Stephen Lendman

Assad is a reformer, not a dictator - what Western officials and media scoundrels disgracefully call him.

Bernie Sanders is no populist, democrat or peacemaker. He supports “overthrow(ing) (the) brutal dictatorship of Bashar Assad” - a flagrant violation of international law, an appalling perversion of truth.

He endorses arming terrorists called “moderate rebels.” A Sanders administration will continue dirty business as usual, including US policy to replace all sovereign independent governments with puppet ones Washington controls. In 2012, Syrians overwhelmingly approved new constitutional provisions by an 89% majority. Democratic reforms are real.

Political pluralism was established for the first time. So were presidential term limits and press freedom.

Western officials mocked overwhelming popular sentiment. Then secretary of state Hillary Clinton turned truth on its head, claiming “a phony referendum that is going to be used by Assad to justify what he is doing to other Syrians. So it's a cynical ploy to say the least.”

Washington supports despotic rule by valued allies - mocks real democracy in Venezuela, Syria and other independent states it opposes, wants tyranny replacing legitimate governance.

First-time Syrian parliamentary elections were held in 2012, a milestone political event, including independent candidates and government opposition ones participating.

Independent international monitors called the process open, free and fair. Ba’ath party members won a 60% majority legitimately.

In June 2014, Assad was overwhelmingly reelected with an 89% majority. He and Putin are the world’s most popular leaders for good reason.

Independent international monitors called the 2014 process open, free and fair. Western officials and media scoundrels mocked it.

On April 13, Syrians again go to the polls - in 13 of 15 provinces, ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra controlled Raqqa and Idlib excluded. They’ll choose 250 parliamentary members from 3,500 competing to be part of the People’s Assembly.

Over 11,000 aspirants submitted documents to run. To qualify, candidates had to be aged 25 or older, be a permanent Syrian resident for at least 10 years, and have no criminal record.

Over 7,300 polling stations opened at 7:00AM. Syria’s Higher Judicial Committee for Elections can extend voting hours if people remain queued to cast ballots.

Syrian Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar said the process is proceeding “in accordance with the legal standards.” Provincial operating rooms are “keep(ing) close and direct security supervision (to) follow up on any possible complaints.”

Elections conform to Syrian constitutional law and Security Council Resolution 2254. It called for ceasefire, diplomatic conflict resolution, and for “(t)he Syrian people (alone to) decide the (country’s) future…”

General elections are held quadrennially. Ruling Ba’ath Party candidates and coalition allies are expected to maintain a significant majority.

Monied interests control America’s political process, mocking democratic governance. Syrians under Assad have the real thing. A follow-up article will discuss election results.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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