Speaking today at the anti-ISIS coalition meeting, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson talked up the growing US involvement in the war in both Iraq and Syria, and urged other countries in the coalition to contribute more themselves to the effort to defeat ISIS as well as “stabilization efforts” after ISIS is defeated.
“The United States will do its part,” Tillerson insisted, and while he directly sought to dismiss the idea that the US was to engage in nation-building in Iraq, his comments on the military goals for post-ISIS Iraq gave the impression that this was the idea in all but name.
Tillerson complained, however, that the US had been responsible for three-quarters of the military resources against ISIS, and that other countries would have to pay more of the $2 billion in “stabilization costs” that the US expects to incur over the course of 2017.
A lot of the nations which joined the anti-ISIS coalition did so primarily as a show of solidarity with the US, and not with the expectation of actually doing anything in the war itself. Tillerson seems keen to at least get them to pony up a bit of cash on the matter, but it’s not clear that’s going to happen either.
This is Mr T. Rex, allegedly the SoS and in charge of DIPLOMACY for the USA.
Arming all sides save the Syrian government and its allies is probably a little expensive.
“…$2 billion in “stabilization costs” that the US expects to incur over the course of 2017.”
And how many Americans could be hired to fix the thousands of roads and bridges that are crumbling under our feet at this moment? How many homes could be built to house the homeless here in our own country for this $2B? And that just for 2017…next year it will be more…and the year after will be even more.
America First, eh? Another campaign promise swept under the carpet. SSDD.
America caused the creation of ISIS, they funded its parent organisation just as they funded Al Qaeda in Afghanistan decades ago under Reagan!
Who is ISIS and what is their cause?
Why? Is it because much bigger and more expensive force is now going to be applied to the fight against ISIS?
Could it be because Trump is not going to mess around with drones and selective killing of the people of Iraq and Syria? Is Trump going to get the job done quickly with huge convincing force that will make America great again in a hurry?