MESOP WASHINGTON: WE KNOW THAT WE DON’T KNOW !

 

– U.S. Weighs Changes to Syria Policy as Training Effort Struggles (CLICK FOR ALL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM)

The United States is considering an overhaul of its intervention policy in Syria. The U.S. effort to train and equip moderate rebels has produced only “four or five” troops still in combat in Syria, according to Gen. Lloyd Austin, head of the U.S. military’s Central Command, who spoke yesterday at a Senate hearing. Potential changes to the program could include lowering the number of trainees each year and embedding them with existing rebels as interlocutors for the U.S. military, as opposed to training whole independent units, defense officials told the Washington Post.

Gen. Austin also commented yesterday on the recent buildup of Russian forces in Syria. “What they’ve stated is that they want to focus on helping to counter ISIL as I understand it. That’s left to be seen. As you know, Russia is not very transparent and so we really don’t know what their true intentions are,” he said. Some analysts believe the recent delivery of new weapons is part of a Russian effort to try to shift its engagement with the West on Syria, the New York Times reports. Syrian military officials said the new Russian weapons systems are being integrated into their war effort and praised their effectiveness and precision, but did not specify what the new weapons are.