![]() ![]() For over seven years nearly all Syrians have asked some variation of the following: “Yes, Bashar al-Assad and his entourage are incompetent, corrupt, and brutal. ![]() What Moscow, Tehran, and the Assad regime fear specifically is that protected Syrian governance in the northeast will produce, for the edification of all Syrians, an example of decent, competent, humane, and legitimate administration. ![]() Iraq in 2003 and Libya in 2011 are fine examples of leaving stabilization to chance. Indeed, post-combat stabilization is an important part of military doctrine, ignored at the peril of those who ignore it. The greatest fear of Moscow, Tehran, and the Assad regime they support is that Washington and its partners – regional states, Europeans, and anti-Assad Syrians – will take the time required to stabilize northeastern Syria: to expedite humanitarian aid, to rebuild the destroyed city of Raqqa, and to help local municipal and town councils build decent administrative and security networks and institutions. This is valuable territory: rich in petroleum and agricultural resources. The negative national security consequences of a diplomatic debacle in Finland for Americans, Europeans, and Syria’s neighbors would be serious and long-lasting.īy fighting ISIS in northeastern Syria for nearly four years, the United States and its coalition partners have very nearly completed the military liberation of all northeastern Syria east of the Euphrates River. If he gives it up, his pockets will be emptied to the delight of Iran, the Assad regime, and the Kremlin. If he chooses to use it in his meeting with his Russian counterpart, he can increase the chances for real Russian cooperation in ending the Syrian crisis on mutually acceptable terms. President Trump travels to Helsinki with impressive Syria-related leverage. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |