By Prof Michel Chossudovsky: What Happened to the "Global War on Terrorism"?

The U.S. is "Fighting for Al Qaeda" in Syria. Americans have been repeatedly told that Al Qaeda under the helm of the late Osama bin Laden was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Formulated in the wake of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the U.S. and its allies launched a "Global War on Terrorism" (GWOT) directed against the numerous "jihadist" Al Qaeda affiliated terror formations in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and South East Asia. The first stage of the "Global War on Terrorism" was the bombing and invasion of Afghanistan. In the wake of 9/11, the "Global War on Terrorism" served to obfuscate the real economic and strategic objectives behind the US-led wars in the Middle East and Central Asia. The Patriot legislation was implemented. The national security doctrine stated unequivocally that the American Homeland was to be protected against "Islamic terrorists". For the last 13 years, war on terrorism rhetoric has permeated political discourse at all levels of government. Al Qaeda related threats and occurrences are explained by politicians, the corporate media, Hollywood and the Washington think tanks, under a single blanket "bad guys" heading, in which Al Qaeda "the outside enemy of America" is casually and repeatedly pinpointed as the cause" of numerous terror events around the World. But somehow, in the last few months, this "al Qaeda, the outside enemy of America" is casually and repeatedly pinpointed as "the cause" of numerous terror events around the World. But somehow, in the last few months, this "Al Qaeda paradigm" has shifted. The American public has become increasingly skeptical regarding the validity of the "Global War on Terrorism". In recent months, with the unfolding events in Syria, something rather unusual has occurred, which has had a profound impact on the public's perception and understanding of Obama's "Global War on Terrorism." The US government is actively and openly supporting Syria's Al Nusra, the main fighting force affiliated to al Qaeda, largely composed of foreign mercenaries. Tax dollars are relentlessly channeled to the "rebels". In turn, Secretary of State John Kerry meets with rebel commanders who oversee the Al Qaeda affiliated entity. Is this part of a "new normal": the unity of opposites whereby "terrorism" and "counter-terrorism"are merged into a single foreign policy focus? Is it "politically correct"for a US Senator to mingle with leaders of a terrorist organization, while at the same time paying lip service to the "Global War on Terrorism"? While this may be "business as usual" for the US Secretary of State, American servicemen and women are now "refusing to fight" a war in favor of terrorism under the emblem of the "Global War on Terrorism". Channeling money and weapons to Al Qaeda in Syria is carried out "in the open", via the US State Department and the Pentagon rather than in the context of a covert CIA operation. John McCain enters Syria illegally and poses for photo ops with Al Qaeda leaders. The Movement within the US Armed Forces. Needless to say, this mingling of politicians and terrorists strikes at the very foundations of the "Global War on Terrorism".