POLS 157 Chapter NA: Hard Truths in Syria:

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 157
• Professor: Peter S Henne

Document Summary

Strategy to destroy isis caliphate was developed under obama and carried forward under. Trump: focused on enabling local fighters to reclaim cities from isis, presumed us would remain active for a time after caliphate"s destruction. 2000 us special forces aide a coalition of 60000 syrian democratic forces (sdf) Trump issued a surprise order to withdraw all troops from syria, except 400 (1) very risky. Worst thing us can do is pretend its withdrawal does not matter or that"s it a simple tactical move: many initial goals are no longer viable with us forces leaving syria. Us did not want open-ended campaign to influence the middle east: us successful in taking back almost all territory isis had gained, its leaders were killed, and four million iraqi civilians returned to their former territory. Iraq successfully held national elections in 2018 and inaugurated a new government: syrian was witnessing its lowest levels of violence since 2011.