Jeffrey Sachs: The war in Syria erupted because of Obama administration’s policies
Global economist Jeffrey Sachs revealed the United States’ prominent role in fueling the war in Syria, asserting that former US President Barack Obama’s policies were one of the main reasons for the continuation of the conflict.
Sachs pointed out that Washington is the primary driver behind many wars in the Middle East, including the Syrian war.
During his participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Türkiye, Sachs explained that the war in Syria didn’t arise from the Syrian regime’s repression, but rather was the result of a direct decision by President Obama in the spring of 2011 to overthrow President Bashar al Assad.
He said, “The deaths of 600,000 people cannot be explained solely by protests and regime repression, but rather, it was a comprehensive war that required billions of dollars in funding and armaments”.
Sachs pointed out that the region has witnessed interference by Western powers since the Treaty of Versailles a hundred years ago, emphasizing that these interventions are the reason behind the lack of security and stability in the Middle East.
He said, “Peace won’t be achieved in the region as long as the United States continues its interference and ignites conflicts”.
Sachs also strongly criticized the reliance on the United States to resolve regional issues, asserting that “empires don’t work for the benefit of others; they divide to dominate”.
He considered that any country in the region that believes Washington will work for its benefit is delusional.
Sachs also touched on the failure of the peace plan brokered by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2012, revealing that the United States was responsible for the agreement’s failure due to its insistence on Assad’s immediate departure.
He said, “All parties agreed to peace, but the United States insisted on Assad’s immediate departure, which led to Annan’s resignation and the deaths of an additional 500,000 people”.
Regarding the Palestinian issue, Sachs noted that Israel cannot wage any war without the full support of the United States, which provides funding, military, logistical, and intelligence support.
He said, “The genocide taking place in Gaza is the result of continued American support”.
Sachs concluded his remarks by calling on Middle Eastern countries to determine their own destiny, free from foreign interference, emphasizing that true solutions to regional crises will only come through ending the “divide and rule” policy pursued by imperialist powers for a century.
It’s worth noting that Jeffrey Sachs, who has held senior positions at the United Nations for more than 25 years, believes that the absence of a true international community is one of the main reasons for the persistence of conflicts in the world.
