s more complex than that», State Department spokesman Mark Toner said at a news briefing. «Our lawyers are looking at it».
Russian officials have rejected US criticisms that its use of the base could be in breach of the UN Security Council resolution. «There are no grounds to suspect Russia of breaching the resolution», Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference in Moscow.

It should be noted that Russian aircraft are flying out of Iran as a part of anti-terrorist operation. No aircraft or supplies have been transferred to Tehran. Neither Russia, nor Iran has ever mentioned the transfer of combat planes. The operation is carried out with the consent of Iranian, Iraqi and Syrian governments. All Russia’s military activities are conducted upon the request of Syria’s government, while American intervention in the conflict is illegal in terms of international law.

Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have actually been systematically violated throughout the nearly six years of this conflict by the US-led coalition pouring weapons, funds, troops and assistance into undermining a UN member state. The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad is viewed by the United Nations as the only legitimate government in Syria.

None of three conditions that would allow the President to use military force in Syria is present at this time. First, Congress has not declared war. Second, the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) does not provide a legal basis for an attack on Syria. Third, there has been no attack on the United States or its military. Thus, the military operations in Syria violate the WPR.

It should be noted that the US military operations in Libya, including air strikes launched since early August, are also illegal.

The 1973 War Powers Resolution restrains the administration’s ability to independently wage war.
It requires that the «President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities». It says «in every possible instance», which includes sending US military personnel to bomb targets in a foreign country, be it Libya, Syria, or any other state.

The success of the coalition to include Russia and Iran is a given fact. The use of the Iranian base comes on the heels of Mr Putin’s recent détente with Turkey and amid Russian-American talks on cooperating more in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria.
A new development has just taken place to greatly influence the situation in Syria. In the run-up to the major G20 meeting to be held on September 4-5 in Hangzhou, China has made a major public announcement about its role in the Syrian conflict.

China’s military will significantly increase its role in the Syrian conflict by upgrading the role of special advisers and adding military trainers for the Syrian personnel and increasing their numbers. China will also begin to directly supply the Syrian Arab Army with arms and equipment, while increasing humanitarian assistance. China has several legal and philosophical pretexts to enter into the fray. It has been invited by the Syrian government, and is assisting in an anti-terrorism action resulting from Chinese Uyghurs fighting on the side of IS. 

The recent announcement is a real breakthrough in China’s strategies in the Middle East. There will be more coordination with Russia. China and Russia are prominent members of what is called the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Iran is to become a member. That’s 17 countries in all that are either prominent members, or partners, which also include Turkey, Iran, India, Pakistan and countries in Central Asia.

All these recent developments have greatly limited American options.