NI: US failed to establish deterrence in MENA, must withdraw

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: National Interest
19 Apr 2023 15:10

An article published in the National Interest outlines reasons why the US must withdraw its occupation troops from Syria despite all "faux-justifications" offered.

In this frame grab from video, an American military convoy is seen in the village of Khirbet Ammu, east of Al-Qamishli, Syria, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (AP)

The National Interest (NI) reported that since US President Joe Biden took office, US occupation troops have been under almost 80 attacks in Syria and Iraq.

"After nearly eighty failed attempts to establish deterrence" in Syria and Iraq, Geoff LaMear argued, Washington must "withdraw these troops before more American troops pay the price for their leaders’ inaction."

According to the NI article, the auxiliary forces in Syria could "impose costs in American blood for as long as US troops are there," which is an unnecessary price given that "Washington has no strategic reasons to stay in a region with abundant pitfalls and few benefits."

Moreover, LaMaer explained that for the troops to remain in the region, "the considerable risk incurred by US servicemembers has to be commensurate with the benefits to the United States."

He pointed out that since the auxiliary forces in Syria groups "exist largely to expel the US presence in the region," they will "persist until US troops leave while Washington stays until the futility of the U.S. presence is acknowledged."

In that regard, the article indicated that "ironically, maintaining a military presence in Iraq and Syria also undermines the aim of containing Iran," which has been able, according to the article, to expand its influence in Iraq and Syria "by co-opting local groups opposed to Washington’s occupation of their country."

The article further noted that "true deterrence is better established by letting locals take the lead role."

Moreover, the piece drew attention to the Saudi-Iranian agreement to which Washington's influence "was an impediment" and its "absence was a blessing."

LaMear stressed that "neither ISIS nor Iran nor any other faux-justification is a reason to stay in Iraq and Syria," emphasizing that Washington "cannot bomb its adversaries into compliance."

The article concluded that "as rockets and drones continue to target US troops," Washington can either "continue to put brave servicemen and women in harm’s way needlessly, or it can pursue a safer, smarter path by bringing them home."

'Bring our troops home', demand US anti-interventionist Republicans

After a series of attacks on US bases in Syria that came in retaliation against attacks on alleged auxiliary forces in Syria, and after a senior Iranian advisor revealed how the US shelled Deir Ezzor, US President Joe Biden warned Iran that the US will "act forcefully" to protect its occupation forces and interests in Syria.

Currently, a number of anti-interventionist Republicans in both the House and Senate have once again called for the US to pull its forces out of Syria.

Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz wrote on Twitter "Warmongers in both parties say keeping troops in Syria is necessary to preserve the balance of power. That is simply not true. If they believe that, they should say it directly to the parents of Americans in Syria who have to sleep there tonight and guard oil fields against Iranian drones. We need to bring our troops home."

In a separate tweet, he said "It is deeply sad to continue to see Americans killed and troops injured in Syria. This is the price of guarding oil fields in other countries, presumably forever."

Ain Al-Asad 'was just the beginning': Iranian Armed Forces

It is noteworthy that Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, underlined that Iran's goal to expel US troops from the region will continue until achieved.

Bagheri spoke on the third anniversary of Iran's missile attack on Ain Al-Asad, the biggest US occupation base in Iraq, which came a few days after the martyrdom of General Qassem Soleimani by the US. The Iranian missile attack was named Operation Martyr Soleimani.

According to the major general, the "terrorist" act of assassinating Soleimani and his companions "took the nation of Iran, the Islamic nations and other nations in the world by surprise that how a government was able to target a guest of the Iraqi government in a drone attack in violation of all legal, political and international rules."

Bagheri pointed out that Operation Martyr Soleimani was the first retaliatory measure and action that was able to tear down the US hegemony in the region and the world in an unprecedented way over the past 70 years.

However, Bagheri warned that the operation was just the beginning of the strategy of Iran and the Axis of Resistance to expel the US forces from the region, stressing that this goal will be pursued until achieved.