U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan speaks at the annual Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert
Reuters: Acting Pentagon chief says committed to defeating Islamic State, but allies skeptical
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Friday the United States was committed to defeating Islamic State in the Middle East and beyond, but officials said European allies were skeptical of Washington’s pledges.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement in December that he was withdrawing all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria surprised and rattled allies. U.S. officials have crisscrossed the Middle East in recent weeks to reassure them that Washington remains committed to the region.
Trump’s Syria decision was opposed by top aides, including then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who quit, leaving his deputy Shanahan in charge of the Pentagon.
“While the time for U.S. troops on the ground in northeast Syria winds down, the United States remains committed to our coalition’s cause, the permanent defeat of ISIS, both in the Middle East and beyond,” Shanahan said after a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
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Update: US: Time to expand the international coalition against IS (AP)
WNU Editor: America's allies are reluctant to get involved since the U.S. is leaving .... US struggles to convince anti-IS allies to secure Syria after it leaves (Channel News Asia/AFP).
8 comments:
The defeat of ISIS is hours away and occupation of Syria is not in USA’s vital interests or of any interest. The USA has spent billions training Iraqi and Kurdish forces who know the people and customs. They are best equipped to handle the anti-terror and pacification work, not GI’s from Kentucky or Idaho. Time to end 28 years of middle eastern wars.
If Iran is building a base, a haven, a safe area, a recruiting ground, a military base, it is of US interest.
Iran is doing this in Syria, so it is the US interest to stop it.
I thought GIs came from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Why this fixation on Idaho and Kentucky, which the 1st poster equates with 'white'?
Ya know there are white people from those states are expats and/or know multiple languages and what not.
anon @6:45, I can’t help it I’d you are a racist.
Anon @6:41. The USA doesn’t necessarily have to do all the heavy lifting against Iran. We are already using economic and cyber warfare against them. Why can’t Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE and others put muscle against them? Leave our Mississippi, West Virginia, Arizona boys at home, what’s wrong with that?
Anon 7:25 & 5:39.
You just could not let it stand. You printed a pretty picture about Idaho and Kentucky using cliches about military recruitment and American demography it.
You post was a 2-fer to get whites upset and nonwhite upset at whites.
First off let's get real. You are a fuck head and a dumb one at that. You have know Idea what the American military looks like because you have not lived it.
Second off, you have know idea what America demography or values are like. Fuckhead, how would an archaeologists explore what American values are or are not? Hint, you might want to start at a kiosk.
Must be tough on the out side looking in and trying to stir the pot.
If Russians are on Facebook, then they are bound to be here too.
Anon@7:53
Being a fellow traveler of the KKK is no way to go thru life.
Amen
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