Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya: The Syria Endgame,

Strategic Stage in the Pentagon's Covert War on Iran. Since the kindling of the conflict in Syria in 2011, it was recognized by friend and foe alike, that the events in that country were tied to a game plan that ultimately targets Iran, Syria's number one ally. De linking Syria from Iran and unhinging the Resistance Bloc that Damascus and Tehran have formed has been one of the objectives of the foreign supported anti government militia's inside Syria. Such a schism between Damascus and Tehran would change the Middle East's strategic balance in favor of the US and Israel. If this cannot be accomplished, however, then crippling Syria to effectively prevent it from providing Iran any form of diplomatic, political, economic, and military support in the face of common threats has been a primary objective. Preventing any continued cooperation between the two republics has been a strategic goal. This includes preventing the Iran Iraq Syria energy terminal from being built, and ending the military pact between the two partners. Regime change in Damascus is not the only or main way for the US and its allies to prevent Syria from standing with Iran. Destabilizing Syria, and neutralizing it as a failed and divided state is the key. Sectarian fighting is not a haphazard outcome of the instability in Syria, but an assisted project that the US and its allies have steadily fomented, with a clear intent to balkanise the Syrian Arab Republic. Regionally, Israel above all other states, has a major stake in securing the outcome. The Israelis actually have several publicly available documents, including the Yinon Plan, which outline that the destruction of Syria into a series of smaller sectarian states, is one of their strategic objectives. So do the American planners. Like Iraq next door, Syria does not need to be formally divided. For all intents and purposes, the country can be divided like Lebanon was alongside various fiefdoms, and stretches of territory controlled by different groups during the Lebanese Civil War. The goal is to disqualify Syria as an external player.