Good: The US is finally thinking about long-term strategy for the part of Syria formerly controlled by ISIS. Bad: This strategy they're thinking about.https://www.axios.com/report-us-wants-arab-force-to-replace-american-troops-in-syria-824da7ca-04e0-4a24-bb0e-5ab4da06a8b9.html …
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A multinational Sunni Arab occupying force is a fantasy (and that's putting it generously). Egyptian military busy with unrest in the Sinai, unstable Libya next door, running the government. Saudi Arabia can't handle Yemen. Now they're going to stabilize a big chunk of Syria? 2/x
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Hoping to hand off responsibility for northeastern Syria to a (currently non-existent) multinational Sunni Arab coalition appears driven by a desire to leave, regardless of what happens, rather than formulate a strategy that could succeed. 3/xpic.twitter.com/TFQpJ0hj8X
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Especially odd in this situation because: 1) Republicans lambasted Obama for fully withdrawing from Iraq, creating a vacuum that facilitated the rise of ISIS. Similar risk in Syria. Probably worse, given the ongoing civil war. And at least the the Iraqi army actually existed. 4/x
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2) Only 2,000 US troops in Syria. Just 3 killed by hostile action in 3+ years. Not a big commitment. But they make a big difference. Support SDF (mostly Kurdish force that dislodged ISIS). Get between US ally Turkey and US ally SDF. Saudi, Egypt don't have those relationships 5/x
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Big winners of US leaving Syria--whether trying to hand off to multinational Sunni Arab force or not--would be Assad-Iran-Russia. They want the whole country. Only fear of war with the US will deter them from trying, causing more suffering, and likely leading to next ISIS. 6/x
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A better strategy--which I discuss in this article--would be solidifying the de facto partition of Syria. Instead, Trump's complaining about a relatively small amount of money and proposing to do what Russia wants most. Surprised? (END)https://arcdigital.media/america-bombed-syria-but-what-does-the-u-s-want-1bffedaa6cf5 …
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Replying to @NGrossman81
Fantastic, concise article on the Syrian conflict... which is its own miracle
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Wow, thanks. That's nice of you to say.
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