Sputnik: In your view, why has the US stopped funding the organization?
Francesca Totolo: In the context of the sources used by the Western mainstream media to tell the war in Syria, the White Helmets organization has always been the most used source for spreading propaganda against President Bashar al-Assad and supporting the "moderate rebels". The White Helmets are a British non-governmental organization founded by James Le Mesurier, former officer of the British army and intelligence service, and former (perhaps) mercenary of the contractor company ACADEMI (Blackwater).
We can not realistically talk about non-governmental organization because the White Helmets have received massive funding from various Western governments: the United States through USAID (the agency of the American government, created for the “export of democracy”, has officially donated 23 million dollars), Great Britain, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Coincidentally, after a few days, the White Helmets staged the chemical weapons attack on Douma, calling international attention against President Assad and expressly demanding an intervention by the "allied forces".
I'm not so sure that the US government will actually stop funding the White Helmets organization. Maybe it's just another comedy from the American deep state to divert attention from such a useful tool to destabilize Syria.
READ MORE: US Could Halt Funding White Helmets, Due to Facts of Douma Provocations — MoD
Sputnik: How can this development impact the organization and the general situation in Syria?
Francesca Totolo: I think it will not change anything at all. After the many and varied evidences of the organization's staging on the chemical weapons attack in Douma, probably the White Helmets will be replaced, to increase the credibility of the propaganda "pro regime change", by other NGOs already financed "for humanitarian purposes" since 2012 by the US government through USAID. Just to name a few: CARE International, Concern Worldwide, Global Communities, Humanity and Inclusion, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Relief International, and so on.
The American deep state will hardly abandon Syria and its imperialist project.
Sputnik: Some experts have pointed out that the funding may have been stopped due to Trump’s desire to roll back US involvement in Syria, what is your take on that?
At the moment, the US President does not seem to have the internal political force to impose himself on the deep state that are infiltrating everywhere in the American administration.
It will now be essential to see the developments on the Israeli offensive against Iran and the position the US will take on the issue.
Sputnik: Apart from the US the White Helmets receive funding from other countries as well is it likely that if the US decides to stop financing the group other countries will follow?
READ MORE: Western Media Would Believe Anything White Helmets Report – Italian Journalist
Francesca Totolo: In addition to the US, the main supporters of the White Helmets are Great Britain, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, as reported on the organization's website.
There may be a disengagement from other funding countries, but it will only be apparent. The White Helmets have become the fundamental allies of the so-called "moderate rebels", and therefore a very powerful weapon in the hands of the "allied forces" that it can easily be used as an intermediary with the contractor agencies and terrorist groups that, as we know, they were born with the approval of the Obama administration and its Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
The views and opinions expressed in this article by Francesca Totolo are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect Sputnik's position.
