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The Withdrawal of the U.S. from Syria in Broad Perspective

(Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies) Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaacov Amidror - The withdrawal of the several thousand U.S. soldiers deployed in Syria is an expression of an American perspective shared by both political parties that the U.S. needs to reduce its overseas military involvements. U.S. soldiers are to be withdrawn from every location where there is no major threat to American interests. The current president is continuing President Obama's policy. Both believe that American blood should not be spilt in foreign wars and that attention should shift to domestic endeavors. This feeling became much stronger as a result of the casualties and the economic cost of two wars, in Afghanistan and Iraq, which made little contribution to America's future and which were essentially failed ventures that have reverberated powerfully in modern American history. U.S. allies will have to learn to get along on their own, to create regional alliances and to operate jointly, without American involvement. In facing its enemies in the Middle East, Israel will have to fall back on the principle it adopted when it declared its independence: "to protect itself - by itself." To build up its power to meet this challenge - both economically and militarily - will be the most important task of all future governments in Israel. The withdrawal of the U.S. leaves Israel as the strongest and most stable country in the region and the only serious player with which the main Arab countries can cooperate in the confrontation with Iran and ISIS. The extent to which Israel's position is strengthened as a result of the vacuum left by the Americans is difficult to assess, but the potential is significant. Israel remains determined to contain Iran, which, after the U.S. withdrawal, will be able to realize its dream of a land corridor from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. Israel will now have the added challenge of disrupting that dream. The writer is a former Israeli national security advisor and former director of the research division of IDF Military Intelligence.
2018-12-28 00:00:00
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