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A constant problem with US interlocutors in the Middle East: they project their hopes & goals on the Americans, believe the US has a grand strategy when there isn't one & lie about the content of conversations. A few recent examples from engagement with Syrians:
Recently, the DoD held a meeting in the Tanf base with several US-backed commanders. The topic under discussion was internal disagreements between the factions & coordination.
See this tweet by Qussai who spoke to commanders @ Tanf https://twitter.com/Qussai_jukhadar/status/1259373873751035906?s=08
See this tweet by Qussai who spoke to commanders @ Tanf https://twitter.com/Qussai_jukhadar/status/1259373873751035906?s=08
The meeting was reported widely in even credible Arab outlets as discussing a plan to fight Iranian-backed militias in Syria. But the issue of Iran barely came up in the meeting.
An example of.such reporting: https://www.almodon.com/arabworld/2020/5/8/%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%89-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%AE%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7
An example of.such reporting: https://www.almodon.com/arabworld/2020/5/8/%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%89-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%AE%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7
During the offensive on Idlib, US officials met with Turkey's Syrian factions. The main topic under discussion was the human rights abuses these factions are perpetrating in NE Syria, yet Syrian oppo sources claimed the meeting was on arming of these factions to fight in Idlib
The ongoing talks between the Kurdish opposition coalition (ENKS) & the SDF is another example. An ENKS official claimed on TV that the US threatened the SDF that if it does not reach a deal with the ENKS, Turkey will invade Kobanî & Dirbêsî & end SDF's project in Syria.
This claim is completely false, as is the earlier claim that the US pressured the ENKS to withdraw from the Syrian opposition coalition.
Bottom line: the US is pursuing multiple, unrelated efforts on different issues.
Actors who have an agenda should not be relied on as sources of information on US policies, especially when those actors are convinced the US has a clear and coherent grant strategy and therefore are interpreting reality through a skewed lens.
