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US Military Presence in Syria Prevents Peace


By Stephen Lendman
stephenlendman.org
12-14-17

 
Most Russian forces were withdrawn. Some combat aircraft and support personnel remain in the country.

It’s unclear for how long. Overnight, Russian warplanes struck terrorist positions in the Idlib countryside.

Thousands of US troops remain in illegally occupied northern and southern areas.

They represent a major obstacle to peace, along with continued US, NATO, Israeli support for ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria and elsewhere regionally.

Defeating the threat in Syria remains a work in progress. ISIS and likeminded groups are down, not eliminated.

On Wednesday with support from US-led terror-bombing, ISIS retook several previously lost villages on the western bank of the Euphrates River.

Syrian and allied forces mobilized to combat and eliminate them. Their reduced manpower makes achieving this objective likely in the days ahead.

Their presence shows defeating terrorism in Syria has miles to go, hampered by America’s presence, its support for anti-government forces, and lack of enough Russian airpower, perhaps to be badly missed.

Commenting on Washington’s refusal to withdraw its troops, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov expressed concern, saying:

“The US got into Syria without an invitation from the country’s legitimate government and without any mandate from the UN Security Council that would legitimize its actions there,” adding:

“The current statements on the intention to stay behind in Syria give rise to apprehensions, as we think Washington hasn’t given up its idea of supplanting the government in Damascus.”

“In doing this, it hopes to use the methods that don’t have anything in common with the principles of a political process.”

“The way I see it, this is a manifestation of an imperial policy, which Washington is unable to disavow, unfortunately.”

On Tuesday, Russian Chief of Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff Gen. Sergey Rudskoy was premature, saying “(t)here are no territories controlled by the ISIS in Syria today. The country has been completely liberated from this terrorist organization.”

He spoke too soon. Syrian and allied forces continue combating the remnants of this scourge, diehards refusing to quit, supported by US terror-bombing.

Overnight, US warplanes massacred civilians in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, showing the continued menace of America’s presence in the country.

On Wednesday, ISIS fighters captured areas of Damascus’ Tadamon district, retaken by government forces in fierce clashes.

Combating US-supported terrorists continues in Deir Ezzor, Idlib, northern Homs, Hama’s outskirts, the Damascus countryside and elsewhere in the country.

The battle to defeat US-created-and-supported terrorists continues - no end of it in sight as long as Washington backs the scourge it claims to oppose, rejecting peace, wanting endless war and regime change.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
 
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html