“Oh, I would think Iran would be a bet more important.”
Syria IS currently the main battlefield for Iran.
“What end result do you envision”
In a nutshell, weaker or defeated enemies, stronger friends. ISIS and al Queda denied territory or safe haven, starved of resources and killed to the greatest degree we can, and Iran contained and weakened in Syria to the greatest extent possible.
“...and how will it be acheived?”
The current US approach is to annihilate ISIS (kill them all), in alliance with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the ground. (Note: these are NOT the so-called “moderate rebels” like the Free Syrian Army (FSA) who were heavily composed of islamists - they were/are ineffective/counterproductive).
Beyond that, there will be a diplomatic/political settlement after the war. My understanding is that the preferred US outcome would be an autonomous region administered by our SDF allies, and a negotiated settlement that limits Iran’s role, and retires Assad, for a “re-branded” Ba’ath Party administration - same guys, same desks, different talking points.
The Ba’ath Party of Assad is the last ruling political party on Earth based on the same principles as the Nazi Party - National Socialism based on race (the Arab Race, in this case - usually deceptively translated as Arab Nationalism). That doctrine needs to go.
“Our meddling sure has done a great job in Libya.”
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) is currently managing operations in Libya, and is successfully rolling back the ISIS “Caliphate” that was established there, around Sirte. They are currently crushing ISIS there. Egyptis also engaged against islamists in Libya.
“BTW, any government in Syria will be hostile to Israel”
Not the Kurds. They are the great exception in the Region.
The worst case by far is the Iranians - it is an existential threat to Israel to have Iran’s full strength positioned right on its border, with an open land route back to Iran for unfettered supply, and the time to deliberately build up military fortifications and stockpiles (notably Missiles/Rocket Forces). That is exactly what will happen if we just back off (may happen anyway).
“the demographic reality that they (Israel) are on their way to a Muslim majority sooner or later.”
Actually, Orthodox Jews have a huge birth rate, Jews still emigrate into Israel, and there is a significant net outflow from the Palestinian areas (Obama actually admitted a significant number into the US. The bottom line is that demographics do not in fact doom a Jewish State in Israel.
“BTW, any government in Syria will be hostile to Israel”
Not the Kurds. They are the great exception in the Region.
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The Kurds are a small minority in Syria. I’m all in favor of them having their own country, but they have neither the capability of desire to rule over Arab populations. Try again. Any government that represents Syria will be hostile to Israel. No government is going to willingly accept another country holding their territory, however justified by history and strategic necessity. As I said, Israel can defend itself against Syria, without our overthrowing every government that doesn’t like them.
>(Note: these are NOT the so-called “moderate rebels” like the Free Syrian Army (FSA) who were heavily composed of islamists - they were/are ineffective/counterproductive).
Probably because they wanted to fight the Alawite dominated Ba’atist government, not other Sunnis.
>(the Arab Race, in this case - usually deceptively translated as Arab Nationalism)
one could argue that they’re basically one and the same.