Riddle me this…….
The US is not at war with Syria, right?
We are there to defeat ISIS nothing more, right?
Then what gave Trump the right to “control” the oilfields in Syria?
Over the weekend I read some stuff that made me confused more so than normal about the events within Syria….
In puzzling comments earlier in the day, President Trump appeared to be declaring Syria a war about oil, and declaring victory, Tweeting “We have secured the Oil. Bringing soldiers home!”
The context wasn’t readily apparent, and it wasn’t true anyhow since comments from Defense Secretary Mark Esper made clear US troops are not coming home. Now, it turns out some US troops aren’t even leaving Eastern Syria, and the reason is the oil.
Sunday night’s report say Trump is now leaning toward a scheme to keep around 200 ground troops in eastern Syria, based on a plan the generals have sold him on. The 200 troops would have a”dual purpose” mission to fight ISIS and to keep Syria’s government from controlling Syria’s oil production facilities.
It makes more sense that this is a US goal, however, or at least a talking point, given Trump’s bragging about having “secured the oil” in Syria. Whether they can actually do this is another matter.
Where the US troops will be positioned is unclear, as the Pentagon is refusing to comment. at all on the matter. But for those who viewed going from Syria to Iraq as a big disappointment when with Trump talking about “bringing soldiers home,” having hundreds not even leaving Syria at all is an even bigger letdown.
If this turns out to be the case, this will be the second time in the past year that Trump has announced a military withdrawal from Syria, defended that plan in the face of criticism, and then ultimately bailed on it to keep troops in place with more military goals added all the time.
And if all the troops are coming home, according to Trump, then whom will be “controlling” these oilfields? (BTW troops from Syria are going to Northwestern Iraq not home)
A few more thoughts……
1–Syria is a sovereign nation
2–The US was never asked by Syria for our help
3–The US is not at war with Syria
4–The oil in Syria is a Syrian natural resource
5–US control is tantamount to theft.
Nothing about this Syrian situation is coherent…..but then most of Trump’s foreign policy seldom is…..not coherent that is……
I Read, I Wrote, You Know
“Lego Ergo Scribo”
I think the plan is to make sure Syrian oil doesn’t become Iranian oil.
Matters not…it is Syrian oil…period…. chuq
Syria’s oil or Assad’s oil ? Too bad the revenue won’t be used to rebuild the country but to strengthen Assad militarily.
Assad is Syria at least for now…and I agree….the reconstruction of the country should be the first thought….chuq
I have been reading some articles by Robert Kennedy, Jr published in Rolling Stones. He is defending his uncle President Kennedy. Good articles. According to his JFK battled the military, the state department, the CIA and government intelligence. Kennedy wanted to bring our troops from from Vietnam and break the MIC’s hold on our government.
Reminds me of Trump’s fight to reduce our engagement in endless wars. Kennedy lost the battle when he was killed. Trump is not having any better luck. He keeps changing his mind and backing down.
Trump is talking a good game…but nothing tells me he means nay of it…..chuq
As I recall, we went to war with Iraq to defend the right of Kuwait to control its own oil.
But Assad wasn’t in charge of Kuwait of course.
Best wishes, Pete.
I think that the Kuwait thing was more about protecting the Saudis that Saddam;s policies….chuq
I recall Bush 41 kept saying it was to protect our way of life. Then he would say it was to protect Israel. Then to uphold international law and protect people from invasion. Or to keep Iraq from acquiring all the oil in the Middle East and starting a global war.
I had s hard time understanding which of those was the real reason. Never heard him say anything about protecting the Saudis, which is an indication that that was the real reason which he did not want to admit.
Why do we protect Israel? Lots of excuses but the real reason is something different….chuq