US Syria Memo Threatens to ‘Plunge the Whole Region Into Complete Chaos
Ideas aired in the US State Department that Washington should carry out military strikes on Assad forces “make no sense at all,” foreign policy analyst Daniel Wagner told Radio Sputnik.
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The letter is signed by 51 US State Department officials and calls for the US to carry out military strikes in Syria against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. This, they hope, would enable Washington to ultimately change the Syrian government.
© REUTERS/ Rodi Said
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Daniel Wagner, CEO of risk management firm Country Risk Solutions, told Radio Sputnik that the suggestion makes even less sense now, five years after the beginning of conflict in Syria.
“Secondly, I don’t know why they would imagine that Mr Obama would be shifting gears with seven months left in office, it makes no sense at all,” Wagner said.
Wagner said that he agreed with that assessment, and highlighted US allies in the region who are taking a more pragmatic approach than of the State Department.
© AFP 2016/ CHRIS KLEPONIS
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“It seems to me that is more true than ever today. At least we know what we are dealing with and (have) some semblance of stability, at least at the moment.” Wagner rejected the idea that the State Department’s letter is part of a campaign to pressure Moscow into changing its stance on Assad’s government.
“I don’t think there’s much chance of that. Mr Putin has shown that his arm isn’t going to be twisted no matter what anyone says or does, I don’t know why anyone would have a view to the contrary. He’s in a very strong position, Russia’s in a very strong position and I think the US knows that.”