White House
Ben Jonsson, War On The Rocks: A New Plan For The United States In Syria
Gen. David Petraeus called the conflict in Syria “a geopolitical Chernobyl, spewing instability and extremism over the region and the rest of the world.” Now in its fifth year, the war has claimed over 250,000 lives, displaced nearly half the population, and literally torn the country apart. In the process, it has evolved into a different type of problem for the United States. The U.S. strategy to deal with the conflict was unrealistic from the beginning. As the Obama administration rethinks its Syria strategy, it should start by redefining U.S. interests in the face of an increasingly fractured Syrian conflict and adopting a new strategy that seeks to immediately reduce the level of violence by enforcing a pause on offensive operations by all sides in Syria. The United States has the diplomatic and military tools already in place to do this. It would be difficult and require the adroit and shrewd application of power, but to do less would lead to more human devastation, further damage U.S. interests, and allow Russia to gain more influence over the region.
WNU Editor: I do not see a new strategy happening in the near future .... the U.S. is out of ideas, and they have a lame-duck President that is not motivated to take on a more active (and potentially dangerous) role. The momentum has shifted away from the U.S., and I think the big concern (and fear) among policy wonks in Washington right now is that as Russia ratchets up its military involvement in Syria, the question that is now being asked is .... what happens if they succeed/win. A Russian success story in Syria will impact Iraq .... and I am sure that in Baghdad right now there are many who are "chopping at the bit" to tell the Americans to leave and to invite the Russians in. If that happens ... .wow .... it will alter the Middle East in ways that were unfathomable only a few years ago. And for America's allies in the Middle East .... a worst case scenario developing right on their doorstep.
Bottom line .... the U.S. does not only need a new plan for Syria .... they need a new plan for the Middle East .... and maybe in a few other places .... and sadly .... I do not see it happening in the near future.
3 comments:
Actually they need a new plan for the well being of America itself. For far too long the assets and income of that country have been dedicated to international ventures such that necessities, like maintaining infrastructure and dealing with internal social issues at home have been neglected. As for the Mid East, from the US perspective, it is beginning to look as if "hope" is their only strategy. A period of isolation and rebirth is long overdue.
The New, New plan ...
Does America have any Middle East allies? It seems to me they all either jumped boat or will do so at a moment's notice by this point.
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