Make the oil rich countries in the Middle East like Qatar and Saudi Arabia that promoted radical Islam pay to rebuild Syria and take in Muslim refugees.
Some militant group, perhaps ISIS perhaps someone else, is sure to retake Tabqa and some future point under this current hands off plan. One thing we have learned is without constant vigilance by a superior force, such as the US army, local militants will spread. In other words, terrorist organizations are kinda like rats in a grain factory. In the absence of someone always chasing them away they will swarm in.
3
It doesn't occur to the modern Generals, the State Department, or the Times that this territory belongs to Syria, not the US and its clients. Since Obama's policy of regime change has failed, the consolation prize seems to be stealing a corridor of land and setting up a (T)rump state. And, like Trump's call for Mexico to pay for his wall, expecting the Syrian government to pay people to work for the cabal. A combination of Vichy and South Vietnam. All done with a straight face.
1
Trump has zero plans yet on how to run America, but he has plans how to fix other countries???
He spent his first few days getting his feet wet using his new military 'toys' and MOABS, while getting SEALS, innocent women and children killed, under the guise of rescuing innocent women and children from certain death.
TRUMP could not master a plan for five persons to exit a room safely in a fire, even though the room was already plastered with exit signs and fire extinguishers every five feet. He most likely could not find his way out of a paper bag regardless the exit was clearly marked 'Exit Here' and fire not even being a factor.
Feeding starving displaced war torn people, and supplying flour is a great humanitarian ideal, but if they don't have ovens, clean water or energy of some sort to bake breads and other foods, it is nothing more than giving a person who has just had an artery slashed, a kleenex to stop the bleeding.
Please do not give credit to this man for something he has not done, or will not do to fix a sick and ailing country such as Syria. Congress as convoluted as it is, has had NO say about the war there.
For a man who claims America First, he really has priorities messed up, as he strips away health Insurance from millions.
But, it is difficult I understand, to recall and keep straight all of one's lies and alternative facts.
He spent his first few days getting his feet wet using his new military 'toys' and MOABS, while getting SEALS, innocent women and children killed, under the guise of rescuing innocent women and children from certain death.
TRUMP could not master a plan for five persons to exit a room safely in a fire, even though the room was already plastered with exit signs and fire extinguishers every five feet. He most likely could not find his way out of a paper bag regardless the exit was clearly marked 'Exit Here' and fire not even being a factor.
Feeding starving displaced war torn people, and supplying flour is a great humanitarian ideal, but if they don't have ovens, clean water or energy of some sort to bake breads and other foods, it is nothing more than giving a person who has just had an artery slashed, a kleenex to stop the bleeding.
Please do not give credit to this man for something he has not done, or will not do to fix a sick and ailing country such as Syria. Congress as convoluted as it is, has had NO say about the war there.
For a man who claims America First, he really has priorities messed up, as he strips away health Insurance from millions.
But, it is difficult I understand, to recall and keep straight all of one's lies and alternative facts.
2
Why does anyone in the West need a plan to aid syria? Was it france or Norway who were bombing syria like iran and russia?
This whole war and any destruction from it falls on putin and iran, they can spend their treasure to rebuild - the West, including the US or Europe - should spend a penny.
All syrian refugees should be sent back to syria, and the sunnis should take over, they were 85% of the population. Let the West arm them so they can defend themselves and overcome the iranian/russian terrorism against their country, but thats it.
Had "red lines" obama had the courage and character to fulfill his pledge and attacked the fake, cancerous, terrorist regime of assad in 2011 when that murderer used sarin gas, then the country would already be in sunnia hands, assad would be dead as he should have been long ago, and the country would not look like Warsaw 1945.
Sadly, the utterly awful NYT prefers to sidestep its beloved pet obama's complete and utter failure in syria, so it tries to pass the blame onto the Trump administration, as if the last 6 years never happened. The current regime running the NYT has utterly destroyed its credibility.
This whole war and any destruction from it falls on putin and iran, they can spend their treasure to rebuild - the West, including the US or Europe - should spend a penny.
All syrian refugees should be sent back to syria, and the sunnis should take over, they were 85% of the population. Let the West arm them so they can defend themselves and overcome the iranian/russian terrorism against their country, but thats it.
Had "red lines" obama had the courage and character to fulfill his pledge and attacked the fake, cancerous, terrorist regime of assad in 2011 when that murderer used sarin gas, then the country would already be in sunnia hands, assad would be dead as he should have been long ago, and the country would not look like Warsaw 1945.
Sadly, the utterly awful NYT prefers to sidestep its beloved pet obama's complete and utter failure in syria, so it tries to pass the blame onto the Trump administration, as if the last 6 years never happened. The current regime running the NYT has utterly destroyed its credibility.
2
Trump has policy priorities. Let's see, he has many: obstruction of justice, emoluments violations, conflicts of interest, reactiveness, resentments shake his life, bullying, derogatory criticism to anyone, contempt for the press, defies the constitution.
Sometimes practical solutions are the best. Just send a few Hercules cargo planes full of diggers, bulldozers and construction equipment. Run a public tender with local construction companies (I'm sure there were before the war, as there are plenty of able-bodied men willing to rebuild their town), and award the winning company free lease of the equipment. Use the US Army to supervise progress, monitor that the equipment is used properly, provide assistance and project management where needed.
Come on Trump, this is basic real estate development 101. If there is one thing you can brag about being an expert at, this should be the one. Let's do it!
Come on Trump, this is basic real estate development 101. If there is one thing you can brag about being an expert at, this should be the one. Let's do it!
Trump should withhold that $100b Saudi arms deal until they make a meaningful contribution to rebuilding Syria. You break it, you buy it.
In the real world, Iran will probably make a meaningful contribution and the neocons will then throw a fit about "the Shia crescent."
In the real world, Iran will probably make a meaningful contribution and the neocons will then throw a fit about "the Shia crescent."
1
What plans, oh great foreign policy plans, does the US of A have? Pray tell us!
The US, in the past fifty years, only knows how to bomb everything out of existence. We never build...we just destroy. In Hollywood movies and mythologies only demons, monsters, Frankenstein's creations, warring tribes, colonialists, imperialists, violent demagogues, invading aliens and brutal psychopaths (like Caligula), who enjoy torture and violence, do that.
We leave devastation, calamities, destitutes, orphans, disabilities, traumas and refugees wherever we go. And then we try to sell these ruined societies our cars, burghers, corn, beef....
America, and its foreign policy, is the deadly virus that should be quarantined.
What policy??? Policy, my foot!
The US, in the past fifty years, only knows how to bomb everything out of existence. We never build...we just destroy. In Hollywood movies and mythologies only demons, monsters, Frankenstein's creations, warring tribes, colonialists, imperialists, violent demagogues, invading aliens and brutal psychopaths (like Caligula), who enjoy torture and violence, do that.
We leave devastation, calamities, destitutes, orphans, disabilities, traumas and refugees wherever we go. And then we try to sell these ruined societies our cars, burghers, corn, beef....
America, and its foreign policy, is the deadly virus that should be quarantined.
What policy??? Policy, my foot!
For a buffoon to be elected takes a village.
you need a major paper, it's editors, and writer's like Gordon who will use every problem and every success to scratch their own itch.
Syria problems are first about the Syrians involved and the religions involved. A defeat of a nihilist death cult is most a success even if those involved have uncertain futures.
Making the buffoon in chief the issue is intellectually dishonest and narcisstic. The American intellectual elite brand strength.
you need a major paper, it's editors, and writer's like Gordon who will use every problem and every success to scratch their own itch.
Syria problems are first about the Syrians involved and the religions involved. A defeat of a nihilist death cult is most a success even if those involved have uncertain futures.
Making the buffoon in chief the issue is intellectually dishonest and narcisstic. The American intellectual elite brand strength.
C'mon, Mr. Gordon..........Do you mean to tell the world, and us, that our Twit in the Oval Office has some kind of recovery plan for Syria? That our Elmer Fudd is smart enough to undo what Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld created just for revenge? Well, I suppose you could be right......perhaps he can do it with 140 character tweets. We shall see. But as a long ago combatant once remarked: "The issue is in doubt."
The US is referring war torn countries to the UN - while cutting its Un relief budget. It is idiotic to expect starving people who have no electricity or water to rebuild. Americans do not understand that the Syrian government is trying to eliminate its own people. The old adage "bomb everything" did not work in Vietnam- remember that war? and it's not working in the Middle East. The military is having fun - with an unlimited budget - but who will clean up the devastation - Iraq revisited.
Removing weeds by cutting off the tops, but leaving the roots. Those who refuse to learn from their mistakes are sure to repeat them.
These comments regarding "it's Obama's fault" every time there is bad news need to be culled out by NYT's .. when it is blatantly wrong you do no service by putting this in print. You would think the United States had no global or national history before Obama. Please NYT's don't pander to hate and ignorance just because someone was able to put a sentence together. All you do is elevate their willful ignorance by giving it acceptance in print.
Trump.. plan.. that's a joke, right?
David Underwood. Blaming congress for Obama's lack of action is the biggest joke i have heard in a long time. There is a prudent reason the president can act on foreign policy on his own. That is a main function of the executive branch. The local reps coming from your 6 town district are not best at making foreign policy decisions.
So in 2 weeks, trump was supposed to complete 4 years of infrastructure projects, even though there's no open border to move supplies in, the town is still full of booby traps, probably has sleeper cells, and the left isn't willing to fund anything that could look like a trump success. Clearly, this is Bush's fault that Obama did nothing for 3 years of Isis growth, and certainly blame American bombs for Isis's deliberate destruction and sabotage of infrastructure.
It's a dilemma. This area needs rebuilding, but its people have proven extremely hostile and ungrateful towards people who would do that. The whole of Iraq would be a different place today if the population cooperated with the country they all want to move to. Instead, they fought for "their honor". It's now plain to see that "their honor" is ISIS. That's the biggest problem.
Save the French from the Germans in WWII, and modern France is born. Save the Iraqis from one of the worst dictators in modern times, and you get something far different. The Iraqis, and the Arab world more broadly, would do well to question why that is before the usual heaping of blame on outsiders. They might actually start to get somewhere other than where they've been for the past several centuries of decline.
Save the French from the Germans in WWII, and modern France is born. Save the Iraqis from one of the worst dictators in modern times, and you get something far different. The Iraqis, and the Arab world more broadly, would do well to question why that is before the usual heaping of blame on outsiders. They might actually start to get somewhere other than where they've been for the past several centuries of decline.
Reconstruction policy?
Why don't we just use the same one we've used on the last few demolished countries?
Throw many billions of dollars of American taxpayer money at them, directing some of it into the pockets of local, corrupt officials who require kickbacks before they will let American corporations (who keep their profits kept in Cayman Island shell companies) create a bunch of over-priced infrastructure that's too complicated for local talent to maintain.
Isn't that what we always do?
Why don't we just use the same one we've used on the last few demolished countries?
Throw many billions of dollars of American taxpayer money at them, directing some of it into the pockets of local, corrupt officials who require kickbacks before they will let American corporations (who keep their profits kept in Cayman Island shell companies) create a bunch of over-priced infrastructure that's too complicated for local talent to maintain.
Isn't that what we always do?
NYT - "Tabqa was liberated from ISIS in May, but it still has no basic services and many rotting corpses. The U.S. is sending aid, but it's not in the business of rebuilding.
Are there adults among the inhabitants of Tabqa? Are these adults working on obtaining basic services? Are some people engaged in the burying of the dead? Can they not help themselves with the aid the U.S. is sending? Why do they need the U.S. to rebuild? Are they helpless? Why is this a test of Trump's policies and not a test of the Syrian peoples' resolve?
Are there adults among the inhabitants of Tabqa? Are these adults working on obtaining basic services? Are some people engaged in the burying of the dead? Can they not help themselves with the aid the U.S. is sending? Why do they need the U.S. to rebuild? Are they helpless? Why is this a test of Trump's policies and not a test of the Syrian peoples' resolve?
Trumps policy?
Across centuries, colonial powers have never cared about the people or their future. Washington is a worse example in current history. As it did in Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and for the last 4 years in Syria, the objective is to weaken the central government, fragment the society, and incapacitating institutions. The end result is the spread of terrorists who were recruited and financed by allied states of oil-rich Arab Gulf. It is wrong to believe that ISIS is an enemy. It was created as an instrument to achieve the aforementioned objective. Once the utility of ISIS is over, a new one will be created. So prolong conflict is the new normalcy and their will be no political or economic progress in the Arab World.
We are so very fortunate to be able to live where we do. These people struggling to survive every single day of their lives deserve all the aid we can send their way.
Here is an idea...
Let's re-assign those Army Civil Engineers to a place called America and have them fix its schools, bridges and roads.
Let's re-assign those Army Civil Engineers to a place called America and have them fix its schools, bridges and roads.
1
Did not realise how poorly the UN were letting the Syrian people down.
Just in time - we almost missed out completely! Time to rebuild Syria - lets take the lead and show the world how it is done!
"The United Nations is active in Syria but has yet to begin any relief efforts in Tabqa, and it has mounted only one effort outside of the areas squarely controlled by the Assad government."
Why then we're still hosting and paying for the Useless Nations?
Why then we're still hosting and paying for the Useless Nations?
Trump is all about winning, not caring!
After a long war in Iraq, no more government, no more infrastructure (electrical power, hospitals..), it seems like it is a good place for criminals(isis) to make their own plan, so how US government convincs the american people to go invaded Iraq ?? can anyone told me how they do that ?
1
I guessing the ONLY building project to take place will be the WALL which Trump will build around Syria to keep Syrians from leaving Syria.
It is not possible to rebuild infrastructure in a country whose government we oppose, but are unable to remove. Russia, Iran, and the Assad government will rule and determine the future of the freed cities. We spent a ton of money, along with dead and wounded soldiers during the occupation of Iraq, and all of that nation-building amounted to less than nothing: GWB installed a Shiite-led government which kicked us out and allied with Iran. Assad is an Alawite Shiite. He is not going to ally with us or our Sunni allies in the ME. The Russians are there to stay -- they've always had a naval/air base there, dating back to the Cold War days.
Short-term humanitarian aid is the best we can expect to accomplish.
Short-term humanitarian aid is the best we can expect to accomplish.
1
The US should ask itself, What would they rather have , a secular state that, in a way there is ( thanks to a strong man- whoever he might be ) , or an inevitable religious state if any of the rebels win .
Or , of course a balkanisation of Syria to add to the turmoil of the middle east.
And would only benefit Israel.
Or , of course a balkanisation of Syria to add to the turmoil of the middle east.
And would only benefit Israel.
Who's in charge of developing Trump's foreign policy?
They should try to inform Trump of what they're doing before he makes something up in a tweet, like he usually does.
They should try to inform Trump of what they're doing before he makes something up in a tweet, like he usually does.
It's still a civil war, no? Is it the goal of the U.S. to drive ISIS out of Syria and then pack our bags and leave, or is the plan to then expel Russia, topple Assad, install a pro-western government, i.e., more nation-building? Does Mr. Trump know? Perhaps he could take a break from tweeting and campaigning and tell us.
Tabqa is a part of Syria; Syria has a functional, although war torn, government which should be rebuilding it. Syria, in turn, is an Arab country; there are many cash-rich Arab states who should be helping to rebuild it. Europe, also, has a number of well off countries who could be helping out; as could the UN.
I do not see the US as the policeman of the world, neither do i see the US as the world's general contractor. We have peacekeeping to do at home, Chicago for example, and rebuilding to do here as well. Almost 10% of our bridges, 58000 out of 600,000, are structurally deficient. When those are fixed, along with Penn Station's trackage, etc., then perhaps we can work on rebuilding the rest of the world.
I do not see the US as the policeman of the world, neither do i see the US as the world's general contractor. We have peacekeeping to do at home, Chicago for example, and rebuilding to do here as well. Almost 10% of our bridges, 58000 out of 600,000, are structurally deficient. When those are fixed, along with Penn Station's trackage, etc., then perhaps we can work on rebuilding the rest of the world.
It's not our job to rebuild countries.
They're lucky, and should be very grateful, for what we are doing already.
They're lucky, and should be very grateful, for what we are doing already.
Well, it seems that your job is not to rebuild countries, but to destroy them,
I feel uncomfortable attaching US policy toward Syria to a single person, President Trump in this case. This is one of those cases where we have an American policy. Most of the current policy had been set by President Obama and I find it hard to believe a President Clinton would have behaved much differently. In the end, our people have no appetite for large troop or financial commitments. Do we have a good policy that looks to solve the problems of the Middle East or address our culpability for some of the region's problems? No. But this is the most the American people and their representatives are willing to tolerate. We should all own this policy.
1
Can, will, the Trump administration be able to govern?
We've seen little evidence of that happening. When Trump talks with Putin next week, many wonder what "deals" will be made, since, No transparency, No trust.
Dark times, dark leaders.
We've seen little evidence of that happening. When Trump talks with Putin next week, many wonder what "deals" will be made, since, No transparency, No trust.
Dark times, dark leaders.
1
Excellent article, illuminating how ineffective Trump is. Given the Republican majority in both the House and Senate, where is the congressional authorization to fully engage in Syria? Apparently like Obamacare, Republicans are not too eager to be tagged with the Syrian fiasco, after all, Republicans in 2013 overwhelmingly rejected Obama's request for authorization to attack Syria.
The chaos on the ground in Syria reflects two intersecting civil wars. Assad's civil war wrapped up with the age old Sunni vs. Shiite Muslim sectarian war. Outside of focusing on destroying Isis in Syria, the US should stay out of picking the government of Syria. America did that in Iraq---that's why Isis is now---in Syria. We haven't even finished paying for the last two countries we destroyed and we clearly haven't learned anything.
The chaos on the ground in Syria reflects two intersecting civil wars. Assad's civil war wrapped up with the age old Sunni vs. Shiite Muslim sectarian war. Outside of focusing on destroying Isis in Syria, the US should stay out of picking the government of Syria. America did that in Iraq---that's why Isis is now---in Syria. We haven't even finished paying for the last two countries we destroyed and we clearly haven't learned anything.
Trump will defeat Isis and then should work with an Arab coalition to provide security.
Syrians, unlike Palestinians, are smart and capable and need to rebuild their culture and country themselves. Perhaps Germany, England and France would be willing to pay for the rebuilding.
Syrians, unlike Palestinians, are smart and capable and need to rebuild their culture and country themselves. Perhaps Germany, England and France would be willing to pay for the rebuilding.
This headline implies that Trump has policies and misleads the reader. He does not. He certainly has the intent to destroy many aspects of US government, our culture and our reputation in the world -- but that is not policy. He does appear to adopt the "policies of others" in the moment, if it suits him. To make analysis more honest, we should all stop pretending that he has any policy. If his words and actions cause trouble, create a fight and hurt people, you can be sure Trump will make that choice.
Northern Syria will either be the new Berlin/Israel or it will fail miserably they are completely surrounded by enemies and political rivals. All this effort to defeat the Daesh will be for not if we do not have a plan to prevent Assad, Iran, Shiite Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan (yes they are not allies of the Syrian Kurds for complex reasons), and mostly Turkey from destroying the statelet we are creating.
And yes we are creating the Northern Syrian State anyone that thinks different is fooling themselves.
And yes we are creating the Northern Syrian State anyone that thinks different is fooling themselves.
People care first and foremost about survival and about the well-being of their children. That includes food, clean water, shelter, a job, medical care, and, for the children, a safe place to play and education. For generations rebels and outlaws have known that these things come first, then ideology. So, they have historically done things like food aid & opening clinics. If the "good guys" are hands off because it is messy or not our problem, that void will be filled by those with a nefarious agenda. Down the road, we will be wondering what happened.
15
The half heartedly military campaign against the ISIS is surely to be made ineffectual by the combined forces of Iran, Russia, and the Assad regime that are as determined to end the US presence in the region as perhaps the ISIS threat. So liberation of Tabqa or some other small towns from the clutches of the ISIS amounts to nothing.
8
You can bomb people, but you can not bomb an ideology. They will regroup and spread their Caliphate a bit at a time, just as the Taliban has done.
They are training new leaders now. These are the people that were cast out of the Iraqi society, by J.Paul Bremmer, that Bush sent to Iraq, and let him do it. The educated, the military leaders, the trained officers, teachers, even accountants. This is what Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld gave us.
They are training new leaders now. These are the people that were cast out of the Iraqi society, by J.Paul Bremmer, that Bush sent to Iraq, and let him do it. The educated, the military leaders, the trained officers, teachers, even accountants. This is what Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld gave us.
36
WRONG DAVIE. This is what iran and russia "gave us".
There was no isis until about 2012, almost TEN YEARS after the uS invaded iraq, Had iran not supported the 15% alawite minority ini its desire to massacre the other 85% of the syrian country with russia's help, there would have been a peaceful transition to a rational governance.
There was no isis until about 2012, almost TEN YEARS after the uS invaded iraq, Had iran not supported the 15% alawite minority ini its desire to massacre the other 85% of the syrian country with russia's help, there would have been a peaceful transition to a rational governance.
David you are absolutely right, Paul Bremmer is the man most responsible for this mess. The damage he did in his short time in Iraq will last for generations.
Nah. The garbage was always there—certainly during Carter, Clinton, Obama. Political finger-pointing is small-minded and will not heal this sickness.
1
please remind me, what was Obama's clear policy on syria and ISIS that let to the current situation we are in? oh right, first ignore and then just send cash and weapons to the region without knowing who the actual receipiants are, great policy.
16
David, President Obama didn't need congressional approval to use military force in Syria. He did so to provide cover for his inaction
1
Actually, Obama's policy was to try to figure out which groups to support -- not an easy decision. If anything, it took to long for the Obama administration to identify and confirm what groups to support-- not as simple as most people may think given the complexity of the Middle East players.
"Let me remind you, that Mr.Obama went to congress for permission to take military action against Syria and was turned down."
Let me remind you, that Mr. Trump didn't get congress' authorization either, nor did he ask for it. He just let the generals do their job.
Let me remind you, that Mr. Trump didn't get congress' authorization either, nor did he ask for it. He just let the generals do their job.
Could the nyt stop using the term isis, Daesh isn't and never was a state and it is to give to those criminals an importance that they only had because they claimed their caliphate in two failed governments. Their leaders were stories of fraud and lies and their organization had more to do with the mafia than a religious endeavour.
23
"...and their organization had more to do with the mafia than a religious endeavour."
Liberals always know people's motivation better than the people themselves. Liberals must be gods or prophets at the very least. The latter they actually claim daily. With a straight face, I must add.
Liberals always know people's motivation better than the people themselves. Liberals must be gods or prophets at the very least. The latter they actually claim daily. With a straight face, I must add.
1
"Trump’s Post-ISIS Plan"?
You're kidding of course!
You're kidding of course!
37
We will see that plan when He unveils his plan to defeat ISIS.
1
Stop associating Trump's name with any sort of plan. The guy never had an original idea in his life.
1
Maybe we can ask the Mexicans for help after they finish building "the Wall "!
1
...we want to build it, but we're a little short on cash.
8
Trumps "Post Isis Plan"? Are you kidding me? The man has spent the past three days rage tweeting at cable news show hosts. This administration is not even remotely capable or interested in helping Syria beyond how Syria can help Trumps momentary need for self aggrandizement.
68
"This administration is not even remotely capable or interested in helping Syria..."
I only hope you're right. Rebuilding Syria is for the Syrians. People in the pic above ALL look healthy and of working age.
I only hope you're right. Rebuilding Syria is for the Syrians. People in the pic above ALL look healthy and of working age.
Obama practically created this mess with his " let the people overthrow The Dictator" policy. This headline intimates that these people are suffering because of something Trump is doing. Obama's do-nothing policy is good but trump must do something or else.
It is time for these people to realize that they need to be part of the solution. The United States is sending food and machinery. People of the city have to help in rebuilding. They should not expect to stand back and watch the United States repair everything.
Where are the $billions of the other Arab states that proclaim to be against ISIS. Monies should be pouring in from them to help rebuild.
Where are the $billions of the other Arab states that proclaim to be against ISIS. Monies should be pouring in from them to help rebuild.
22
And what makes you think that the city's inhabitants are not doing their best to rebuild?
I agree Rob. People on the ground need to take responsibility for their rebuilding. Once they are invested in this project, they will fight harder to protect it from future destruction at the hands of the so-called ISIS. And finally, why is the USA always expected to foot the bill ? where is the solidarity of the muslim countries at this time of need? The NY times should report on this issue more than on our government's responsability. Oh but that would mean stopping the incessant Trump bashing made famous by this newspaper.
1
Rob while that is fine sentiment and all we are talking about the Kurdish minority which has liberated an Arab city. They are not fundamentalist Islamic fascists thus they are not likely to get any aid from Arab nations beyond enough to attempt to prevent Turkey/Russia/Iran from taking over the region.
The Syrian Kurds really have no allies but us.
The Syrian Kurds really have no allies but us.
In post-invasion Iraq of the Bush administration, we neglected this stuff, even basic security, which to the Department of Defense's credit is not neglected now.
But otherwise we look half-heartedly engaged in reconstruction --weighted down by the baggage of "we don't do nation building." Well, it's "city building" in this case but if you want to defeat ISIS we have to do it.
I hope Secretary Mattis and NSC Advisor McMasters, who know this stuff, and Secretary Tillerson, who needs to learn it, read Mr. Gordon's article. ,
The U.S.. preferably USAID (which the Trump administration wants to destroy) need to hire whoever can fix the hydro plant quickly, pay them and provide security for the job. And the U.S. Military and AID need to confirm the inventory of the town's needs, and get their hands dirty, helping the towns's residents rebuild its critical infrastructure. \
To win, somebody has to do reconstruction. We neglect it at our peril. To paraphrase Colin Powell, "you help break it, you help fix it".
When in 2003 we occupied Iraq, I was told by a senior U.S. official that no one had studied the lessons of the occupations of Germany and Japan. Among those lessons, that to make a military victory a strategic success, you must help the defeated populations rebuild themselves.
I hope the Times follows what happens next in Tabqa. This tests our strategy to defeat ISIS, more important to cover than a dozen of our President's tweeted insults, meant to distract us.
But otherwise we look half-heartedly engaged in reconstruction --weighted down by the baggage of "we don't do nation building." Well, it's "city building" in this case but if you want to defeat ISIS we have to do it.
I hope Secretary Mattis and NSC Advisor McMasters, who know this stuff, and Secretary Tillerson, who needs to learn it, read Mr. Gordon's article. ,
The U.S.. preferably USAID (which the Trump administration wants to destroy) need to hire whoever can fix the hydro plant quickly, pay them and provide security for the job. And the U.S. Military and AID need to confirm the inventory of the town's needs, and get their hands dirty, helping the towns's residents rebuild its critical infrastructure. \
To win, somebody has to do reconstruction. We neglect it at our peril. To paraphrase Colin Powell, "you help break it, you help fix it".
When in 2003 we occupied Iraq, I was told by a senior U.S. official that no one had studied the lessons of the occupations of Germany and Japan. Among those lessons, that to make a military victory a strategic success, you must help the defeated populations rebuild themselves.
I hope the Times follows what happens next in Tabqa. This tests our strategy to defeat ISIS, more important to cover than a dozen of our President's tweeted insults, meant to distract us.
29
"In that respect, Tabqa stands as a laboratory for testing the Trump administration’s policy of empowering commanders in Syria to make battlefield decisions to defeat the militants while relying on a small team of State Department officials and Army civil affairs units to cement the uneasy peace that follows — all without getting into the business of nation-building."
And if there is not total success in a week I am sure that the NYT will publish an editorial claiming that Mr.Trump's policy is a failure.
At least there is movement; under the previous administration there were words and Syria was cast to the dogs. Mr. Obama's policy was do nothing in Syria. That was better and more successful?
And if there is not total success in a week I am sure that the NYT will publish an editorial claiming that Mr.Trump's policy is a failure.
At least there is movement; under the previous administration there were words and Syria was cast to the dogs. Mr. Obama's policy was do nothing in Syria. That was better and more successful?
9
"Mr. Obama's policy was do nothing in Syria. That was better and more successful?"
If all Americans were exterminated during Obama's presidency, and the last survivor happened to be a liberal, he would have eloquently and convincingly explained why Obama's policy was the right one. It would go along the same line as the many proofs of god's existence.
Besides, any policy Obama had any relevance to was right by definition - it was of Obama's making. You know, god can't be wrong by the definition of right and wrong.
If all Americans were exterminated during Obama's presidency, and the last survivor happened to be a liberal, he would have eloquently and convincingly explained why Obama's policy was the right one. It would go along the same line as the many proofs of god's existence.
Besides, any policy Obama had any relevance to was right by definition - it was of Obama's making. You know, god can't be wrong by the definition of right and wrong.
A yes! But Obama drew a red line in the sand. The problem was that the line restricted what he could do and not what the enemy was doing.
When people talk about "we must defeat ISIS", I have to ask who the 'we' should really be? Yes the US unquestionably and demonstrably has the military might to overcome pretty much any perceived enemy in the ME (though Russia's presence in Syria might be testing that supposition). But isn't ISIS actually a perfect example of how that does not solve the problems? Unless the US is able to decide who it can realistically assist in establishing some form of peace in the region then nothing is likely to ever be solved. It's difficult to see which is worse, the chaos that follows an enforced regime change or the trying to diplomatically convince a bad regime to improve.
5
Trump's policies? He has no policies other than self-aggrandizement.
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And Hillary would have been better? she could't even win an election with all the odds stacked in her favor including the most powerful media in the world in her pocket... that sums up pretty much the depth of her cognitive skills.
"He has no policies other than self-aggrandizement."
As long as they lead to victories, good enough for me. Go team USA!
As long as they lead to victories, good enough for me. Go team USA!
If international intelligence agencies could identify the governments and individuals who have been funding ISIS and Al Qaeda, we should hold these governments and individuals responsible for paying to rebuild Syrian towns.
They should give money to an independent entity, like the U.N. or an n.g.o., to oversee the construction.
They should give money to an independent entity, like the U.N. or an n.g.o., to oversee the construction.
11
The U.S., Saudi Arabia and Israel are the main funders of ISIS, ISIL, Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. They're implementing the "Yinon Plan," also known as the "Zionist Plan for the Middle East." Assad is in their way, so they're destroying Syria in their quest for regime change.
4
The UN should get none of the funds. Put the money in a pile and set it on fire on a cold day and that will be productive. Money given to the UN will be siphoned off to the key dignitaries and their hangers on.
Bring in contractors who will hire labor locally so people start earning money to spend. Build a bakery, repair the power plant. Bulldoze the bombed out buildings into slit trenches along with their contents. Provide temporary but adequate housing. Open the schools.
Inspire people to work for a just future.
Bring in contractors who will hire labor locally so people start earning money to spend. Build a bakery, repair the power plant. Bulldoze the bombed out buildings into slit trenches along with their contents. Provide temporary but adequate housing. Open the schools.
Inspire people to work for a just future.
worker bee, please submit evidence for your conspiracy theory.
Win the Peace. U.S. must rebuild all that the U.S. Bombs destroyed, power stations, water, roads & bridges, housing.
Throwing $ at it won't work, corruption abounds, a Marshall Plan is desperately needed.
Throwing $ at it won't work, corruption abounds, a Marshall Plan is desperately needed.
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You have no idea what a Marshall Plan is. After World War II, a lot of the physical infrastructure of Western Europe had been destroyed but the educated workforce, capable of sustaining an industrial economy, remained, so replacing or repairing the physical infrastructure was enough to set the countries on the road to recovery. To say those conditions don't obtain in eastern Syria would be the understatement of the century. There's no "recovering" a functioning economy if it never existed in the first place.
"a Marshall Plan is desperately needed."
Freeze all Assad's gov assets and fund independent contractors.
Freeze all Assad's gov assets and fund independent contractors.
1
How about rebuilding infaestructure in yhe U. S. first
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How many rermember President Obama making proposals for money to repair and rebuild our infrastructure - repair bridges and up grade our highways. His proposals were shot down by the republican congress. America used to lead the way in the world - we have fallen far behind Europe, even China, with their high speed trains, super highways, good inter-city transit system, they have sped far ahead of us..
We need to repair and rebuild and take care of our infrastructure.
We need to repair and rebuild and take care of our infrastructure.
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America can't be great again until it makes Syria great again
@M.A. I remember the shovel ready jobs Obama was touting. Much of the money went to the stimulus checks sent to many citizens.
But poor Obama, he just couldn't catch a break. Well at least he kept us safe from foreign .... us ... well actually according to the NY Times Russia committed an act of war against the US. So forget about Obama having kept us safe against foreign attack.
But poor Obama, he just couldn't catch a break. Well at least he kept us safe from foreign .... us ... well actually according to the NY Times Russia committed an act of war against the US. So forget about Obama having kept us safe against foreign attack.
This is probably the story of the day. Here is a community, liberated in some sense. People there are in limbo, but not. They are educated, in a sense that was not possible for people in their situation 100 years ago. All know they need an some freedom from the power struggles, some basic decency and functionality. Can the world accommodate them?
11
Now that Syria is leveled, how is Trump planning to help Syria without nation building? Also, Syria is still a sovereign country according to international law and we have no reason to be in Syria as we are technically invading it by having a presence there. I feel sorry for the Syrians, but we have no reason to be in Syria. Helping Syria will be like helping Afghanistan, in which years of radicalization cannot be quickly reversed in a manner of months, and will likely take years and billions of dollars. The Middle East must solve its own issues. They do not want our help and we will be labeled the terrorist USA for even trying to aid them.
8
Trump's policies? Puhlease. Crafting intelligent policy would require work which means Trump is definitely not part of the process.
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Yes, yes, yes, Trump is all that you say he is - but he inherited this mess from Obama, so don't find him responsible for creating Eden in the Muddle East. Only Europe has to be concerned with the demographic and related fallout, e.g., oil, from the never ending regional crises, that largely are of the making of the inhabitants of the area.
it is time the US concentrated on China/Asia, which is the region of the future. Oh, by the way Russia is on the geopolitical agenda again.
it is time the US concentrated on China/Asia, which is the region of the future. Oh, by the way Russia is on the geopolitical agenda again.
4
Eisenhower suppot for overthrow of Mossadegh in Iran, Ronald Reagan suuport of Mujahideen, George W. Bush and father in Iraq and Afghanistan inserted US into Middle East, destabilized the region before Obama.
21
Setting aside the absurd notion that "Trump" has a plan of any sort for post-ISIS Syria, I think it's downright absurd to expect the US or anyone else to begin rebuilding anything in a country where civil war still rages. Perhaps many areas are relatively stable right now, perhaps this and perhaps that, but the fact remains that the civil war continues, and it could easily go on another 5 years, just like Lebanon and Afghanistan.
Anything you rebuild in the midst of war becomes an asset and/or a target. We have no business trying to rebuild anything in Syria right now. I'm not even convinced we need to be dishing out so many bombs against ISIS there, but so be it.
Anything you rebuild in the midst of war becomes an asset and/or a target. We have no business trying to rebuild anything in Syria right now. I'm not even convinced we need to be dishing out so many bombs against ISIS there, but so be it.
8
Time to acknowledge that Assad is the leader of Syria. Otherwise there will be perpetual war in that country.
Or we could assist in the defeat of ISIS then just leave and stop all assistance. That worked out well in Afghanistan after the Soviets got the boot.
Is there some secret law that each POTUS must undertake a regime change effort in the Middle-East? Maybe they then get together every year to compare notes and judge who has been able to do the most damage.
Or we could assist in the defeat of ISIS then just leave and stop all assistance. That worked out well in Afghanistan after the Soviets got the boot.
Is there some secret law that each POTUS must undertake a regime change effort in the Middle-East? Maybe they then get together every year to compare notes and judge who has been able to do the most damage.
7
assad is a mass murderer and will NEVER be recognized by the sunnis who make up 90% of the muslim world, EVER.
He (and iran and russia) are responsible for the carnage in syria, and there will never be an end to the bombings/terrorism in syria until he is gone and the sunnis - as they should be - are in charge.
He (and iran and russia) are responsible for the carnage in syria, and there will never be an end to the bombings/terrorism in syria until he is gone and the sunnis - as they should be - are in charge.
What policies are being tested. We are to defeat ISIS, not bother the current government unless they interfere with goal one. We are not nation building, assisting free people, or other expensive, ineffective, and not valuable to US citizens stuff. There are no policies to be tested, but these newly free people need to work hard to improve their nation.
15
" We are to defeat ISIS..."
Or maybe to manage them, They could be useful against the Russians and Iran.
We didn't manage the Taliban too well, but who says that we can't learn?
Or maybe to manage them, They could be useful against the Russians and Iran.
We didn't manage the Taliban too well, but who says that we can't learn?