Pressing for members of the anti-ISIS coalition to contribute more to the Syria War, the Trump Administration has raised $300 million to “stabilize” the part of Syria under US control. This funding included $100 million from Saudi Arabia.
It’s not clear how this money is going to be spent. The money appears to be aimed entirely at the area controlled by the Kurdish YPG and its allies. US officials insist this won’t mean a military pullout, however,.
With that money now committed to Syria, the State Department is reiterating that the $230 million in US funds they’d initially planned to use on reconstruction is going to be completely withdrawn,and spent on other, unspecified US priorities.
This $230 million is part of the money that officials were saying on Thursday would be directed away from foreign policy around the world, despite Congressional objections. The State Department is now suggesting that they think they just spend that money on whatever, now that they’re moved it out of Syria.
And how are these areas controlled by Kurds and some unspecified allies? By now, we know everybody in Syria by their first names, but we cannot name “allies” that are working with Kurds! Kurds are outside Kobane a TINY minority and cannot control land if that size. Without US claiming control of the area local population would have overthrown the yoke of Kurdish rule. Hiw will Raqqa be managed? Until now US nir any of its allues even bothered to clear the mines, and returning people are still dying. Water, electricity, health care — who eill do that? By hanging on to Kurds we are just preventing Syrians in all Arab majority areas from taking over their local government. Kurds need to withdraw, and local police take iver security. For as long as minority Kurds are lording over the majority — US remains the enforcer of this fake reality. There may be some hope that with Arab money there will be some effort at transitioning towards local rule. But on the other hand Arab states are loath to get involved directly in managing population in area of US occupation. Unless US withdraws. Turkey is doing a much better jib in areas they are occupying — all insurgent groups if any stripe or persuasion have been put together into a National defence, under a uniform, and with no rights to wage fighting on behalf of any group. It is mighty impressive that after incorporating units of Free Syrian Army — Turkey has absorbed Ahrar Al Sham. Just the other day pushed for leadership change, getting a new, non-compromised person selected by the leadership. This bodes well for peace process as they will now participate in peace conferences sponsored by Russia, Iran and Turkey. This is a path to returning all warring factions back to civilian life, once they reconcile with government, and become political entity with local responsibilities. This now will isolate Al-Qaeda — under HTS, its third name. As ISIS now exists in any meaningfull number ONLY in area controlled by US — litterally under Uncle Sam’s skirts, Al-Qaeda is now the only force in Idlib. And just like neocon press and their political flunkies — they are getting ready to use kids, alive and dead ones, to shed tears and protect last of the last of terrorists in Syria. But I hope that Thrkey and Russia have it civered. They have many checkpoints there, and may ease them out of their predicament. So we may be spared all the sob stories related to us by little photogenic girls in English they do not understand. But neocons do not give up till the end — and money (our) is not an object. Turkey may kick off operation against Kurds that took over Syrian border towns and where Kurds are not majority population. This may finally bring Kurds down to earth — to withdraw their military from far flung Deir Azzor in Euphrates valley and defend Kobane region. Time to withdraw from Manbij. With US in full fledged conflict with Turkey — there will be no more reasons for Turkey to be sensitive to its “partner’s” feelings.
Have to expect that $100m from SA goes directly to fund new ISIS recruits.
When the Syrian army finishes running off the vermin in Idlib then they will turn their attention to running the US out of Syria.
Where will the money meant for re-building Syria go? Bibi knows.
Of course the USA always wants to destroy and has a moral hatred of any kind of rebuilding or return of residents after wars they have helped to foment.
It is problematic to unearth US military investment in Syria. Naval forces, think (cruise missiles, air sorties) in the Med, Air bases which are in range, satellites, and of course mercenaries and other dark money. Tho the administration has stated an end to dark money in Syria, who says this is true ?
The best way to “stabilize Syria” is for the US to leave Syria.