Despite recent pledges by the Trump Administration to drawdown forces in the Middle East, specifically with cuts in Iraq and Afghanistan, officials in Washington do not appear to be extending such pre-election pledges for its running contingent still illegally occupying parts of northeastern Syria.
In a contradictory announcement on Friday, the US military said that they will be deploying new Bradley armoured vehicles and other military assets to Syria. The reason given publicly remains dubious as ever, with the White House and the Pentagon toggling between disingenuous claims that US assets are there to ‘protect US troops fighting ISIS,’ and that remaining US forces are there “guard the oil.”
The US-led coalition will send its Bradley column into northeast Syria as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), said Pentagon spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto.
SEE ALSO: US Troop Drawdown in Iraq: Strategic Shift, or Shrewd Election Move?
“CJTF-OIR plans to position mechanized infantry assets, including Bradley Fighting Vehicles, to Syria to ensure the protection of Coalition forces and preserve their freedom of movement so they may continue Defeat Daesh operations safely,” said Marotto.
He added that US is still fighting ISIS in Syria, and “plans to position mechanized infantry units, including Bradley Fighting Vehicles, to Syria to ensure the protection of Coalition forces and preserve their freedom of movement so they may continue Defeat Daesh [ISIS] operations safely.”
Strangely, this comes right on the heels of President Donald Trump declaring at a White House press conference that “we are out of Syria.”
CNN reported that the US has also deployed its advanced Sentinel radar system, supposedly “to help counter enemy drones and missiles, as well as increased the frequency of US fighter jet patrols over US forces,” according to Capt. William Urban, a spokesman for US Central Command, which oversees US operations in the region. This does indicate a longer stint, and perhaps an increase in air operations for the US.
The devil is in the detail however, as he hinted that Syrian forces are among their target list: “The United States does not seek conflict with any other nation in Syria, but will defend Coalition forces if necessary.”
While Iraq and Afghanistan have long been regarded by much of the US mainstream as lost causes for the empire. However, maintaining instability and economic pain in Syria is still a top priority for Israel and its Lobby embedded in Washington – which also means it’s a priority to US mainstream media outlets too. For these and other reasons, it is unlikely the White House would want to reverse course on Syria anytime soon, opting instead to carry on with its policy of maximum pressures through punitive economic sanctions and occupation and arming proxy ‘rebels’, Kurdish forces and various terrorists groups, in order to hamper Russian efforts to help Damascus. Ultimately, Washington and Israel’s primary objective is to push Syria further into instability and towards eventual regime change.
As the US election rapidly approaches, expect more bold foreign policy announcements and moves, as Trump prepares for his final push to secure a second term in the White House.
READ MORE SYRIA NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Syria Files
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