WSJ: The US is planning a coup against Assad in 2011
US officials had secret communications with members of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in order to reduce violence in the country and to explore ways in which it could encourage a military coup after the start of the civil war in Syria, in 2011, supports published today in the newspaper Wall Street Journal.
The officials of US intelligence services have identified officers of Syrian armed forces belong to the minority Alawite (pp from which he Assad) and could lead a coup. It was but a few weaknesses that could be exploited, continues the newspaper cited as sources of the interviews took at least 24 people. Among these sources are current and former US officials.
The contacts made at the time the government of Assad began his repression of demonstrations, and the soldiers began to defection.
"White House policy in 2011 was to lead to a (political) transition in Syria locating cracks in the system and providing incentives for people to leave Assad", he quoted a former senior government official.
The administration of President Barack Obama changed its strategy and threw his weight on supporting Syrian rebels in 2012, according to the report.
High ranking officials from the US and Syria directly spoken by hand with the other or exchanged messages through third parties,
including allies Syria, Iran and Russia.
The then Assistant Secretary William Burns telephoned twice to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalem and warned the regime of Assad not to use chemical weapons on a large scale. Burns resigned from his position last year.
An American official said that secret communications with Syria were different from those held by Cuba or Iran and focused on specific issues. "Sometimes, we said (at pp Syrians): you could create a more favorable environment for ceasefires if you stop to throw explosive barrels," explained one of them.
US officials had secret communications with members of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in order to reduce violence in the country and to explore ways in which it could encourage a military coup after the start of the civil war in Syria, in 2011, supports published today in the newspaper Wall Street Journal.
The officials of US intelligence services have identified officers of Syrian armed forces belong to the minority Alawite (pp from which he Assad) and could lead a coup. It was but a few weaknesses that could be exploited, continues the newspaper cited as sources of the interviews took at least 24 people. Among these sources are current and former US officials.
The contacts made at the time the government of Assad began his repression of demonstrations, and the soldiers began to defection.
"White House policy in 2011 was to lead to a (political) transition in Syria locating cracks in the system and providing incentives for people to leave Assad", he quoted a former senior government official.
The administration of President Barack Obama changed its strategy and threw his weight on supporting Syrian rebels in 2012, according to the report.
High ranking officials from the US and Syria directly spoken by hand with the other or exchanged messages through third parties,
including allies Syria, Iran and Russia.
The then Assistant Secretary William Burns telephoned twice to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalem and warned the regime of Assad not to use chemical weapons on a large scale. Burns resigned from his position last year.
An American official said that secret communications with Syria were different from those held by Cuba or Iran and focused on specific issues. "Sometimes, we said (at pp Syrians): you could create a more favorable environment for ceasefires if you stop to throw explosive barrels," explained one of them.
