Now it is Putin who invites Bashar al-Assad to Sochi, and chats to the presidents of Iran and Turkey, and whose army remains in Syria, and remains a good friend of President-Field Marshal al-Sissi of Egypt
Time was when a mere statement from a secretary of state – let alone a US president – would have the phones jangling across the Middle East. The Reagans, Clintons, Bushes or Obamas of this world actually did have an effect on the region, albeit often malign, US leaders being poorly briefed and always in awe of Israel (not to mention its power to destroy political lives in Washington). But today, who is calling the shots across the old Ottoman Empire?
Read more ....
Update: How Obama and Trump Left a Vacuum in the Middle East (Shalom Lipner, Politico)
WNU Editor: For as long as I can remember .... US foreign policy in the Middle East was based on one thing .... the safe extraction and transport of oil. Nothing less and nothing more. But we now live in a different world, and I would say that there are two events that have changed this commitment and policy .... (1) the disaster of the Iraq war, and (2) the shale oil revolution and the push for renewable energy resources that has made the U.S. less dependent on Middle Eastern oil supplies. Robert Fisk says that US foreign policy in the Middle East doesn’t exist anymore .... I say that the U.S. not wanting to commit to a deeper involvement in the Middle East is its foreign policy, and who would blame them
7 comments:
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/national-security/us-moves-toward-open-ended-presence-in-syria-after-islamic-state-is-routed/2017/11/22/1cd36c92-ce13-11e7-a1a3-0d1e45a6de3d_story.html
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2017/11/syria-why-the-us-occupation-or-presence-is-unsustainable.html#more
Jay,
Russia is not going to allow the US to keep an indefinite presence in Syria even if it wanted to. As for the disaster of Iraq, the US military is now barely capable of defending Ametica, if that, much less being active in the Middle East. As for the shale oil revolution, if the US does this propely, the US might actually become a major world power, perhaps even "great."
As for Americans, we generally aren't worried about such things. Most of us are merely trying to survive. We want a basic lifestyle, basic rights, and basic dignity that 99.999999% of the world"s population takes for granted.
WNU,
I have a mixed feeling with that. America is not an island and all oil problem could hurt Europe which is strategic for us in many ways.
I think the US and everyone around the world watching events in the middle east unfold realised that it is not up to a foreign government or its military to bring peace there. They can't spend trillions on nation building if the people are in deep sectarian violence and just destroy everything again and again. They have to overcome their hatred first, then money will flow in to allow them all lead a better life. In shā'a llāh
Stand back. Let them at it.
Fusion,
It would seem you have not read my posts in their entirety. Actually, the US military might be able to defend America if it were properly deployed and had decent military and civilian leaders.
As far as sources and facts, the editor has documented the overuse of the US military in a number of places that has left the equipment and personnel badly worn down and depleted as well as the misallocation of resources such as on the F-35 and a long range bomber. There is a good bit of information documenting this on the internet and elsewhere.
As far as a third world country, this may not be very far off. The best description would likely be "Potemkin Village."
"We get it, you hate America,..." actually, very respectfully, you do not "get it." Actually I love America, its people, its land, and its culture "warts and all" so to speak. It is where I live, where I was born, and the country that is my home. As someone who loves America, I offer constructive critique when things are not going as they should. Furthermore as someone who loves America I DEEPLY RESENT IT WHEN EITHER FOREIGN POWERS OR OUR OWN GOVERNMENT USES OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AS PAWNS ON THEIR CHESSBOARD WHITHOUT REGARD FOR THEIR LIVES, WELLBEING, OR THE LIVES AND WELLBEING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!! Critiquing and criticizing flawed policies is not a sign of hatred. It is quite the opposite.
While you may be from America, from the tone of your posts I highly doubt this. In fact, it may be you who hates America as you seem to have no problem with our people and resources being wasted on what essentially are fools errands. Now, if you want to go fight Russia, China, or other major world powers, by all means, STRAP IT ON!! Ukraine and Poland especially are looking for some cannon fodder.
Now as for Syria, I explained how this would end in 2011 when this first started. Assad was going to win. This could not be prevented. If it came to it, Russia simply would not allow Assad to fall. The US had no upside in intervening and such intervention carried huge downside risks. By getting involved we only delayed the inevitable. Now the Syrian military, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, etc. are now battle hardened fighting forces ready to carry out vengeance against the US and Israel. Had we simply stayed out of it the war would have ended much faster, fewer casualties on all sides, and Assad's forces and allied forces would not be as battle hardened as they are now. Meanwhile we are badly depleted from continuing fruitless wars that don't advance our interests!!
Again, perhaps it is you who hates America. After all it would seem anyone who loves America would want these polices changed to ones that make more sense for America and its interests than the current ones. By attacking the messenger in such a way is often used to shut down legitimate debate or to attempt to do so.
Given the utter stupidity of American leaders in places like Ukraine, Syria, and elsewhere it seems very clear these people would make very lousy poker players and probably even worse chess players. As for a new Cold War with Russia, this is something we did not need, lack the resources to prosecute effectively, and the American people don't want it especially when it is properly explained to them. Furthermore given the dire straits most Americans are in economically "strategies" for the Middle East aren't that important. A better idea is to focus on how we can improve the economic prospects for the American people so that they have the opportunity to have adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and stable access to the basic necessities of life.
The premiss of the op eds, is that the US under Trump and the Military, don't have a plan.
The reality, is "they" have a "plan",
and I'm not saying it's a good one.
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