His logic seems reasonable. His conclusions on outcome are vague. Well, that is how it is.
He is right, Kurds objectives are not same as US. but I think that is being a bit unfair.
Saudi Arabia, the US (under Obama) and others helped create this mess. There is some obligation to help correct it now. I hope that is understood and this moves in the direction of a peace that works.
A peace that provides the maximum freedom for our Kurd and SDF allies. No one need be apologetic about what has been accomplished in ending the Great Evil called ISIS.
When ISIS is gone, May sane heads prevail (unusual in the Middle East) and a lasting peace begin.
X-Ambassador Robert Ford's remarks reflect on Obama's attitude, NOT no President Trump's attitude. President has never been and never will be anything like Obama. Period.
Syria Ping
Interesting read. The main goal is to defeat ISIS. I am leery of anything beyond that unless there is a damn good reason. Maybe crush another ISIS want to be in the bud.
I think Russia’s concern is that when the dust settles ‘who’ exactly is going to be part of the Governing Administration of ‘Syria’ as a whole country undivided.
We have already read that after this war the US will be taking back all the armament etc. from the Kurds they have provided. If or not they really do this remains to be seen of course.
The idea is it looks like all sides want a say in Syria.....but I’m of the mind Syrian people should choose what their government should look like.
Agreed. The former ambassador is meddling and needs to be quashed.
This seems like a well-reasoned and realistic article. It is a complex, multi-player game over there, and the stakes are high.
It is a tough argument to make, that Kurds should risk their lives for American policy objectives - so the rewards, and the reliability of those rewards, must be worth it.
It is pretty clear though, that without American support it is back to the mountains for the Kurds in a year or two. Turkey will see to that before Assad or Iran could, but the others likely will not be far behind. The only options for protection from Turkey are the US or submission to Assad (with Russian and Iranian involvement).
There is the clear potential for a new regional alignment though, that could possibly bring the Kurds a perfect storm of American security guarantees, Saudi development funds, and Israeli business know-how - which is driven primarily from the common desire to contain Iran. Having control of the key terrain blocking the “Shia Crescent” will give them enduring geo-strategic leverage, making them very difficult to abandon.
But the risks are high, no matter which course they take.