From what little I know we didn't have any independent direct action troops in Syria, but USSOCOM and USCENTCOM had a few Army SOF A-teams embedded with Kurdish forces as advisors and support. I know there were also some AF Joint Terminal Attack Coordinators (JTAC) with the army guys. The role of the JTAC was to coordinate for close air support and designate targets for the smart munitions carried on the fighter-bombers we were sending in to support whatever engagements were going on. In reading what the generals I've worked for/with are saying they are upset we are destroying the relationships we've built over the last four years.
To my mind, this only becomes important if we were willing to force the issue of regime change and put those forces in power in Syria. I don't think anyone really thinks that is going to happen.
As in most things, everyone has an opinion. The real question for the US is, is it in our national interest to allow Russian and Iranian influence to increase in the area? If it does nothing else Trump's decision allows that probability to happen.
4 comments:
I keep hearing about 50. ANd they are just being pulled back from the joint area we patrolled with the Turks.
I think John of USAF would know more.
From what little I know we didn't have any independent direct action troops in Syria, but USSOCOM and USCENTCOM had a few Army SOF A-teams embedded with Kurdish forces as advisors and support. I know there were also some AF Joint Terminal Attack Coordinators (JTAC) with the army guys. The role of the JTAC was to coordinate for close air support and designate targets for the smart munitions carried on the fighter-bombers we were sending in to support whatever engagements were going on. In reading what the generals I've worked for/with are saying they are upset we are destroying the relationships we've built over the last four years.
To my mind, this only becomes important if we were willing to force the issue of regime change and put those forces in power in Syria. I don't think anyone really thinks that is going to happen.
As in most things, everyone has an opinion. The real question for the US is, is it in our national interest to allow Russian and Iranian influence to increase in the area? If it does nothing else Trump's decision allows that probability to happen.
184? And Club Med?
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