A leading financier of U.S. presidential libraries and other nonprofit organizations, cheap Saudi Arabia petrodollars fuel the current civil war in Syria, where the Royal family’s Sunni-Wahhabi Islamic brand attempts eclipse all others. Warning of “dangerous consequences” to Russian intervention to save Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Saudi government put its propaganda message on full display. “The Russian intervention in Syria will engage them in a sectarian war,” said an unnamed Saudi government source, “warns of dangerous consequences of Russian intervention.” Saudi’s extreme Wahhabi Islamic brand is the primary source of sectarian war against al-Assad’s minority Alawite Shiite population. Russia’s intervention aims at exactly the opposite of sectarian war: It attempts to stop a well-funded Saudi insurgency to topple al-Assad’s Shiite government.
Russia’s involvement in Syria irks Saudi Arabia because of its longstanding funding of Wahhabi terror groups hoping to replace al-Assad’s Shiite regime with a radical Sunni regime. “The Saudis will continue strengthening and supporting the moderate opposition in Syria,” said Defense Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Russia’s Black Sea port of Sochi. Syria’s Human Rights Watch estimates that over 250,000 deaths have occurred since the insurgency began March 11, 2011 during the Arab Spring. When Saudi officials talk of backing “moderate opposition” they’re talking about any Wahhabi groups, including al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra Front or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS] determined to topple al-Assad.
Pushing for the unenforceable Geneva II Commiqué Jan. 22, 2014, the Saudis received U.S. backing for toppling al-Assad. Without Damascus or Russian backing the Geneva II Commuiqué demanded that al-Assad must leave any new Syrian government. Claiming the Geneva II Commiqué provided a formula for ending the Syrian civil war, it actually did exactly the opposite: Guaranteed the death toll and refugee crisis would continue. Saudi officials want to topple al-Assad’s Shiite regime, in part to weaken Iran’s influence in the region. Backed by Iran’s Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia, al-Assad managed for nearly five years to stave off the Saudi-backed Wahhabi onslaught on Damascus. Deciding to defend al-Assad Sept. 30 with air and ground support, Putin threw a monkey wrench into U.S. and Saudi plans to implement the Geneva II Comminque to end al-Assad’s rule.
Saudi Arabia, not Syria, started the sectarian war to topple al-Assad’s Shiite government. Funding various Wahhabi groups, the Riyadh hopes to eventually get rid of al-Assad’s Shiite government, prompting Iran to help rescues its fellow Shiite regime. Russia’s involvement negates the Geneva II Comminqué, requiring al-Assad’s removal for a comprehensive peace plan to end the civil war. Putin’s involvement puts the U.S. and Saudi Arabia on notice that they can’t insist on regime change in Damascus. Saudi officials complained that Putin’s targeting rebel groups other than ISIS, signaling Moscow’s intent to saving al-Assad. “The recent escalation will contribute in attracting extremists and jihadists to the war in Syria,” said an unnamed Saudi source, justifying the Kingdom’s policy of regime change in Damascus. Warning Russia about spreading jihad exposes Riyadh’s real motives.
Syria’s civil has caused the largest exodus of refugees since WWII, putting an enormous economic burden on Turkey, Europe and a host of other Mideast countries. Ending the Syrian civil war should be the U.N.’s highest priority, not insisting of whether al-Assad goes or stays. Now that Russia’s committed to defending al-Assad, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia need to urgently re-think their Damscus regime change policy. Putin’s approach to weaken various Saudi-backed Sunni terror groups and eventually go after ISIS is the only option. Putin told the U.N. General Assembly Sept. 28 that Moscow won’t let Damascus follow disasters in Baghdad and Tripoli, where toppling dictators opened floodgates of terrorism in the region. Washington and Riyadh have no answer for what happens if they get rid of al-Assad. Recent history proves that only anarchy and chaos follows regime change.
U.S. and Saudi officials need to urgently rethink their Syria policy of regime change in Damascus. Now that Russia’s got a dog in the fight, the fastest way to end the Syrian civil war is to beat back various rebel groups and eventually deal with ISIS. Washington’s current air campaign against ISIS has done little to drive ISIS into retreat. Putin’s approach of shoring up Damascus then dealing with ISIS promises, with international backing, to end the Syrian civil war and mass exodus from the region. Today’s refugee crisis isn’t sustainable for the Mideast or Europe, making a new plan to end the war the highest priority. U.S. and Saudi demands to enforce the 2014 Geneva II Comminiqué is no longer viable. All efforts by Washington and Riyadh must coordinate with Russia to end the civil war and stop refugee crisis now threatening the European and global economy.
