Trump's Second Foreign Policy Crisis: Syria

[JohnDB]

Assad left yesterday. Damascus has fallen to the rebels.
Syria is gone. Trump can't do anything.
And as far as the US involvement?
We back the Kurds in the region. That's all.
Russia, Turkey, Iran, and others are meeting to decide what to do. There's a hundred different little cell groups all wanting control. They will fight each other and US forces.

 

[22lcidw]

Isolationism never works. In fact, in increases the odds of global instability.

We are not isolationists. We have endless military bases around the planet. Wedo not have to get involved in every local crisis. We are a global power currently in decline. China soon enough will control much of the Western Pacific.

 

[Picaro]

Syria needs to be broken up. It is going to collapse anyway, and Turkey is already going after the Kurds. We gave our word to two of the Kurdish factions that we would support their statehood, and they deserve it. Fuck Erdogan and his backstabbing.

 

[Picaro]

We have endless military bases around the planet.

No, we don't. Calling listening posts, weather stations, and refueling stops 'bases' is just dishonest.

 

[Nuthin' Fancy]

I know that Assad has fallen, I asked what Biden's policy wrt Syria was.

Can you describe it?

No.
Nor could describe any presidents Syria policy.
Besides arming the rebels and sending US troops there.
Can you?

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

From the reports I’ve read going back to 2014. The Syrian Christians were more part of being pro Assad.

Some Americans have no idea that there’s actually lots of Christians in Syria. And they don’t know for example that Lebanon is half Christian. They just think they’re all Muslim there.

And Christians in Syria account for about 15% of the entire population. They are part of the police force, the military, the government. May God be with them and the many honorable Muslims who want Syria to be peaceful.

A lot of “Syrian rebels” are AQ type fanatical scum who even have received backing from the west. Just despicable.


But obv to some point we see the weakness of the Ba’ath government in syria ….Assad was no Saddam Hussein. Saddam stayed in Iraq and faced the music with bravery, no matter what somebody thinks about him. Even when he was hung from the gallows, he was defiant. I mean for the Syrian government to fall so quickly is stunning. After 50 years in power …. just wow. Let’s hope this thing doesn’t create another refugee crisis.!!!!!

I feel for the honorable Arab Christians, and Muslims. May God give them the power to crush the AQ and isil type fanatics.

 

[Lesh]

Tulsi Gabbard must be SO upset

 

[ThunderKiss1965]

Trump's first foreign policy issue is going to be Ukraine.

His second issue, which may supplant Ukraine, is Syria.

Syria is crumbling. Assad may be gone before Trump is sworn in.

As the primary rebel force, Hyat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), has been enjoying recent success, other factional rebel groups have been cropping up like weeds.

The latest rebel group calls itself the Southern Operations Room.

Putin has abandoned Assad due to his preoccupation with the war in Ukraine.

Iran is also abandoning Syria as they are distracted by Israel.

1500 to 2000 Syrian troops have turned tail and entered Iraq.

Hezbollah has entered Syria to stem the tide of Syrian rebels who are now close enough to be a threat to Tripoli in northern Lebanon.

Once Assad falls, all of these rebel organizations are going to be fighting each other to fill the power vacuum, and we can be sure there will be vicious recriminations against anyone connected to the Assad regime.

HTS is the dominant rebel organization, but none of the factions can be considered anything close to moderate.

It's going to be a bloody mess, and Trump is going to have to get up to speed quickly.

Syrian rebels say Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus and claim to have captured capital – as it happened

Rebels say Damascus is ‘free’ of the ‘tyrant’ Bashar al-Assad after lightning advance across the country

www.theguardian.com

These issues are already a crisis that the Biden camp is passing along to Trump and of course loons like yourself are going to blame the incoming administration.

 

[g5000]

I mean for the Syrian government to fall so quickly is stunning.

Quickly?

It took 13 years.

 

[g5000]

Trump armed the rebels

Trump denied the Syrian refugees fleeing the war from coming here.

Trump suspends US refugee programme and bans Syrians indefinitely​

​

That reminds me of the US turning away Jews fleeing Hitler's Germany.

 

[g5000]

Yep

The Trump administration in May 2017, however, approved a plan to begin arming the Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance in Syria made up of mostly Kurds and some Arab fighters, which has helped oust ISIS from its stronghold in Raqqa.

Um...you should read your link.

That was set up by Obama and handed off to Trump.

The Obama administration handed the details, which included arming Kurdish fighters, over to the Trump Administration just before leaving office. The new national security team declined to move forward with the plan.

 

[g5000]

Trump armed the rebels

Airstrikes in Syria kill 22 in Joe Biden's first military act as president​

​

Troops to stay put in Syria even as Biden seeks to end America’s ‘forever wars’

Roughly 900 U.S. troops, including a number of Green Berets, will remain in Syria to continue supporting and advising the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting the Islamic State.

www.politico.com

The Biden administration is pulling all American troops out of Afghanistan and formally transitioning to an advisory role in Iraq. But the U.S. military operation in Syria has seen no changes — and officials expect hundreds of troops to remain in the country for the foreseeable future.

Roughly 900 U.S. troops, including a number of Green Berets, will remain in Syria to continue supporting and advising the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting the Islamic State — the same role they have played since the American-led intervention in 2014, according to a senior Biden administration official.

 

[0311]

Trump's first foreign policy issue is going to be Ukraine.

His second issue, which may supplant Ukraine, is Syria.

Syria is crumbling. Assad may be gone before Trump is sworn in.

As the primary rebel force, Hyat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), has been enjoying recent success, other factional rebel groups have been cropping up like weeds.

The latest rebel group calls itself the Southern Operations Room.

Putin has abandoned Assad due to his preoccupation with the war in Ukraine.

Iran is also abandoning Syria as they are distracted by Israel.

1500 to 2000 Syrian troops have turned tail and entered Iraq.

Hezbollah has entered Syria to stem the tide of Syrian rebels who are now close enough to be a threat to Tripoli in northern Lebanon.

Once Assad falls, all of these rebel organizations are going to be fighting each other to fill the power vacuum, and we can be sure there will be vicious recriminations against anyone connected to the Assad regime.

HTS is the dominant rebel organization, but none of the factions can be considered anything close to moderate.

It's going to be a bloody mess, and Trump is going to have to get up to speed quickly.

Syrian rebels say Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus and claim to have captured capital – as it happened

Rebels say Damascus is ‘free’ of the ‘tyrant’ Bashar al-Assad after lightning advance across the country

www.theguardian.com

Assad bailed out according to the morning news. Damascus fell, he beat feet out that country (with millions of dollars of course). No reports as to where went, it will be interesting see where his ass lands.

 

[g5000]

Assad bailed out according to the morning news. Damascus fell, he beat feet out that country (with millions of dollars of course). No reports as to where went, it will be interesting see where his ass lands.

Assad is in Moscow, of course.

 

[Care4all]

Um...you should read your link.

That was set up by Obama and handed off to Trump.

The Obama administration handed the details, which included arming Kurdish fighters, over to the Trump Administration just before leaving office. The new national security team declined to move forward with the plan.

I read the link that I copied the cut and paste from, but not that link connected to the high lighted May, in the cut which was earlier in the year...Feb, when Trump killed the Obama stuff....

But then in May, it says they later did supply weapons....???



The research group detailed 12 cases of weapons that were bought by the United States and ultimately ended up in the terrorist group’s possession.

The United States, under former President Obama, had provided rebel factions fighting the Assad regime with weapons through a covert CIA program that President Trump reportedly ended earlier this year. That program differed from the Pentagon’s train and equip program under Obama, which was focused solely on fighting ISIS.

The Trump administration in May, however, approved a plan to begin arming the Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance in Syria made up of mostly Kurds and some Arab fighters, which has helped oust ISIS from its stronghold in Raqqa.
Here is the link I cut that from

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/364917-study-shows-us-weapons-given-to-syrian-rebels-ended-up-in-isiss-hands/

 

[Delldude]

US hit isis:

𝐔.𝐒. 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted dozens of precision airstrikes targeting known ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria, Dec. 8.The strikes against the ISIS leaders, operatives, and camps were conducted as part of the ongoing mission to disrupt, degrade, and defeat ISIS, in order to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria.The operation struck over 75 targets using multiple U.S. Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s. Battle damage assessments are underway, and there are no indications of civilian casualties.CENTCOM, together with allies and partners in the region, will continue to carry out operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities even during this dynamic period in Syria."There should be no doubt - we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria," said General Michael Erik Kurilla, "All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way."

 

[0311]

Assad is in Moscow, of course.

Yeah, I read the AP story on it. I wonder how much he had to pay upfront.

Ousted Syrian Leader Assad Flees To Moscow After Fall of Damascus, Russian State Media Say.

Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media say

The Syrian government collapsed to a lightning rebel offensive that sent crowds into the streets to celebrate the end of the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule.

apnews.com

By ABDULRAHMAN SHAHEEN, ABBY SEWELL and SARAH EL DEEB
Updated 12:51 PM PST, December 8, 2024
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family’s 50 years of iron rule.

Thousands of Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire and waved the revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war.

The swiftly moving events raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region.

“Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East,” President Joe Biden said, crediting action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria’s backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He called the fall of Assad a “fundamental act of justice” but also a “moment of risk and uncertainty,” and said rebel groups are “saying the right things now” but the U.S. would assess their actions.

 

[para bellum]

No.
Nor could describe any presidents Syria policy.
Besides arming the rebels and sending US troops there.
Can you?

Yes, I can.

Obama's policy, which was adopted by Biden, was regime change. That included arming al Qaeda and other Islamist groups in Syria with weapons looted from Ghadaffi's armories in Libya. What would come next was never a consideration.

Trump's policy was to take down ISIS (who built a caliphate thanks to Obama's feckless Iraq withdrawal), who were busy hacking heads off of civilians and taking hostages from western countries and our allies, and then get the hell out.

Trump had the sense to leave Syria as Putin's problem, made easier after Obama and John Kerry handed Putin an engraved invitation to deal with Assad's chemical weapons.

The more Russia propped up Assad, the more the Islamists in Syria would turn on Russia, rather than us. Trump recognized that and made the smart move. Russia is the one making the ignominious withdrawal from Syria now, not the US...

 

[TimFitz]

Syria is no crises. It's none of our business.

Wishful thinking,

I guess all the zTrump flat earth types hope they can pretend world crises away. Just like their beloved fuhrer tried to wish Covid away.

 

[Delldude]

Syria is no crises. It's none of our business.

Looks like someone made it our business.....we just launched 75 airstrikes.