Posted on 12/22/2018 8:39:41 AM PST by Liberty7732
Thursday, quite unexpectedly, we learned of President Trump’s plan to have American forces leave Syria immediately. In a video tweet published Wednesday, the President declared, “We have won against ISIS,” and that it was consequently time to bring the troops home.
Unfortunately, on this point, the President is making a mistake to be precipitously pulling our troops out of Syria.
Unquestionably, we all want our troops home. None of us wants even one American to die while unnecessarily fighting for a goal with no firm endpoint. And of course, no one wants our military engaged in foreign battles a moment longer than necessary. But the claim that we have defeated ISIS, although generally true, may not be completely accurate. And even more importantly, the United States still has multiple, bonafide, national security interests in the region — including in Syria.
ISIS is one of the great evils of the 21st century. Their intolerant religious views coupled with their ruthless pursuit and punishment of all not subscribing to there radical Islamic tendencies crosses the threshold from fervent belief to blood-bathed, sadistic power grab with no signs of self-restraint. Regardless of the faith, there is no defense for the mass decapitation, stoning, and burning of others, and there is equally no excuse for the sequestration, enslavement and mass rape of women. But these are mere standard operating techniques for ISIS and its followers.
The United States was correct in entering the theater for the purpose of destroying these inhumane elements. Moreover, historical hindsight now allows us to understand that a large factor in ISIS’s ability to flourish was the Obama Administration’s passive policies of leading from behind and not rocking the boat.
In fact, Obama’s precipitous withdrawal from Iraq led directly to the rapid rise of ISIS. From the void the United States left as it retreated from the Middle East came the opportunity for mayhem and evil to spread, and ISIS mercilessly capitalized on it.
Through the efforts of our brave men and women, ISIS has been beaten back to a small and remote area of Syria where its members live holed up in caves and fearing for their lives. By most accounts, remaining ISIS forces number between 2,000 and 15,000 members and are devoid of a valid organizational structure.
But exist they do, and these fanatics would like nothing more than the opportunity to spread their influence and reorganize. Let us remember, this is a perpetual battle for ISIS; one of apocalyptic proportions and without rules of engagement. They will never go away on their own.
Then, there are the regional issues. Iran, the greatest fomenter of terrorism in the world has only one goal in mind; the eradication of the State of Israel. For them, the end game is to drive every Israeli into the Mediterranean Sea and see them drown. Like ISIS, their vision is apocalyptic in nature.
Crucial to Iran’s plan is the establishment of a corridor of influence spanning from its western border to the Mediterranean Sea. Such a corridor would include deployed elements in Iran, Lebanon, and yes, Syria. So important is Syria to the successful establishment of a corridor, that Iran has deployed personnel and rockets in coordination with the Syrian regime under chemical-using Bashar al-Assad.
Russia’s interest in the area is different. For Russia, maintaining the Assad regime, even if it is in coordination with Iran, means the expansion of Russian influence at the expense of the United States. For Russia, controlling Syria equals gaining a foothold in a region with a massive influence on the world’s oil reserves and markets — something critical to Russia’ economy that is centered around exporting oil. It also means pushing the United States out of a geopolitical region where American influence is vital.
Viewed in its totality, America’s continued presence in Syria is crucial to keeping Iran from forwarding its abilities to foment terrorism, keeping Soviet influence at bay, checking the evils of the Assad regime, protecting Israel, and preventing the resurgence of ISIS. In short, the stakes here are, quite frankly, far too high for the United States to abandon them at this time.
That our country would love to have their young men and women home, not just for Christmas, but permanently, goes without saying. That our country has seen involvement in way too many unnecessary engagements also stands without dispute as does the fact that American foreign policy and its attempts at regime change is mired in wrong decisions.
But none of these can discount the dire consequences of our troops abandoning Syria. It is unfortunate that our country does not have a viable exit option at this time in Syria. Despite our intense desire for engaging in interventions with clearly defined endpoints, goals, and exit strategies, Syria and the Middle East is not one of those situations.
For all these reasons, our absence in Syria will come at an unacceptable price, one that the President must consider despite his desire to get our troops out.
In short, President Trump needs to rethink his position in Syria and engage in patient perseverance.
(Minor quibble: should be in bloggers/personal)
Why, when SA UAE and France are replacing US troops leaving?
We have 2000 troops in Syria. They can come home. We are causing trouble as much as solving problems. And if the Military does not help with our border, I care less about their other priorities. Border first, Syria fifth.
The United States was correct in entering the theater for the purpose of destroying these inhumane elements.
It sounds like ISIS is a bunch of preschoolers compared to Planned Parenthood.
No offense, but it's hard to take this kind of rationalization seriously. It really comes across as a pile of slop when you pretend the U.S. has any moral standing to do this sh!t.
What we “must do” is determined by the President. Period.
NOPE!
Thanks for this article Liberty. I’ve been arguing over the past two days these same points so eloquently pointed out here. It’s a moot point now though because it looks as if forces from the UAE and Saudi Arabia are moving into those positions. I think they can just as well accomplish our goals here. I’m guessing they’ll have a lot of artillery assets as we did in the region. They’ll be backed up by air power out of Jordan, Kuwait/Iraq (US) and most likely a lot of good intelligence assets out of Israel (which will never be reported). They will be able to accomplish our mission and I think the last of the ISIS stronghold will be wiped out by Kurdish forces with Turkey and Iran forced to withdraw from Syria. Unlike Obama we will have not spiked the ball on the five yard line. Trump is more fortunate because he was about to make the same mistake.
One myth I would like to dispense is everyone saying we want to bring our troops home. These guys are most likely not going to be home anytime soon. They are on deployment. My guess is they re-deploy to Camp Arafjan in Kuwait as we have strict troop limits now that we can station in Iraq. They will go home at the end of their deployment. We are just re-positioning them.
When was the last time that you heard CNN or BBC, or any of the top twenty news organizations chat on ISIS?
Between the Kurds, Turks, Syrians, Russians, and Americans....they’ve pretty much wiped out various ISIS units, and recruitment for new folks has dwindled down to nothing across Europe. Part of this story also revolves around Saudi Arabia pulling a bunch of the money-pocket guys from the Kingdom into that hotel and taking their money away. I don’t see much sponsorship or funding existing anymore.
It’s been probably summer of 2017 when I last heard anyone on a major news group commenting. I, for one, would prefer not to see the US as some police organization. It’s silly to draw such troops into such a role.
Disagree. Completely.
Also, I can’t believe we’d do this without first talking to the Israelis. Esp. this president.
Also, we’re not abandoning the region; we still have a heavy presence in Bahrain and Kuwait. We’re just abandoning Syria.
Iran wants to see Israel destroyed but wanting to see it and being able to do it done are two different things. Iran knows Israel will never stand alone; we won’t permit it (and Russia wouldn’t interfere).
POTUS is right. Let’s get out.
We do not need to be in Syria. We only need to assist the GCC and Israel. They can defend their borders as we defend our own.
The failed southern hemisphere socialist countries are sending their version of ISIS to the USA as we speak.
Let Asad take care of his country, not our problem.
> Viewed in its totality, America’s continued presence in Syria is crucial to keeping Iran from forwarding its abilities to foment terrorism, keeping Soviet influence at bay, checking the evils of the Assad regime, protecting Israel, and preventing the resurgence of ISIS. In short, the stakes here are, quite frankly, far too high for the United States to abandon them at this time.
Not one of these goals is an accountable one. This is your red flag that you’ve drunk the Kool-Aid and are in a cult.
“In short, President Trump needs to rethink his position in Syria and engage in patient perseverance.”
Bull! Trump’s got it right> After 17 years in these $%^thole countries, what has been accomplished? We”ve lost thousands of troops, thousands injured and permanently maimed. Bring the troops home and secure the country. This argument, if we don’t keep them there they’ll be coming here, doesn’t hold much water.
The author is an idiot.
A US withdraw is a step closer to the 2000 status quo. And that status is the absolute best the US can hope for, and is in the interests of the US.
Syria has been a client state of the Russians since the 60s. And Russia has had a Naval and Air base there since then. If this were such a strategic threat to the US, surely we would have solved it by now.
Now we have Neocons telling us we must reverse that as a principal, strategic interest of the US...and all of humanity.
They cannot even see they are now perceived as cartoon characters to be laughed at.
“In short, President Trump needs to rethink his position in Syria and engage in patient perseverance.”
It’s called a “declaration of war” and you don’t has one.
L
I voted for , and donated money to Trump's campaign and will do so again in his next election.
Having said that, I don't always agree with some of Trump's opinions; like we have won against ISIS.
I don't disagree with us withdrawing from Syria a long as we can help protect the Kurds from Turkey.
ISIS is a religiously motivated organization promising an eternal reward for killing us Infidels.
This problem can't be solved as long as there is a Koran and Hadith to be read, and believed, by a person who believes there is only one God (Allah) and Muhammad is his prophet.
Expect ISIS to flare up again; as a motivation by a supernatural being is just about impossible to stamp out.
Some of these religious beliefs in other Gods have been around for thousands of years.
We have a long history of battling against life threating things, and now Islam is another one of them that has reached our shores. We have to realize Islam is a life threatening problem for us, and not treating it like another run of the mill religion, that can be tolerated because it doesn't pose a death threat to non- believers as does Islam. .
We have to face up to Islam and stamp it out when we can and certainly not let fundamental Islam take root in our country. - Tom
I think we are leaving advisers in small numbers
Our presence there is illegal. Syria & Russia will finish off the remnants of ISIS (and al Qaeda). There is NO need for a single American serviceman to be there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.