["Our strategy in Syria will demand time, patience, and perseverance to deliver results. We cannot accomplish our objectives in Syria all at once," he [i.e. Chuck Hagel] said. "The position of the United States remains: Assad has lost the legitimacy to govern. But there is no purely military solution to the conflict in Syria. Alongside our efforts to isolate and sanction the Assad regime, our strategy is to strengthen the moderate opposition to the point where they can, first, defend and control their local areas; next, go on the offense and take back areas that have been lost to [IS]; and *ultimately, as their capabilities and leverage develop, to create conditions for a ***political settlement*** in Syria* [emphasis added]."
Also relevant: More than four months after announcing an effort to train and equip the moderate Syrian opposition, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told CNN the vetting process had not even begun and logistics are still being worked out with the Turks and Saudis, who are hosting the training. ... "It has been pretty clear for some time that supporting the moderate opposition in the hopes of toppling Assad, isn't going to work," another senior official said. ... "That means they want to consider a wide range of opportunities to make sure we're doing everything we possibly can to protect and defend American interests around the world," spokesman Josh Earnest said in an interview with CNN on October 31. ... Many Arab states have expressed frustration with what they perceive as an ambivalence by the United States toward getting rid of al-Assad. Secretary of State John Kerry and Gen. John Allen, the U.S. envoy to the anti-ISIS coalition, have reported back to the White House that key allies such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Turkey are calling for a framework for a political transition in Syria. ... Now officials and diplomats said Kerry has in recent months intensified discussions with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Russia about the possibility of a diplomatic tract to transition al-Assad and his inner circle out of power, while maintaining large parts of the regime and institutions of the state. ... "It's not going to be tomorrow and I don't think anyone even believes that is physically possible. But even if it is a six- or 12-month plan, as long as it has an exit for Assad," one senior Arab diplomat said. "But we are glad that we finally see a meeting of the minds with the U.S. that there needs to be a rethinking of the strategy." American officials and Arab diplomats said that while Russia has tacitly endorsed the idea of a Syria free of al-Assad, Moscow has done little to effect change on the ground. "The Russians are not our friend here," one of the senior administration officials said. "They have given vague expressions of empathy but that is not exactly the same as saying we are with you and are going to rid of him. They are still arming Assad and providing him direct support." Kerry has also raised the topic with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, officials said. Kerry has met several times in recent months to hammer out a nuclear deal ahead of a November 24 deadline, which officials stressed was the main topic of discussion and was not linked to any potential cooperation in Syria. Last month President Obama sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei describing a shared interest in combating ISIS in Iraq and Syria, but it was unclear whether the letter made mention of the three-year civil war in which Iran has backed al-Assad. Officials pointed to a debate within the Iranian regime about al-Assad's fate, but there is little sign that the supreme leader or the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps are interested in getting rid of him. ... "The administration needs to have an honest assessment of whether or not its material assistance to the moderate opposition in northern Syria and the manner in which it has constructed airstrikes in eastern Syria has empowered or disempowered the same moderate opposition upon which it will it will depend to contain the Islamic state in Syria as well as play a vital role in achieving an eventually political solution in Syria," Ford said. "The air campaign so far has infuriated the Syrians fighting the regime. ***For the first time since the Syrian uprising started in 2011 they are burning American flags because they think we are helping the regime instead of helping them*** [emphasis added]." (Source: <http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/12/politics/obama-syria-strategy-review/index.html>.)] http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/11/hagel-assad-isis-regime-change-syria.html Hagel: Taking out Assad won't put IS 'back in the box' Senior US officials denied Nov. 13 that the Obama administration is considering making the removal of Bashar al-Assad a key plank in its strategy to defeat the Islamic State (IS). Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey told lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee that the focus remains on helping Iraqi forces defeat the Sunni militant group inside Iraq. The remarks follow a CNN report Nov. 12 indicating a rethink inside the White House amid complaints from coalition partners such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia that want Assad removed. "There is no change in strategy," Hagel told Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who voted against legislation to train and equip Syrian rebels in September. "Assad's part of the equation, of course," Hagel said. But "just alone dealing with Assad, where we are now ... that's not going to put [IS] back in the box." Hagel, who reportedly wrote a sharp memo to national security adviser Susan Rice last month urging a sharper focus on solving the years-long conflict in Syria, said IS remains the main target. "We could change Assad today, and that's not going to change all the dynamics," he said. "Who are you going to replace Assad with? What kind of an army can take on [IS]?" Dempsey said about 15,000 Syrian rebels would be needed to "put enough pressure on [IS] forces in eastern and northern Syria." He said an operational planning conference at Central Command headquarters in Tampa this week with 190 military planners from 30 nations is laying the groundwork for how to deploy them. "It will be a force large enough to defend initially so that it can actually hold territory," Dempsey said. "And then it should have the capability over time to become offensive." Hagel urged patience. "Our strategy in Syria will demand time, patience, and perseverance to deliver results. We cannot accomplish our objectives in Syria all at once," he said. "The position of the United States remains: Assad has lost the legitimacy to govern. But there is no purely military solution to the conflict in Syria. Alongside our efforts to isolate and sanction the Assad regime, our strategy is to strengthen the moderate opposition to the point where they can, first, defend and control their local areas; next, go on the offense and take back areas that have been lost to [IS]; and ultimately, as their capabilities and leverage develop, to create conditions for a political settlement in Syria." Lawmakers indicated that the administration's Syria policy is still evolving. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the chairman-in-waiting of the Senate Foreign Relations panel, said a closed evening hearing Nov. 12 with administration officials offered little evidence of a change of tack. "There was very limited feedback in that regard," Corker said. "Less than what you saw on CNN." He said any focus on Syria would require a congressional vote on a new war authorization. "I do believe there are some elements that are missing in this overall strategy. And if they were to attempt to implement those elements, my sense is they would need an AUMF [Authorization for Use of Military Force]," Corker said. "I don't think Assad is covered by the 2001 AUMF. So that would be sort of Exhibit A." Such an expansion would be a tough sell, however, particularly for Democrats. "I continue to believe that the United States should stay out of this Syrian civil war," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. "I don't think there's any way to train and equip a force that's going to be able to fight both Assad and [IS] at the same time." Julian Pecquet Congressional Correspondent Julian Pecquet is Al-Monitor's Congressional Correspondent. He previously led The Hill's Global Affairs blog. On Twitter: @congresspulse Contact him via email [email protected] -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. 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