I think in the latter part of his regime Obama did ramp up military aid and covert advisor insertions to the Kurds willing to fight under the banner of the “ SDF” ( Syrian Democratic Forces) - because face it, the Kurds actually fought IS while the remnants of the FSA either dropped their weapons and ran or defected to ISIS
Now what was the US quid pro quo to the Kurds for their services? Somehow I doubt promising them cabinet positions in a new Syrian government in Damascus would be much enticement. Autonomy or more would have always been the end game - and with IS being wiped out the end game is coming closer
Can or would the US reward the Kurds for their services over the objections of Turkey? Turkey already triangulating with the Russians over mistrust or paranoia about US backing for Gulen
If anyone can pull this situation out of chaos it will have to be US and Russia working together and strong arming Turkey Saudi and Iran into going along
Of course a good chunk of the US military- political establishment will oppose this at every opportunity - too much they have invested into the regional strategic framework of US-NATO good / Putin - Russia-Assad bad
Spot on. Thanks