Stephen Lendman

America intends permanent control of countries it attacked post-Soviet Russia’s dissolution - by occupation and/or installed puppet regimes.

America didn’t come to Syria to leave. It wants control over the entire country.

CENTCOM commander General Joseph Votel said US forces will remain in Syria after the battle for Raqqa is over.

So did Talal Silo, spokesman for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish fighters and Arab terrorists.

Deputy Operation Inherent Resolve commander General Rupert Jones said Washington won’t let Syrian forces move north of the Euphrates River - territory US forces and their proxies control.

In late June, Operation Inherent Resolve Commander General Stephen Townsend asked “will ISIS turn into an insurgency when they’ve lost all their territory?”

"I think that’s (its) next stage…We call that ISIS 2.0 - an insurgency, rural. So I think we’ll still be here dealing with that problem set for a while” - meaning permanent occupation is planned, Washington wanting control over all the territory it can grab.

On August 18, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert refuted the above statements, saying America remaining in Syria longterm “is not our plan.”

“Our intent is to defeat ISIS and we’re keeping our focus on that. We want the Syrians to lead their country, not the United States or any other power, only by the Syrians.”

Ones she means comprise US-controlled puppet governance. Assad must go remains US policy, the same objective sought against leadership of all other independent countries - the way imperialism works.

America has at least seven bases in northern Syria, two others near its border with Jordan, including airstrips for drones and other aerial operations.

Bases were built to remain under US control, not to be abandoned ahead, perhaps ever.

Pentagon warplanes attacked government forces a number of times, including downing a Syrian Su-22 engaged in bombing US-supported terrorists near Raqqa in June.

Last evening, US-led warplanes attacked Syrian ground forces in Raqqa’s southern countryside, according to AMN News, citing a local journalist embedded with government troops.

Several casualties were reported. So far, Syria’s military hasn’t reported the attacked. AMN said more details will follow when known.

The incident is more evidence of America’s war on Syria for regime change, using ISIS and other terrorist groups as imperial foot soldiers, not combating them as claimed.

Russia’s intervention almost two years ago at Assad’s request foiled America’s objective it continues to pursue.

-###-

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman)

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

Virus-free. www.avg.com