Obama should fire Pentagon "hawks" before they stir up more trouble in Syria

[Jeffersons Ghost]

The article appeared in The Wall Street Journal. Admittedly, I am not an intelligence analyst; but this is not a "covert" publication and the article has potential to induce Putin to take countermeasures, by increasing support to the Russian-backed Assad regime.

Pentagon, CIA Chiefs Don’t Think Russia Will Abide by Syria Cease-Fire
Emerging alliance of Russia hawks in cabinet exposes disagreement in the administration
By Adam Entous
Updated Feb. 23, 2016 10:45 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama’s top military and intelligence advisers don’t believe Russia will abide by a just-announced cease-fire in Syria and want the administration to ready plans to increase pressure on Moscow by expanding covert support to rebels fighting the Russian-backed Assad regime.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-cia-chiefs-dont-think-russia-will-abide-by-syria-ceasefire-officials-say-1456235932

Current military action in Syria already pushes refugees and terrorists into Europe and other nations.

Who believes that increasing "pressure on Moscow" builds lasting peace with Russia?

How is "expanding covert support to rebels" in Syria going to facilitate a cease-fire recently ordered by Obama and brokered by John Kerry?

Is there ANY agency an ex-KGB agent, like President Putin, despises worse than the CIA?

Why doesn't Obama simply fire these Pentagon "hawks" before they start another expensive, Vietnam-type conflict in a volatile region?

If a Republican becomes Commander in Chief we can expect increased military action in the Mid-East, which will cost lives and money. Barrack Obama got us out of Afghanistan and Iraq before the treasury was completely depleted. Can we afford another protracted military conflict?

Syria civil war: Assad confirms readiness for truce
Syrian president voices support for ceasefire in telephone call with President Putin, Kremlin says.
24 Feb 2016 12:41 GMT

Syria's president has assured Russia of his readiness to respect a ceasefire deal brokered by Moscow and Washington, the Kremlin said.

"A phone call took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad," the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday.

"In particular, [Assad] confirmed the readiness of the Syrian government to facilitate the establishment of a ceasefire."

Assad described the ceasefire as an "important step towards a political resolution" for Syria's civil war, the Kremlin said in the statement on its website. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/assad-assures-putin-readiness-syria-ceasefire-160224100322583.html

[IDemo]

1. Firing war hawks and telling the CIA to back off can come with unfortunate consequences

See: JFK

[MinM]

7. Between nut jobs like Petraeus, McChrystal, et al.,

Obama has really walked a fine line in those regards.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021414805#post12

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. Obama already replaced several CIA directors

Last edited Wed Feb 24, 2016, 09:08 PM - Edit history (2)

After they refused to order the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to attempt certain types of missions on American soil, George W. Bush Jr. fired four CIA Directors.

[mwrguy]

2. He should gut the DOD like a trout.

Put that money somewhere it does some good.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. Instead of appearing politically motivated by attacking Clinton in media...

Last edited Wed Feb 24, 2016, 09:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Director Comey of the FBI should announce the investigation of defense contractors doing favors for Pentagon officials, who advocate "covert" support of Syrian rebels (aka terrorist.) Why would an FBI agent announce details on an ongoing investigation to news media? Then, Director Comey made comments, which tried Hillery Clinton in media. Many people in the State Department were using personal accounts to relay sensitive information because of email problems with US Government computers. I suspect some FBI offices have serious email issues and do not realize reasons the problems will increase.

[DetlefK]

3. Please drop the childish notion that everything is always "the West's" fault.

It's not "the West" who is fighting in Syria. The syrian regime, syrian secular rebels, Al-Nusra, ISIS, various kurdish militias... They are perfectly capable of killing each other without foreign intervention, thank you. And they were doing so before fighting in Syria became "cool".

[leveymg]

5. Re: Syria. It has been State/CIA pushing US further into war

As we learned, the Joint Chiefs have been a restraining influence since they are more aware of the dangers of further strengthening the hand of the Saudis and the terrorist groups they sponsor. Furthermore, the Pentagon is more realistic about the consequences of challenging Russia's long term position in Syria.

The WSJ Oped had things inside out. No surprise.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

6. When the US sent "advisers" into Syria it reminded me of Vietnam

First we sent in "advisers." Then, troops were deployed into Vietnam, as "advisers" began working in Cambodia.

[leveymg]

8. If HRC or a Republican is elected, they may just end up being joined by a lot more. nt

[bemildred]

9. Reddit thread, same subject:

President Barack Obama’s top military and intelligence advisers don’t believe Russia will abide by a just-announced cease-fire in Syria and want the administration to ready plans to increase pressure on Moscow by expanding covert support to rebels fighting the Russian-backed Assad regime.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter; Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan have voiced increasingly hawkish views toward Moscow in recent White House meetings, jointly calling for new measures to “inflict real pain on the Russians," a senior administration official said.

The emerging alliance of Russia hawks exposes discord within the administration among defense and diplomatic officials and could put pressure on Mr. Obama to take stronger action against Moscow. But doing so risks pulling the U.S. deeper into a proxy fight there, with Russia backing the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and showing little sign of losing its resolve.

Russia’s bombing campaign in Syria, launched last year, has infuriated the CIA in particular because the strikes have directly targeted CIA-backed rebels, U.S. officials say, weakening more moderate forces opposed to the regime.

https://www.reddit.com/r/syriancivilwar/comments/479q8s/pentagon_cia_chiefs_dont_think_russia_will_abide/