American Analyst: Paris Terrorist Attacks Benefit US, Allies

“It is essential to keep the question of cui bono (whom does it benefit) closely in mind when analyzing the attacks. Those who stand to benefit the most include the US and its allies who have been trying to use the threat of ISIS (also known as ISIL) and a whole array of proxy terrorist fighters to overthrow the Syrian government,” Daniel Patrick Welch, from Boston, said in an interview with the Tasnim News Agency.

Daniel Patrick Welch (Donal Pádraig Breatnach) is a writer of political commentary and analysis. An outspoken critic of US foreign policy, he lives in the city of Salem with his wife Julia. Together they run The Greenhouse School (http://www.greenhouseschool.org). He has traveled widely, speaks five languages and studied Russian History and Literature at Harvard University.

Welch has also appeared as a guest on several TV and radio channels to speak on various topics. 

The following is the full text of the interview.

Q: Why did France become a target of terrorist attacks on November 13?

A: It is not completely clear why France was targeted at this particular time. The other targets in the recent wave (the Russians and Hezbollah) have been extremely persistent in attacking ISIS (ISIL or Daesh) positions inside Syria, so they make for obvious targets.

France has seemingly been flying sorties more along the lines of the ineffective US led coalition which has had next to zero success for the past 15 months; although there were some indications that they have been ready to step up this involvement, even perhaps welcoming coordination with Russia on some level.

Since the only true successful approach has to involve working closely with the Syrian Arab Army, this would of course be most threatening to Daesh. In another sense, France represents both the weakest link in the US/Anglo alliance and the highest volume target for public outrage in the west.

The alarming rhetoric coming out of Elysee, Washington and London is proof that the attackers struck gold in this regard.

Q: Who or what group is benefiting from these attacks?

A: It is essential to keep the question of cui bono (whom does it benefit) closely in mind when analyzing the attacks. Those who stand to benefit the most include the US and its allies who have been trying to use the threat of ISIS and a whole array of proxy terrorist fighters to overthrow the Syrian government.

Russia has been extremely effective in its air campaign alongside the Syrian Arab Army in attacking ISIS and other terrorist groups; this Paris attack provides a huge boost to the drifting strategy of the US which has simultaneously vowed to fight ISIS and overthrow President Assad.

Q: In the past week, two deadly incidents took place in Beirut and France, respectively. World did not get as much attention when it came to what happened in Beirut, whilst we do know that Daesh perpetrated both of these attacks. What is your take on this? 

A: The difference in the media response is sobering, and quite sad.

Obama called the Paris attacks an attack on all humanity; he did not use such soaring rhetoric to mourn the dead in Beirut or Baghdad, or in Syria, where terrorists supported by his regime conduct such atrocities all the time. In fact, when nearly twice the number of Russians were blown out of the sky--for which Daesh has also taken credit--the US president didn't even make a condolence call to President Putin, leaving it to his secretary of state to convey the sympathies of the US government.

It is shameful and embarrassing how lives lost in a European capital, whose value is much greater in propaganda terms, are mourned so differently than other victims of terrorism.