Syria in 2017 (April-December)

[OUTLAW 09]

I would disagree that Mattis has a specific foreign policy that he is executing. However, Mattis is an obviously good interlocutor with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Combatant Commanders. What we are observing is a continuation of Obama's policies with regard to Syria, albeit with the military empowered tactically.

Where Trump and Obama differ is on Iran. I doubt that Trump will unilaterally abrogate the JCPOA, given the advice of the foreign policy, intelligence and defense communities, however, he will not kowtow to Iran's adventures in Iraq and Syria merely to ensure that Iran upholds it.

Mattis is effectively now driving Syrian FP tactically speaking just as Trump has given DoD the authority to drive the new changes in AFG...WHY because if it goes south he can claim DoD was the cause not Trump.....

Definitely not following the Obama model...

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia negotiating deployment of Kyrgyz and Kazakh contingents in Syria
http://uawire.org/news/russia-negoti...ents-in-syria#

[Azor]

Mattis is effectively now driving Syrian FP tactically speaking just as Trump has given DoD the authority to drive the new changes in AFG...WHY because if it goes south he can claim DoD was the cause not Trump.....

Definitely not following the Obama model...

If what you say is true about Trump distancing himself from possible failure in Syria, which seems unlikely given Daesh's imminent defeat as a conventional force, then there is no differentiation from the "Obama model" wherein the White House micromanaged military operations to avoid offending Iran, causing civilian casualties and deploying major ground forces.

[OUTLAW 09]

If what you say is true about Trump distancing himself from possible failure in Syria, which seems unlikely given Daesh's imminent defeat as a conventional force, then there is no differentiation from the "Obama model" wherein the White House micromanaged military operations to avoid offending Iran, causing civilian casualties and deploying major ground forces.

Again a misnomer...."IS defeat".....tactically a battlefield defeat BUT IS is a very long way from being "defeated"....show me a "defeated ideology" that was "defeated" in under 70 years???

Some might point to Communism but heck even Putin and his oligarchs evolved out that Communism and he is now trying to raise from the dead Stalin....so really "defeated" afraid not even Communism....

Even in Mosul they have mounted a strong counterattack and in Diyala Province they are constantly ambushing ISF with solid results in ISF loses....

They will eventually shift back to guerrilla warfare and keep the entire 400K ISF busy for years....

[OUTLAW 09]

Quneitra: Rebels have killed #Assad Colonel Tariq Ali Hammoud in #Quneitra Province. He was a friend of Bashar #Assad.

[OUTLAW 09]

AND again just what is the Trump FP strategy for ME...???

War is business" esp. in Syria: Russian firm linked to "Putin's chef" reportedly to get 1/4 of oil it reconquers
http://www.fontanka.ru/2017/06/26/084/

[OUTLAW 09]

WH issued a warning yesterday to Assad not to use CWs as they have detected a possible preparing for such an attack.....

2X RC-135 Combat sent + Rivet Joint in E med. Yesterday 1 snooped #Syria shores, then WH warned of chem attack. Same tracks today as yesterday?

Second attachment is from yesterday...this time US Recce is out in force today 27 JUN...

Letting both Putin and Assad thoroughly understand the warning sent to them yesterday....

Callsign a warning to Assad? REPAY21

[OUTLAW 09]

THIS is certainly not the Trump IS plan nor his ME FP....

Aleppo: Reports about final preparations for the Turkish-backed offensive against YPG in the Afrin Canton.