US policy in Iraq, Syria incoherent: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed James Jatras, former US Senate foreign policy analyst in Washington, to discuss the recent remarks made by US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, saying more needs to be done as the United States has been unable to contain Daesh (ISIL) terrorists in Iraq and Syria.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: So you have the US Defense Secretary making the statements and overall saying that the US has not been able to contain the ISIL. What do you make of his statements?  

Jatras: Well to start with I do not know if I would dignify this with the term strategy and they seem to be just as incoherent and confused as American policy has been in Iraq and also in Syria up till now.

We are going to get more equipment to the Iraqi army. I do not necessarily object that but let’s remember how so much of that previous equipment has ended up in the hands of Daesh. We obviously are concerned about being essentially cooperating with Iran in support for Baghdad but at the same time we are not going to cooperate with the Syrian government against Daesh. It seems to me that there is no real strategy here at all and I think one thing that is not being said is what the hazard is of possibly placing more American ground “advisers” into Iraq which are essentially boots on the ground and I think virtually all Americans are opposed to.

Press TV: This may be a coincidence but Iraq has come out demanding the cancellation of US security agreements over Washington’s inability, particularly because of this, their inability to contain these and get rid of the Daesh terrorists. Do you think it is a coincidence or is it just a mere fact that the US wants to, I guess, somehow up its ante when it comes to fighting these terrorists?

Jatras: I think that is right and again this gets back to the problem that the strategy is mixed in that. I do not think there is a real will in Washington to get rid of Daesh because they still see them as something of a useful tool against Damascus primarily and perhaps secondarily against the Iranians.

We also have the additional complicating factor of the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq or what they call the Mosul Vilayet and the ambiguity of American policy toward Turkey which is a clear supporter of Daesh and it is mostly directing its activities against either the Syrian government or the Kurds but not against Daesh. So again there is just complete chaos that underlies American policy.

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