Assad has upper hand in talks with militants

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mark Dankof, political commentator, San Antonio, about the Syrian government agreeing to take part in an international conference in Geneva with the United States and Russia.

The following is an approximate transcript of the interview.

Press TV: Suppose there is regime change in Syria and the Syrian National Coalition or the opposition in general comes to power, just how much do you think regime would work – because the only thing we’ve seen from the opposition is acts of terrorism?

Dankof: That’s exactly right. I think George Galloway put it well and that is that the people who committed this murderous atrocity in London a day or two ago are the same ilk as the types of people that the United States and the West and Israel are supporting in Syria.

It’s a preposterous situation that we’re engaged in there and it will have tragic consequences.

Press TV: How likely can Assad’s administration be changed considering both the army and the majority of the people in Syria are resisting powerfully against the insurgence?

Dankof: That’s exactly right.

There was a report in the German Der Spiegel publication just in the last day or two indicating that German intelligence believes that Assad and his forces are once again gaining the upper hand against the rebels. So it’s absolutely ridiculous that these rebels on the other hand are insisting that he step down when in fact the government has the upper hand in this situation now.

Press TV: How optimistic are you about the upcoming talks about the crisis in Syria, in Geneva?

Dankof: I’m not super optimistic because again I think it’s clear that American policy towards Syria is driven by Israel. And Israel wants Assad out as a prelude to an American and Israeli action against the Iran militarily.

So assuming that Israel’s position holds sway with the American government it’s very difficult to see how these talks will actually succeed.

Press TV: Speaking of Israel, how much do you think Israel will actually physically become involved in Syria?

Dankof: I don’t know how much they will become involved physically. It’s clear that they’re using surrogates in this present situation in Syria. So I think whether or not they become involved physically is something that we’ll have to just sit back and watch.

But I think it’s important that your viewers understand exactly what’s going on here: I was on the Press TV network some days ago debating a guy who lives in Boston here in the United States by the name of John Hajjar who of course supports the notion of regime change in Syria – he heads up something called the World Council for the Cedars Revolution in Lebanon.

And it’s noteworthy that the term ‘cedar revolution’ as it pertains to Lebanon goes back to US Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky who is tied up with the Israeli organization known as the Project of the New American Century that in 1996 presented this ‘Clean Break’ document that told us five years before 9/11 how American military and political and economic power was going to be used to promote Zionist interests in the Middle East.

I think this regime change in Syria is a part of that clean break mentality.