A series of standoffs on Saturday saw US troops in Syria, who are there to “control the oil,” confronting a Russian military convoy near the town of Rmelan. There were multiple incidents where the US forces stopped the convoy.
The belief among US forces was that the Russian convoy was trying to gain access to key oilfields in the area of Rmelan. These oilfields are among the ones that President Trump has claimed for the US.
Turkish media were the first to break the story of his confrontation. It may be that the matter is overstated, and no shots were fired by either side. Still, having US and Russian troops in close proximity hassling one another over Syrian oil is worrying, and could quickly turn into a big problem for all concerned.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed to the media that the current US mission in Syria, which President Trump has simplified to just keeping the oil, included keeping the Russians away from the oil.
There has been no suggestion that the Russian have any intention of trying to take Syria’s oil the way the US does, but Russian control of Syria’s oil would imply the Syrian government has control over their own oil, a virtual necessity for the long-term survival of the Assad government post-war. The US is clearly keen to maintain control over Syria’s oil, but with no real chance of extracting it, it’s not clear they’ll remain willing to fight Russia over it.
Petty harassment pushing the envelope of extralegal warfare..
Trump may have started no new wars, but he’s taught the War Machine to refines dangerous old tricks to a new level.
“Trump may have started no new wars”
It only takes one war with Russia to end 5,000 years of human civilization and possibly extinguish the human species or at least end homo sapiens’ undisputed position at the top of the terrestrial food chain.
If Hillary had been elected we would certainly be in the third year of the Iranian war by now. But impetuous, narcissistic, delusional, insecure, infantile Trump is far more likely than any past American president or current contender to start a war with Russia that even the neocons abhor and have avoided for 70 years.
… Trump has gone out of his way to cultivate a positive personal relationship with President Putin.
Trump’s formal legal actions against Russia while in office, while far from friendly, allowed him to defend himself against Russiagate and Ukrainegate impeachment.
There are actions and there are outcomes.Trump’s actions oddly enough produce balanced outcomes.
War Queen Hiliarity’s problem was, she was never a good judge of outcomes, except maybe, the worse they are the better.
The quadrillion dollar oil derivatives bubble that would have popped over an Iran war, would have certainly reset the world. It didn’t just appear overnight just for Trump. Hiliarity and feinds had plans.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/financial-n-option-will-settle-trumps-oil-war/5699905
USA has assumed de-facto ownership of Syria, and there is nothing any other nation can or will do about it.
grand theft – NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY
Wouldn’t be the first or last time.
“it’s not clear they’ll remain willing to fight Russia over it.”
It’s equally clear that Russia isn’t willing to fight the US over it, either. So it’s a stand-off, and the loser is Syria.
I would not say so. Why do not we look at the map of Syria as Russia found it by the end of 2015 when it entered Syria.
Clearly outlined were areas held by several large Islamist groups, the tentacles of ISIS. stretching along Turkey-Syria border, Syria Iraqi border, all the way to provinces Hama, Homs, Deir Azzor , to Palmira in Central Syria. Even syburbia of Damascus was under Islamist militants, including region in Golan area. Upon Russian entry, Russia requested deconfliction plan — and US for the first time declared protection of Kurdish interests, claiming air coverage of just about everything East of Euphrates m, from Turkish border to Jordanian border. That amounted to one third of Syria presumably reserved for US to fight ISIS. No fighting occurred , except regularly we heard of “leaders” being killed.
Until Russia and Syria removed ISIS to Euphrates, but were not allowed to chase them beyond. That was reserved for newly formed SDF, and Kurds thereby started taking control of Arab towns after ISIS left. One such was Manbij where Turkey drew the line.
Rightly so, as the string of ISIS outposts along Turkish border were ripe for taking. Turkey moved in, and with various Syrian units took over key corridor from Jarabulus to Al-Bab, removing ISIS and preventing US from installing Kurds along its border, linking to Afrin and to Kurds in Turkey. With this, ISIS lost all territory West of Euphrates, and withdrew to Raqqa. What followed then was defeat of all militants in Syria, little at the time, usually by offering civilians control of local government, and militants an opportunity to serve in armed forces, their amnesty granted. And even after SDF and US had no choice but to expel
ISIS from Raqqa, SDF and US never allowed Arab towns and villages to get back under Damascus control. They DID NOT want to be ruled by Kurds, and since all that is left of militants is in Idlib — US had to give up supporting Kurds. For one, could not justify Kurds holding Turkish border, two could not forever keep Kurds lording over Arab regions. With Russia establishing the return to peaceful life in most of Syria US ran out of excuses to stay east of Euphrates.
And now, Syria has reclaimed the entire North East, save a less then 100 mile stretch to Iraqi border, has taken over major cities — Manbij, Kobane, Raqqa, and Qamusihli and Hassakah clise to Iraq. US still controls Al-Tanf on Jordanian border, a 50 square mile space including Ruqban refugee camp, where many ISIS fighters are.
With so much territory to take over militarily and administratively, Russia has provided police to help with the transition to local government.
There is going to be some area of close contact as withdrawals did not follow a specific map.
Russia should do what Russia always does — move carefully, try to come up with consensus, and defuse tensions. Because sooner or later it will make no sense for US soldiers to stay and guard pile of junk — oil facilities that were destroyed in ISIS fights. Reparations and infrastructure for extraction and sale to be established. And what companies in the area or refineries would accept oil of dubious ownership?
Patience is required. It will lead to hopefully good outcome. The results of 4 years of restoring Syrian territorial integrity are remarkable. Why rush the process? With so much uncertainty hanging over US situation in Iraq, in the final analysis — these few hundred sq miles in the border may end up being unsupportable.
What I meant is that 1) Russia will not risk direct confrontation with the US over what’s left of Syria not under Syrian control, and 2) Syria won’t get it back until much later, depending on circumstances – such as whether a war with Iran starts, in which case Syria might have even more problems with the US (or less, depending on how things go with the Iran war.)
This whole thing is ridiculous considering the meager amount of oil in the Syrian fields. It’s not some big prize to be paying/risking anything for. Thus, it’s probably just a lame excuse.
That being said, I believe the real reason they want to keep soldiers there is because it directly blocks the Iran-Iraq-Syria-Lebanon supply route.
This is also why the USA refuses to leave Iraq.
I love it when the US goes all gangsta on somebody. It’s so cute!
It’s time for Syrian and Iraqi irregulars to start cutting off lines of supply to the Americans. Mortar rounds and Katusha rockets randomly fired at US bases and oil facilities, a few helicopters shot down with MANPADS, etc. That will make the cost of holding on to Trump’s oil go through the roof. Oh, and accompany all Russian patrols with attack helicopters. US troops will soon be isolated and ineffective. They’ll have to be withdrawn.
I second the motion, Thomas. Syria and its allies certainly have methods of cutting off lines of supply to the Americans. Mortar rounds and Katyusha rockets randomly fired at US bases and oil fields, a few helicopters shot down with MANPADS, etc. Indeed, that’ll make the cost f holding on to DJT’s oil go through the roof .. Oh, and accompany all Russian patrols with attack helicopters .. US troops will soon be isolated and ineffective, and they’ll have to be withdrawn.
How dare Syria want to keep and use its own oil!! Letting allied Russians help them? Even worse. The US troops are so widespread now it may not take long before Hassan Nasrallah’s message gets through to all Arabs, not just Hezbollah: “All US military officers and men/women are targets. NOT CIVILIANS” in response to the USA’s murder of Soleimani and 9 others.
Putin folded, as usual
Straight from the middlemen to Trump’s campaign coffers. But hey, Abuse of Power is expected now. It’s not a crime.