Q: So can we use Russia’s geopolitical interests to thwart the American plot in Syria, so it becomes a common interest? The question now is: Don’t the Syrian rebels realize that we are heading fast towards the American scheme and that the whole region will be lost? Or are they so stubborn to make a truce with the Syrian regime so as to thwart this American scheming?
A: I dearly wish that this level of strategic thinking had existing among the Syrian rebels from the beginning, and I wish it existed now. So much blood has been spilled and do much damage has been done, that it seems unthinkable that the rebels would ever accept a truce with the regime or diplomatic outreach to the Russians. But there is no question that this would be a move entirely unpredicted by the US, and it would certainly hinder their agenda.
The rebels could approach Russia saying, essentially, “we do not want to see Syria divided, and you do not want to see Syria divided. Between all the rebel groups, we control a very large section of the country, including the oil resources. We recognize that the US is pushing for a political settlement that will leave them in control of the territory we currently possess, and Bashar will become a much weaker ally for you in the region. America, Turkey, and the Gulf countries will dominate our area, and conflict between this territory and the Alawi territory will continue on a low scale, but frequent level, and this will keep the region unstable, and put a drain on your own resources. The oil we have in Syria and Iraq will begin to flow to Turkey, which will help it to decrease its energy dependence on you. We are ready and willing to negotiate with you to preserve the unity of the country and to block the Western agenda in the region. We want limited autonomy from Damascus, and economic and political self-determination, but we will be your allies.”
This would be a shock to the Americans and Israelis, and could potentially thwart their plans in the region. And if reconstruction were to be funded by Russia and China, it would be far better for Syria than for it to be undertaken by the IMF and the World Bank.
As for why the rebels do not comprehend what is happening, your guess is as good as mine. But, from my own limited interaction with them, I have never found them to be particularly astute in these matters. The urgency of war conditions tends to make people short-sighted, as they are concerned with immediate survival.
There is no doubt that the US would try to disrupt any sort of truce, and they have means to do so, but it could still be possible for the rebels to try to initiate a settlement between Russia and the regime to the exclusion of the United States.