Another tough lesson for the ‘campist’ left

Syria’s new leader, the former jihadist Al-Jolani, now involved in the massacre of the Kurds in Rojava, is not only a favorite of Erdoğan’s reactionary government and a key partner of Donald Trump and US imperialism. He is also in good graces of Vladimir Putin and Russian imperialism, with mutual appreciation. This was revealed by the meeting between Putin and Al-Jolani, who was received with full honors at the Kremlin.

“Russia is playing a historic role in achieving unity and stabilizing the situation not only in Syria, but also in the region as a whole,” declared Al-Jolani. “I would like to congratulate you on the fact that this process is gaining momentum,” Putin replied.

The exchange is far from being just rethoric. Al-Jolani seeks Putin’s backing for his offensive against the Kurds in northeastern Syria, after receiving green light from the Americans. Putin accept to back Al-Jolani in exchange for guarantees for the remaining Russian military bases in Syria, in Latakia and Tartus, the only Russian bases overlooking the Mediterranean and therefore of strategic importance to Russia.

It is no coincidence that Russia recently abandoned its al-Qamishli military base in the Kurdish-controlled area – an explicit green light for Syrian troops and their massacre. In exchange, Russia has obtained to maintain its presence in Syria – a sort of compensation, albeit quite partial, for the setback suffered with the fall of Assad.

For old and new imperialist powers, oppressed peoples are merely bargaining chips in their cynical tradings. Reality of facts deals a new blow to the campists’ absurd fantasies.