As we move into the second year of the Trump presidency there are a few things that are beginning to become evident indicating the direction this administration is moving in an attempt to make America great again. Based on comments by President Trump himself and the republican led congress there should be some concern whether or not the best interest of the citizens of this country is being served. 
  The argument can be made that all the rhetoric and actions are pointing to taking care of corporations under the guise of a tax bill that will bring bigger paychecks to the common citizen. However, upon further review the so-called tax cuts for citizens will only last a couple of years before the real benefits take effect for big business, the illusion the tax cuts is great for all has caused many businesses to celebrate by announcing employee bonuses a great example of this is how walmart decided to give up to one thousand dollar bonuses to employees but behind the scenes there were 63 sam's club stores were closed at the same time with many of the employees  being unaware of what was happening. Another interesting claim of the administration is because of the tax cuts american paychecks are larger once again this is just another illusion to make the american public feel there needs are being placed first, what was left out of the claim was that many states voted almost two years ago to raise the minimum wage to at least eleven dollars an hour that took effect january 2018.
  Then there is the constant mention of the FISA memo by representative Devin Nunes chair of the house intelligence committee that claims concrete evidence of a political agenda by the FBI, DNC, and Hillary Clinton which involved the spying by the FBI on an american citizen based on false information. Although it is true that it is illegal for any american agency to spy on an american citizen, it is not illegal to have an outside agency from another country to do so which is what happened many of the names mentioned in the memo are the same names we have heard over and over again in the russian collusion investigation. While the american public continues to be enthralled about all the memo's that will or will not be released President Trump has refused to sign and implement sanction against Russia although congress voted 517-2 to implement the sanctions. Of course with all the hoopla over those memo's about collusion wouldn't it be in the  best interest of the Trump administration to impose those sanctions if not for nothing else but appearances.
  We have a president that's recorded on tape expressing the way he has touched women inappropriately throughout his business dealings but has not once been forced to answer for his behavior, in the meantime you have numerous hollywood executives and actors that have been forced to quit or been fired for the same type of behavior. There is the case of Bill Cosby whose been ridiculed, reruns of his shows taken off the air, not to mention been forced to defend himself in not one but two separate trials. This is not to say bill cosby is innocent or not but to point out the hypocrisy that exists in this country. Let's not forget the recent  case of white house aid Rob Porter who's been also accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wives. However the president has continued to speak favorable of porter basically saying Porter's life is being ruined or has been ruined by the accusations. Although there are pictures and police reports this will go away with minimum fanfare.
  As a veteran of the armed services I can say with much confidence that the united states of america does not need any military parade because that is what other countries chose to do. Our military has many other important things to do then waste precious time cleaning and prepping their equipment just to please a president that has never served one second in the armed service. The money spent of such a parade could be used for a better purpose such as getting our homeless veterans of the streets of america, really putting forth an effort in fixing the many issues the veterans hospitals across the nation face in properly taking care of veterans. The estimated cost of such a parade is $22m just for an hour of marching and armored vehicles driving down pennsylvania avenue just because the president decided it was a good thing to do. 
  In closing the slogan let's make america great again is just that a slogan, there has been no evidence that america is anywhere near becoming great again. Citizens often complain about other countries interfering in our government elections, other ethnicities coming into america performing acts of terrorism however because of conditioning / programming of the american public there is ignorance when thinking about the countries our military enter on orders from our political leaders. We overthrow governments, destroy ecosystems, and resources place puppets in charge that are more corrupt then those we overthrew not mentioning the different american companies that set up shop never to leave.  As a nation there is still a lot we can learn other countries of how to leave together without mention the color of someone's skin or economic background until this nation really embraces those same principles that we force on others we will never never be great to anyone else 

They say that unconditional is not possible in this time or even in this life.  I beg to differ.  Now based on what I know and what I have lived I can emphatically say that unconditional love does exist.  It is alive and well today. 
The reason many don’t believe that unconditional love exist is because many people fail to believe that there is in indeed a GOD who loves us in spite of us.  (1 Peter 4:8)  We don’t believe that there is a GOD who gave his only begotten Son in order to not only re-establish a relationship with us, but to bring us back to HIS original plans for us, death was never supposed to be an option for mankind.  (John 3:16)
But let us stay focused on our topic of unconditional love.  Too many times people confuse sex for love and set limitations on how they give and receive love.  Many have preconceived notions on what and how love should be; yet never take into account what the Creator of love HIMSELF has to say about what love truly is.
Here are a few definitions of what love really is: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I don’t see anything in here where it says that love is sex.  These are the characteristics of love unconditional.  It’s kind, never envious, or boastful and proud.  When these latter things exist in a relationship it causes contention and strife.  If you say you love someone then why are you envious or jealous of him or her? There shouldn’t be a reason to be. If you say you love this person, are you patient with them? Are you always kind to them or are there times when you are just outright degrading to the very person that you say you love?
Can you be honest with them? Even when you feel that they may be dishonest with you? Can you forgive and not hold grudges? Unconditional love is in spite of any and everything a person can do or say to you, you choose to love them.  Now let’s not get it twisted, you can love someone and not allow them to mistreat or disrespect you.
Too many times we think that this type of love is going to be found in a person or people.  That is the ultimate mistake, this type of love originates with and from our Heavenly Father, it comes for a relationship with GOD, through Christ.  Since we are made in HIS image we are able to have HIS characteristics, by HIS Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  I know, I know, some will say that is just religious rhetoric, false doctrine designed to enslave the masses mentally. 
But let me ask you a question, have you ever taken the chance to just try GOD at HIS Word for yourself, not what someone else said or did, but you yourself diligently seeking to find out who GOD is for yourself, and not going by someone else’s opinion.  I know for a fact that GOD exists and that HE will speak to you and through you.  Just ask HIM for yourself.  Because the fact of the matter is this, unconditional begins when you  find out who you are in HIM, in Christ, then applying that to your life, and learning to love and accept yourself, the real you with all of your mistakes and short comings.  See you have to apply this, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” to yourself first, before it will be applicable to others.  In other words, you have to learn to love you unconditionally without thinking that you are not good enough for you. 
People fuss about their general size, looks, weight and such but never just look in the mirror and say I love me in spite of me, rather than pointing the things they don’t like about themselves.  Remember you were created in the image of GOD and the last time I checked, GOD is love, so then what is so wrong with you. 
People place conditions on people and things that they love and care about, because they have first placed conditions on themselves.  Rather than believing that you are fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalms 139:14) When you are able to get rid of your own illogical conditions then you will truly be able to experience, to give and receive unconditional love.

 

As we look at the world that we live in today, we see calamity all around.  However, we as the so-called Church fail to realize that these are just a small portion of the things to come.  If we believe the Word of GOD, HIS Bible, then we can examine the scriptures and see that these times were proclaimed long beforehand. 

​As was stated in Matthew 24:5-8
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (KJV)

The beginning of sorrows.  There has not been a more sorrowful time than now.  We see daily our children being abused, murdered, and exploited for divers reasons.  And even more than that, as a society have become receptive of that fact and tend to look the other way; that is until it hits their own children, their own homes.  You tend to look at color and race and are not concerned until it happens to you or your children.   In essence this has become a loveless, callous generation of people who have no concern for anyone or anything except their own flesh. 
To some, even their own families have turned their backs on them; refusing to even acknowledge their existence.  Mothers against daughters, fathers against sons; brothers and sisters using and abusing each other.  Reasoning that there is no GOD in order to justify the sins committed against each other.  Stating we’re only accountable to ourselves and some have made GOD’s of themselves.  This too is in error.

Matthew 23:12 states:
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (KJV)

Then again at Romans 12:3
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith". (KJV)

We must recognize that these things are not of GOD; our heavenly Father is Sovereign and Holy. If it is so that we are made in HIS images, and HE is a GOD of peace and love, then how can these things be contributed to HIM; if so it be that HIS SPIRIT truly dwells in us.  Those of us who call ourselves believers; and followers of the LORD JESUS CHRIST; ought then to be examples of the same love and compassion that HE has shown.  Truly if we are a unified Body of Christ then, how can members of the same body fight against itself?  This too is in err. 
It is time for so-called believers to take a look at their own character, and see if it truly lines up with the WORD of GOD that you confess with your own lips to believe and obey.  It very well may be that you deceive your own selves.  

 BY BROTHER TARHAKA


I knew a long time ago that the majority of players in the NFL and the NBA are people classified as none white.
Around 95% of players in both leagues combined were classified as such.
That leaves 5% of players classified as white.
Now my question is who are the people classified as nonwhite going to the fight to see Muhammad Ali or Jerry Quarry? Did they go to San-Francisco to see Joe Montana or Jerry Rice? Who do you think they went to Chicago to see Mike Ditka or Walter Payton?.
And it goes on and on, my point is this, if you are the people who are filling the stadiums and you are the one who is generating the wealth and you are the ones who have the biggest fan base, who are you bowing your head too, taking a knee too, and locking arms about? Why don't you just tell the people who are paying you to just settle up with you collectively and take a WALK!.
Collectively you have enough money to build your own franchise and stadium right now, and you never have to worry about filling the stadium, training, or finding a head coach. The name of your league is simple UFL(Universal Football League), UBA,(Universal Basketball League) the Universal Hip Hop Industry) and don't forget to build your own bank and acceptable currency while you at it etc, etc.
If someone is caught in your stadium singing the National Anthem about a country who has mistreated you, killed you, Lynched you, shot you, rapped you etc, throw the bum out after you give him or her their money back.
Just imagine you can build the stadium in the hood among-est your poorest people set up your own small police departments to protect the hood the stadium the players and the game, you know the Universal Police Departments.
Everyone on the beat looks just like you!.
Now you know you need your own endorsements and TV Stations and networks so you can stop telling your people about products that you don't make, you didn't create, you don't use, you don't believe in and you don't get the lion share of the profits from. Stop taking a knee and start taking a walk so I can start back watching sports again!.
You had your own league before and you can do it again and remember this thing has already been done before remember, Elijah Muhammad?
You can have some real cheerleaders that are fine as all get out, that looks just like you, called the Universal cheerleaders no straight hair just small medium and large Afros and no flat butts.
Create your own rules of the games drop the words like National, America, and American because if you were any of that, you would have been treated like one, it's been going on well over 400 years stop waiting for something different to happen and make something happen.
If you pull this one off, I guarantee the world will respect you including your enemy he won't like you, but he has to respect you and if he doesn't like it he can always take a knee about it.
Your stadium will be beautiful inside out color and black and white photos and artwork of your own, you can erect a giant statue of Nat Turner at the entrance, to all your stadiums just use your imagination.
So stop kneeling on that bad knee lift your head up high, unlock your arms and if you are in that locker room use some shoe leather and walk out the back door before the game start. I know I know I'm off the chain!.
Well, that's my story and I am sticking to it!

​These are the complete lyrics ti the star spangled banner.  If you look at the lyrics you clearly see that no person of color is included.  Why--because when this vwas written we were still enslaved in this country. And even to this day we are not free.
We're still being murdered arrested under false charges raped degraded and altogether disregarded.
Tell me why then should we honor a flag that symbolizes so much hatred and division?

O say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner — O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto — "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

​Back in the 90’s when the attack on affirmative action began; It was the beginning of what came to be known as reverse discrimination.  During this time the number of cases being filed doubled with the majority of the plaintiffs being White males. The only problem with that was the fact that those claiming to be discriminated against were the ones holding all the cards in the first place.  It really wasn’t at all about being discriminated against or denied a certain job or entrance into a particular college.  The bottom line is and has always been subtle and overt racism in this United States of America.

 
There are those in this country who have a genuine hatred for people of color.  The so-called Aryan race or White Supremacists, neo-Nazi, or Ku Klux Klan have never stopped systematically seeking out, to incarcerate, torture and kill Black people just because they were black.
Notwithstanding the institutionalized seemingly systematic unfair treatment of this class of citizens; laws that were enacted to alleviate their persecution and oppression were now beginning to be inverted simply because the “white man” now played the role of victim. 
But the problem with that is for everything they have, for the most part, was stolen from the very same people they have a habit of loathing. Including the land, most of every patent for any invention ever created in the USA.  If it wasn’t for immigrants and people of color the Caucasian or Arian brotherhood would have most likely starved and died when they first set foot on this land.  It was the Native American who taught them their survival skills.  Black people, specifically the Moors, that taught them to wash and bathe daily. Not just the visible parts.’
 from the late Middle Ages through to the end of the 18th century, etiquette and medical manuals advised people to only wash the parts of the body that were visible to the public; for example, the ears, hands, feet, and face and neck. This did away with the public baths and left the cleaning of oneself to the privacy of one's home. In the Middle Ages, bathing commonly took place in public bathhouses. Public baths were also havened for prostitution, which created opposition to the public baths. Rich people bathed at home, most likely in their bedroom, as 'bath' rooms were not common. Bathing was done in large, wooden tubs with a linen cloth laid in it to protect the bather from splinters. 

According to one medical treaty of the 16th century, “Water baths warm the body, but weaken the organism and widen pores.  That’s why they can be dangerous and cause different diseases, even death.”  It wasn't just diseased from the water itself they were worried about.  They also felt that with the pores widened after a bath, this resulted in infections of the air having easier access to the body. Hence, bathing became connected with the spread of diseases, not just immorality.

Appearance became more important than personal hygiene. A medical opinion supported this claim. Physicians of the period believed that odors, or miasma, such as that which would be found in soiled linens, caused disease. A person could, therefore, change one's shirt every few days, but avoid baths.
 (http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/05/why-bathing-was-uncommon-in-medieval-europe/)
During the winter, the Mayflower colonists suffered greatly from lack of shelter, diseases such as scurvy, and general conditions onboard ship. Many of the able-bodied men were too infirm to work; 45 out of 102 pilgrims died and were buried on Cole's Hill.

On March 16, 1621, the first formal contact occurred with the Indians (or Native Americans). A Native American named Samoset, originally from Pemaquid Point in modern Maine walked boldly into the midst of the settlement and proclaimed, "Welcome, Englishmen!" He had learned some English from interacting with English fishermen and trappers (most probably from Bristol) operating in the region. It was during this meeting that the Pilgrims learned how the previous residents of the Native American village of Patuxet had died of an epidemic thought to be smallpox. They also discovered that the supreme leader of the region was a Wampanoag Native American sachem (chief) by the name of Massasoit;and they learned of the existence of Squanto (also known by his full Massachusetts name of Tisquantum), a Native American originally from Patuxet. Squanto had spent time in Europe and spoke English quite well. Samoset spent the night in Plymouth and agreed to arrange a meeting with some of Massasoit's men.
Massasoit and Squanto were apprehensive about the Pilgrims. In Massasoit's first contact with the English, several men of his tribe had been killed in an unprovoked attack by English sailors. He also knew of the Pilgrims' theft of the corn stores in their landings at Provincetown. Squanto had been abducted in 1614 by English explorer Thomas Hunt and had spent five years in Europe, first as a slave for a group of Spanish monks, then in England. He had returned to New England in 1619, acting as a guide to explorer Capt. Robert Gorges. Massasoit and his men had massacred the crew of the ship and had taken in Squanto.
 
Out of necessity, and as a result of a systematic oppression of any efforts by black people to be successful in a country that was built with slave labor; we began to incorporate a community that provided for our people.  Free lunch emanated from the Black Panthers where parents cooked meals to ensure that every child had a hot breakfast before going to school. However, in the late 70’s the FBI strategically dismantled the group by the early 80’s.  This was done by infiltrating and murdering the leadership.  J Edgar Hoover himself stated that the Panthers were a threat to national security.
In January 1969, the first Panther's Free Breakfast for School Children Program is initiated at St. Augustine's Church in Oakland. By the end of the year, the Panthers set up kitchens in cities across the nation, feeding over 10,000 children everyday before they went to school. 
    The Black Panther: To Feed Our Children

A few months later, J. Edgar Hoover publicly states that the Panthers are the "greatest threat to the internal security of the country. “the FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, begins a program called COINTELPRO (counterintelligence program) to break up the spreading unity of revolutionary groups that had begun solidifying through the work and example of the Panthers — the Peace and Freedom Party, Brown Berets, Students for a Democratic Society, the SNCC, SCLC, Poor People's March, Cesar Chavez and others in the farm labor movement, the American Indian Movement, Young Puerto Rican Brothers, the Young Lords and many others. To

destroy the party, the FBI begins with a program of
surgical assassinations — killing leading members of the party who they know cannot be otherwise subverted. Following these mass killings would be a series of arrests, followed by a program of psychological warfare, designed to split the party both politically and morally through the use of espionage, provocateurs, and chemical warfare.

Warning to So-Called “Paper Panthers”, The Black Panther, September 28, 1968
Yet, the KKK is still in force and effect today due to the fact that most members have prominent positions in local and national law enforcement and judicial agencies. 
Founded in Pulaski, Tennessee, a group of Confederate veterans convenes to form a secret society that they christen the “Ku Klux Klan.” The KKK rapidly grew from a secret social fraternity to a paramilitary force bent on reversing the federal government’s progressive Reconstruction Era-activities in the South, especially policies that elevated the rights of the local African American population.

Therefore, they are not only the law makers but also the enforcers of that same discriminatory justice system.  The fact is that when Black people decide to demonstrate, as in the BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, then it’s called a riot. And these same agencies filled with racist men and women show up in riot gear.  However, when white people specifically, the KKK, Neo Nazis, and White Supremacist get together and decide to demonstrate it’s called a rally.
And as in Charlottesville, Virginia when people get hurt and murdered and they are white, these same leaders start back peddling on racist statements made that perpetuated this onslaught of violence anyway.
On the front lines of Friday night’s “Unite The Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the University of Virginia, angry white men with torches flocked to a statue of slave-owning Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. By Saturday afternoon, members of the KKK, neo-Nazis, and other armed militia groups were rallying full force in the streets adorned with Confederate flags and in full Nazi regalia.
As the official start of the “Unite The Right” rally kicked off in Charlottesville, Virginia, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke said the gathering of white supremacists, neo-Nazis and far-right individuals pointed to a future fulfillment of President Donald Trump’s “promises.

“This represents a turning point for the people of this country,” said Duke in a video uploaded to Twitter by Indianapolis Star photojournalist Mykal McEldowney. “We are determined to take our country back. We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That’s what we believed in, that’s why we voted for Donald Trump. Because he said he’s going to take our country back. That’s what we gotta do.”
In a tweet, Trump condemned “hate” and “violence” in response to clashes at the rally on Saturday, though he did not call out white supremacists in particular. Duke responded to Trump’s tweet by stating that Trump should “remember” that “White Americans’ were the ones to put him in office

It was made abundantly clear the motivation behind this “rally” and yet and still it was supported by the powers that be.  This is not to say that every White person in America supported the actions of these people.  This is just to open the eyes of the many Black people and the people of color who stated that the President has no accountability for the things that happened in Charlottesville, I beg to differ, there is some responsibility here for the statements made whether directly or indirectly, hateful words spoken will always have consequences.
How is it possible that you, Ben Carson, Omarosa Manigault and other Black people, continue to stand by a man who blatantly and unabashedly made it known that he has no respect or concern for you?  Is a position or wealth more important than dignity?  Or is that you are so brainwashed in that slave mentality, that you forgot about the skin you’re in? Have you really assimilated that much?
Bottom line racism is racism, it has always been the founding pillar of this country and in these United States of America, we are beginning to see the manifestation of justified hatred at its best.

Once again the american public is being led by the noise by the great propaganda machine called the united states government. To justify placing american ground troops in Syria the current administration is using the supposely chemical attack of serin gas on the syrian citizens by President Bashar al-Assad forces to force our way into yet another civil war that there is no way we can win. This is very similar to the 9-11 attacks that was used to invade the country of Iraq under the guise of liberating the Iraqi citizens, of course we are now very aware of what happend in that situation not to mention the many american lives that have been lost because of those actions.
     Last week president Trump gave the ordered and the United states navey launced sixty tomahawk missles on al shayrat airbase stating that those missles were representing the world. However just as in the case of the Iraqi war the rest of the world did nothing but sit back and give lip service riding the back of the U.S. military. This is in additon to the five thousand soldiers and equipment that has already been shipped into eastern europe in a supposedly show of force against Russia for our nato partners in the area. As with the Iraqi war the U.S. must create a villian to help validate their reason for invading a country, the constant rethoric of radical islam is no longer the rallying cry it once was and now is the time to increase the banter if the government is going to be successful in deceiving trhe american public once again.
     What will our mission be if we did indeed placed ground troops in syria and what would the exit stratergy be? Remember during our liberation of iraq and afghanistan american forces were only suppose to be there for a short period of time. However, as we have witnessed we never leave any country we enter, especially those we are there to "liberate". Of course the government explanation is to prepare for the assault on Raqqa, who? Exactly remember President Trump sent a small group of special forces operators to Manbij to keep the peace between Kurdish and Turkish backed forces fighting for control of a small portion of northern syria, where does this little battle play into the larger picture? No one knows, just as in the previous wars with Iraq and afghanistan there is sure to be fighting after the so-called liberation of syria.
     Another interesting point is that Russia, China, Iran, Japan and North Korea has all issued statements threatening to attack the United States if there are any more attacks from the United States. Which brings us to another interesting situation, Russsia is a known supporter of the Assad regime, which automatically brings in China and North Korea if push comes to shove, but in a very surprising move Japan has stepped in and said if the U.S. attacks North Korea they will stop the U.S. from doing so. Basically what we would be looking at is world war three over what amounts to control of another oil distribution system. According to retired NATO Secretary General Wesley Clark, a memo from the Office of the US Secretary of Defense just a few weeks after 9/11 revealed plans to "attack and destroy the governments in 7 countries in five years", starting with Iraq and moving on to "Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran." In a subsequent interview, Clark argues that this strategy is fundamentally about control of the region's vast oil and gas resources. 
     These strategic concerns, motivated by fear of expanding Iranian influence, impacted Syria primarily in relation to pipeline geopolitics. In 2009 - the same year former French foreign minister Dumas alleges the British began planning operations in Syria - Assad refused to sign a proposed agreement with Qatar that would run a pipeline from the latter's North field, contiguous with Iran's South Pars field, through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and on to Turkey, with a view to supply European markets - albeit crucially bypassing Russia. An Agence France-Presse report claimed Assad's rationale was "to protect the interests of [his] Russian ally, which is Europe's top supplier of natural gas".
     Instead, the following year, Assad pursued negotiations for an alternative $10 billion pipeline plan with Iran, across Iraq to Syria, that would also potentially allow Iran to supply gas to Europe from its South Pars field shared with Qatar. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project was signed in July 2012 just as Syria's civil war was spreading to Damascus and Aleppo - and earlier this year Iraq signed a framework agreement for construction of the gas pipelines. 
     The Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline plan was a "direct slap in the face" to Qatar's plans. No wonder Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan, in a failed attempt to bribe Russia to switch sides, told President Vladmir Putin that "whatever regime comes after" Assad, it will be "completely" in Saudi Arabia's hands and will "not sign any agreement allowing any Gulf country to transport its gas across Syria to Europe and compete with Russian gas exports", according to diplomatic sources. When Putin refused, the Prince vowed military action.
     It would seem that contradictory self-serving Saudi and Qatari oil interests are pulling the strings of an equally self-serving oil-focused US policy in Syria, if not the wider region. It is this - the problem of establishing a pliable opposition which the US and its oil allies feel confident will play ball, pipeline-style, in a post-Assad Syria - that will determine the nature of any prospective intervention: not concern for Syrian life.
     My fellow American's the next time you hear your favorite politician say thisd is about the citizens of Syria, you can look at them and say YOU ARE A LIAR!!
  ​