Eastern Orthodox Leaders Rightly Denounce Illegal, Brutal US Aggression

Christians throughout the Near- and Middle East have rightly denounced the war in Syria perpetrated by the United States (through the CIA as early as 2012 when it helped fund and train ISIS) in a proxy war that is being fought over pipeline access that has nothing to do with chemical weapons.

Unfortunately, most Americans do not understand the history of the region or that world powers have been fighting over this land before World War 1. What is happening in Yemen today is a perfect example. What used to be land conquered by the British and BP Oil and then thrown into chaos allegedly by MI6 was previously called Aden, a mecca touted by Queen Elizabeth as an imperial Persian Gulf vacation spot in the 1950s.

Who can forget Sen. John McCain arguing that the U.S. should arm al-Qaeda to fight ISIS? Or the fact that Congress demanded to know what happened in Benghazi– but after members of Congress met with the Obama administration in a closed meeting– no one, save a few, ever mentioned a word about again?

Unfortunately, U.S. presidents have “opened the gates of hell, unleashed demons on Syrian Christians,” Aramean advocate and author Johny Messo, who presides over the World Council of Arameans, recently wrote.

Likewise, Father Pablo wrote at Patheos, “One of my seminary classmates was kidnapped five years ago by one of these rebel groups who oppose Assad.  I find it so difficult to process the fact that the men who kidnapped (and probably murdered) my friend could have potentially been funded by the United States.”

American Christians must fall on our knees asking forgiveness for the wrong our government continues to perpetrate at the hands of globalists, corporations, and others who continue to promote evil calling it good. The entire Middle East is in turmoil in part because of failed foreign policies the U.S. has been involved in for more than 125 years.

May God continue to protect Christians still living in the region and may they learn that not all Americans support the wars the U.S. has illegally advanced in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. American Christians must do all they can to support their brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering at the hands of our tax dollars.

A Statement Issued by the Patriarchates of Antioch and all the East for the Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, and Greek-Melkite Catholic

Damascus, 14 April 2018

God is with us; Understand all ye nations and submit yourselves!

We, the Patriarchs: John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Ignatius Aphrem II, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and Joseph Absi, Melkite-Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, condemn and denounce the brutal aggression that took place this morning against our precious country Syria by the USA, France and the UK, under the allegations that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons. We raise our voices to affirm the following:

1. This brutal aggression is a clear violation of the international laws and the UN Charter, because it is an unjustified assault on a sovereign country, member of the UN.
2. It causes us great pain that this assault comes from powerful countries to which Syria did not cause any harm in any way.
3. The allegations of the USA and other countries that the Syrian army is using chemical weapons and that Syria is a country that owns and uses this kind of weapon, is a claim that is unjustified and unsupported by sufficient and clear evidence.
4. The timing of this unjustified aggression against Syria, when the independent International Commission for Inquiry was about to start its work in Syria, undermines of the work of this commission.
5. This brutal aggression destroys the chances for a peaceful political solution and leads to escalation and more complications.
6. This unjust aggression encourages the terrorist organizations and gives them momentum to continue in their terrorism.
7. We call upon the Security Council of the United Nations to play its natural role in bringing peace rather than contribute to escalation of wars.
8. We call upon all churches in the countries that participated in the aggression, to fulfill their Christian duties, according to the teachings of the Gospel, and condemn this aggression and to call their governments to commit to the protection of international peace.
9. We salute the courage, heroism and sacrifices of the Syrian Arab Army which courageously protects Syria and provide security for its people. We pray for the souls of the martyrs and the recovery of the wounded. We are confident that the army will not bow before the external or internal terrorist aggressions; they will continue to fight courageously against terrorism until every inch of the Syrian land is cleansed from terrorism. We, likewise, commend the brave stand of countries which are friendly to the Syria and its people.

We offer our prayers for the safety, victory, and deliverance of Syria from all kinds of wars and terrorism. We also pray for peace in Syria and throughout the world, and call for strengthening the efforts of the national reconciliation for the sake of protecting the country and preserving the dignity of all Syrians.