In comments to Newsweek, the US State Department defended the US occupation of eastern Syria. Washington’s policy in Syria has come under fire in recent weeks after US troops clashed with both Syrian government forces and Russian soldiers.
“We have been very clear regarding our overall policy goals in Syria,” the State Department told Newsweek. “The United States’ policy objectives for Syria have been consistent and remain the same: the enduring defeat of ISIS and Al-Qaeda, an irreversible political solution to the Syrian conflict in line with UNSCR 2254, and the removal of all Iranian-supported forces.”
The State Department spokesperson also addressed a recent oil deal inked between a US company and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who the US backs. “We are continuing the vital mission of assisting our SDF partners in securing oil fields in northeast Syria once occupied and used by ISIS to generate revenue,” the spokesperson said.
The State Department’s position reflects both President Trump’s and the Pentagon’s stated goals in Syria. Since October 2019, when President Trump decided to stay in Syria to “secure the oil,” the Pentagon has maintained the US mission is to prevent ISIS from regaining a foothold in the region. Iran is another factor many US officials cite when justifying the presence in Syria, which is also mentioned by the State Department.
Of course, the Syrian government considers the US presence an illegal occupation and denounces the oil deal as theft. The US denying the Syrian government access to its vital resources, combined with heavy US sanctions, is severely hampering the country’s reconstruction effort.
Despite the State Department’s claims about protecting the area from ISIS, the US troops in the area have been mostly confronting Syrian and Russian soldiers. US attack helicopters fired on a Syrian government checkpoint in August, killing one Syrian soldier. Later in August, US and Russian military vehicles collided, injuring at least four US soldiers.
The Syrian government continues to fight what ISIS militants are left in the country. Last week, Syria took heavy casualties in a battle with ISIS remnants in the eastern Deir Ezzor region.
WAR IS PEACE.
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
— Mike Pompeio 2020
He who controls the past controls the future, he who controls the present controls the past.
“We have been very clear regarding our overall policy goals in Syria,” the State Department told Newsweek. “The United States’ policy objectives for Syria have been consistent and remain the same: the enduring defeat of ISIS and Al-Qaeda, an irreversible political solution to the Syrian conflict in line with UNSCR 2254, and the removal of all Iranian-supported forces.”
In other words, f*ck Syria’s sovereignty.
The crazy thing is we pretend to have these high ideals where all men are created equal and treated fairly under God etc. And then we take a look at history and we realize we are nothing but a bunch of thieves, liars and murderers, and we wonder why we are headed for oblivion?
But it is amazing how boldly they lie. They created ISIS and continue along with Israel to protect the remnant. They’re intent on splitting off separate Kurdish State, deposing the Alawites, and fracturing the area into warring factions, in the process contaminating Lebanon to the same end. All at the expense of US blood and treasure to make the mideast safe for Israeli hegemony . These are flagrant acts of aggression, killing and emiserating a vast helpless population, a near continuous thirty year major crime against humanity, and not only do none of the vaunted institutions of the West charged with preserving its rectitude call them on it, but chose rather to pursue the purported poisoning of a minor political opponent of Putin. These are terrible times for all the world and for us; and it can not end well.
Except that these are lies easily proven. But there is NOBODY — like a credible press — to question them. The fig leaf of illegal presence is presumably SDF. This group, just like ISIS, has no real presence or control of population — except directly under US skirt.
Where is this mythical SDF? Dies it have support from Kurdish population? Is it even in Kurdish populated areas? In reality, it like ISIS , does nit exist. The inly difference is that ISIS is maintained as the rationale to fight someone, while SDF flunkies are maintained for the purpose of parading with them in US occupied oil patches. In Deir Azzor, are there any actual Kurds living? Prewar count had them as less then 0.5 percent.
The rationale for staying is based on a lie, a transparent lie. Vast majority of Kurds today live in government or Turkish controlled areas. Some live in areas that are in “de-conflict” zone — and US patrols there jus to prevent the life to be restored to normalcy. Population dies nit want to be in limbo and want to be back in their own country. But even this is a tiny sliver of population.
So, where will this Kurdish area be? Any place on the map one can point to that is still under US “protection” and has Kurdish population asking for this protection? The answer to both is NO.
There is another muddle of information present in what is called Syrian battle with ISIS.
There is no ISIS there, never was. If you recall, some Saudi funded Salafi groups about two tears ago signed reconciliation agreement with Syrian Government. Saudis stopped funding by end of 2017.
What is happening now is the revival if militancy of some groups. Syria will call them ISIS to define them as implacable enemy — no more accepted as citizens.
Why the revival? Who is funding and encouraging? Partially it is due to US blocking constitutional assembly from proceeding, partially due to SOMEBODY giving money to leaders to pay soldiers in hope of carving out a county worth of territory. These can cause damage — but will ultimately fail, once deprived of supplies.
There is really no reason whatsoever for US to stay in Syria other then the Washington group think — and inability to say no to forever wars advocates.
Very good, you’re much better informed than I. But, in re your: “There is really no reason whatsoever for US to stay in Syria other then the Washington group think — and inability to say no to forever wars advocates.” I’m no so sure you’re right. I go back to the ’95 “Clean Break” paper by Perle, et.al. for Netanyahu, as the arch doctrine of neocon foreign policy. It envisions a project of breaking up the nation structures in the mideast into tiny statelets, thereby making Israeli hegemony much more practicable. It seems to me that vision tracks pretty well with events over the period, and the overarching rationale for US continued presence, …even now looking to the breakup of Lebanon. Only that the Noble Lie gets more obscene every day. ???
I am aware of the objectives. And their longevity. But how does it excuse the generations of politicians, bureaucrats, civic leaders — from not noticing how the empirically proven obsolete pursuit of geopolitical advantages HARMS the wellbeing of the country?
All blind, ignorant, lazy, dishonest or corrupt?
What happens in any politics is the crop of so called early adopters, cheerleaders, and those that see to this that their ideas are advanced.
For the rest, they are not about to be modern Men of La Mancha, and fight the well established narrative. They get rewards from advancing the narrative, or occasionally opposing for short term political attention. Both parties manage the process smoothly.
Add to that money to be made at taxpayers’ expense on war toys, that may ir may not work — except against low tech enemy.
So, yes, there is a great deal of group think — as it is easier. Common interest?
There is no institution representing it.
Agreed. The general pattern of power is always thus -egomaniacs, narcissists, opportunists, careerists, sycophants, charlatans, useful idiots- and the thing they all have in common with the herd is their endogenous tribal sensibility, their perfect indifference to the suffering of other tribes.
The State Department should allow a General Assembly vote at the UN to decide the legality of American Presence in Syria.
Very good point. But with the USA paying most of the U. N. taxes, that will never happen. This is also one more example of American government hypocrisy. They keep threatening to cut back funds to the U. N. but that will never happen.
Anything coming from the mafia-like thugs in the state dept is an obscenity on truth; their insane application of sanctions reflects their lack of soul and heart.
They are truly vile!
Hmmm
The US continues to illegally occupy parts of Syria to ensure that Israel’s theft of the Golan Heights remains on schedule. Most likely it will become “officially recognized” by the US shortly after the new (or old, they both answer to Tel Aviv) Israeli administration takes over at the white House and illegally, and in spite of 85% of Americans opposing it, gives its blessing. Take a close look at where US troops are deployed inside Israel, Syria, the rest of the Middle East, North Africa and East Africa. The pieces all fit, assuming your primary mission is to defend Israel in the Golan Heights, or provide support for an Israeli military invasion of Jorden and/or Lebanon…
Israel remains the elephant in the room. Consider on this entire page, including the forums, the word “Israel” is mentioned exactly ONE TIME. The idea that any discussion of the US’s illegal invasion and occupation of Syria not making Israel the focus of attention, let alone failing to mention it at all speaks to a power and agenda hiding in plain sight….