President Trump came into office harshly critical of endless wars in the Middle East, but seems to be staring down the barrel of another such conflict in Syria. This reflects the Pentagon’s determination to stay in the country, and the administration’s ambitious goals not being really attainable.
The US wants an “enduring defeat of ISIS,” as ever, but has also tacked onto that a full withdrawal of all Iran-backed forces from the “entirety of Syria,” along with an irreversible political process that officials have maintained can’t involve Assad or other top Syrian officials.
So in addition to wanting ISIS defeated, the US wants to ensure they never come back. Meanwhile, they want not only Iran ousted, but all Shi’ite militias in Syria. On top of that, they also want regime change, even though the rebels are all but wiped out.
US officials are comfortably comparing this to decades of war in northern Iraq, which saw the US propping up an autonomous Kurdish region only to watch it get hammered in the past year by the Iraqi military.
This may end up being a model for Syria as well, where the US is supporting the Kurdish YPG in expanding its control over much of eastern Syria, while insisting that the US opposes the idea of a heavily autonomous Kurdish region in favor of a strong centralized government.
Russia/Iran wont be leaving Syria. Russia and Iran will be in full Opposition to the centralized government seeing how America and West will be the ones controlling it.
America will eventually be forced out of Syria either way.
Fantasy. America doesn’t leave until it decides to leave. No matter what Russia or Iran try, and you know it’s true.
How has it helped us all-look at Germany, Japan under US supervision 70 years after WW2 ended.
Trump is owned by Israel & the MIC.
I think that Trump is owned by Trump.
Trump hasn’t owned himself since he was reduced to branding and self promotion by his business failures.
Yes, a self-made corporate welfare queen who bows to Saudi monsters like a spineless servant. What a maverick!
Trump is a ‘self-made’ man, thereby relieving the almighty from any responsibility for the horrible outcome.
Don’t forget MBS.
Nothing says “disrupt the war party” like a permanent occupation, right Justin?
This is not about Syria. It is about an intended attack on Iran. That is the real topic. The real motive is Israel, first, last, and without rival by Saudis or any other excuse.
When the goals are so huge and the means of achieving them so limited, perhaps the goals are false. Maybe the real ones are to raise tensions in order to boost oil prices for the Saudis or profits from arms sales for the US military corporations.
Does the USA want fries with that?
This Reminds me of Milton Bradley classic Axis & Allies board game. Kurds vs. Hezbollah Vs ISIS Vs Iran Vs Turkish Al Qaeda.
U.S will not get involve directly because then the Ru.ssians will get involved. And when the Vorlons and the Shadows go after each other, the world will burn.
The Kurds only need to take a look at recent history to learn that Uncle Sam is a fair weather allie at best. Rojava’s best hope is to make a deal with Assad and Russia. Otherwise, their revolution is as good as screwed.
Incredible even for the USA. Can it not see that China and Russia are doing well and are “rivaling” the USA not by violence and threats or killings but by positive developments, cooperation, intelligence (meaning brainpower and education),technical knowhow and getting along with others, not threatening and sanctioning them and thinking spending money means better “defense”.