Introduction – Dec 20, 2018
First of all we’ve heard Trump say things like before only to see nothing happen. In fact in March this year Trump announced that U.S. forces would withdraw from Syria “very soon”.
Trump even reportedly instructed military commanders to plan to withdraw, although nothing happened. Indeed since then U.S. troops have not only remained in Syria, their numbers have actually increased.
Secondly, the U.S. did not defeat Isis, as Trump claims. Russia, assisted by Iran and Hezbollah, together with Syrian forces defeated the militants. If it had been left to the Americans the militants would still be in Syria and Iraq and may even have established their planned Caliphate.
Russia’s intervention in Syria in 2015 changed that. Prior to then ISIS had been steadily gaining ground in both Syria and Iraq right up until August 2014. The militant’s advances continued a full two months AFTER the U.S.-led intervention, which began in June 2014.
Moreover, after Russia’s decisive intervention there was reports of the militants striking deals with the U.S.-led coalition and being allowed to escape.
Even America’s allies are disputing Trump’s claim, (see below). Although that may be because they believe that what remains of ISIS can still be used, despite the failure of Western-attempts using them to bring regime change to Syria.
No, this is just a boastful American president claiming credit for something that Russia, Iran, Syria and Hezbollah have accomplished. The irony is, of course, that the U.S. State Department lists both Iran and Syria as “state sponsors of terror“. While 15-years-ago former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage described Hezbollah as “the A-Team of terrorists”. Yet the U.S. president is now claiming credit for their victories over terror. Ed
Isis not defeated in Syria despite Trump claim, says UK
Press Association – Dec 19, 2018
The British government has contradicted Donald Trump’s claim that Islamic State has been defeated in Syria.
The US president hinted that American forces could withdraw from the conflict, saying that tackling the militant group was the “only reason” for being in Syria. But a UK government spokesman said the threat posed by Isis still remained and the defence minister Tobias Ellwood said it was “very much alive”.
The UK is part of the US-led coalition carrying out airstrikes against Isis in Syria.
Trump tweeted on Wednesday: “We have defeated Isis in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.” Ellwood responded: “I strongly disagree. It has morphed into other forms of extremism and the threat is very much alive.”
A UK government spokesman said Isis, or Daesh, was still a threat. “The global coalition against Daesh has made huge progress,” he said