Posted on 10/29/2019 6:38:15 AM PDT by mac_truck
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will repel any attempt to take Syria’s oil fields away from U.S.-backed Syrian militia with “overwhelming force,” whether the opponent is Islamic State or even forces backed by Russia or Syria, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The U.S. military announced last week it was reinforcing its position in Syria with additional assets, including mechanized forces, to prevent oilfields from being taken over by remnants of the Islamic State militant group or others.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper offered some of his most detailed remarks to date about the mission at a news briefing on Monday.
“U.S. troops will remain positioned in this strategic area to deny ISIS access those vital resources. And we will respond with overwhelming military force against any group that threatens the safety of our forces there,” Esper told reporters at the Pentagon.
Pressed on whether the U.S. military mission included denying any Russian or Syrian government forces access to the oilfields, Esper said: “The short answer is, yes, it presently does.”
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
It appears Lindsey Graham is filling in nicely for the deposed John Bolton.
Are we being compensated for our security services?
I don’t want to foot the bill.
I don’t want to defend oil for Europes or Asia...paid or not.
I want to consume American fossil fuels (including coal) to produce cheap energy and gear up manufacturing in the United States.
As a matter of fact, I want a moratorium on exporting fuel.
This has been my unchanging position since 1990.
Sounds like great idea!
Heh... You actually doubt Trump is going to get paid....
Funny, that. Hell, the stripper ended up owing him 300K and I am sure he has someone next to stage taking his share of tucked bucks till she pays up in full.
According to this article, the oil is being pumped out and handed over to the SDF as payment for their security services.
Not sure this is a tenable arrangement long term.
I dunno, it’s worth asking.
I’m sure Trump will get paid, just as I am sure that the GOP will throw as many as our tax dollars at whomever wants them without even asking.
The operation is rather low-scale for nation-state level. Around $1 million+ per day. I have no idea why US military has to be involved. The oil belongs to the Syrian government anyway. A great deal of corruption and vested interests involved for sure.
You’re implying Lindsey Graham is calling the shots for POTUS? I don’t think so.
Dude, Trump is really really really good at the money thing.
He sent the Military to go look under the couch cushions and is funding the wall with the change they found.
We have NEVER had a POTUS with this level of SHEKELGEIST.
Islamic State was getting their funding by selling oil to Turkey. Without funding for supplies, terrorists have a hard time operating.
The purpose of securing the oil is to deny the funds to IS, and instead give it to the Kurds.
The Syrian government only becomes relevant when they demonstrate an ability to control territory and do something effective against IS. At that point, they can talk to Trump about getting the oil fields back.
I think POTUS explained his thinking on this pretty clearly. The immediate purpose is to ensure they don’t fall into the hands of what remains of ISIS. Sounds reasonable to me. In the longer term some transfer will be negotiated between Syria and/or the Kurds. If contracts can be negotiated to grant some American energy companies the rights to develop them, that would be a good thing.
My understanding is the Kurds sell the purloined oil back to the Syrian government, despite US sanctions on doing so.
Go figure.
Rather than you guessing as to what I implied, allow me to make things clearer for you. Graham is a neocon war pig and he’ll do anything to ensure American kids remain Middle East as human fodder. In the Washington Swamp s’bags like Graham have power and they can, at least to a degree, influence policy.
Current strategy is not to steal product for big oil, its to dry up funds for IS and Iranian proxies.
This was Trumps redeployment strategy, defeat the ISIS 'army', then prevent it from coming back, while minimizing our footprint. I was initially concerned about the withdrawal and abandoning the Kurds, but that is not what he has done at all. Trump knows that to go after the Bagdadi's out there, you have to have some eyes and ears on the ground, as well as the best intel systems in the world to do that. He has smartly re-positioned.
I am curious what others here who thought Trump was doing a Pat Buchanan and retreating to fortress America now think. I see some blaming on various presidential advisors giving POTUS bad advice, but Trump actually knows you cant turn a blind eye to certain threats and not expect them to wind up on our doorstep at some point.
I am all for us not being world police. We have enough problems to deal with right here in the back yard. But I am not for us letting enemies grow and fester unopposed. I like Trumps strategy of using all tools available (economic as well as military) to deal with these threats.
Waiting for the incoming 'Trump' just lost re-election crowd.
That’s pretty rich considering WE created trained and funded the rebels and fly top cover for them when they seized the oilfields.
That’s a rather absurd excuse, although fitting for a ‘protection’ racket, something a mafia boss would come with.
It is not really that important who are the buyer.
You should read 12 and 16. Graham is supporting Trumps current strategy. So maybe its Trump you are complaining about.
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