Read this article at The National Interest by Tanya Goudsouzian, “Middle East Mayhem Will Skyrocket Following the Departure of the Americans”, and then tell me whether you think “mayhem” will increase, decrease, or stay the same following our removing our militaries from Syria and Iraq. I think it will either decrease or stay about the same.
What I think is incontrovertibly true is that fewer American soldiers will die in Syria and Iraq once we’ve left and there are better ways of defending the “homeland”, a phraseology I detest, than invading Middle Eastern countries and replacing their governments.
I think decrease.
One of the dynamics in the M.E. is the old schoolyard “you’d better watch out or I’ll get my big brother to beat you up”. Another is “you’re lucky my big brother stopped me but you’d better watch out next time”.
Trump has a penchant, a management style, for placing the onus on the principals rather than micromanaging a solution. It is sobering to find yourself flying solo.
Seems a bit early to speculate, but then I guess that is what blogs are for. Trump has has yet to demonstrate much consistency, and has a habit of undercutting people working for him. We arent out of Syria and Iraq until we are out. Trump makes big announcements but we have to wait to see what really happens.
Steve