US Policy on Syria Remains Unchanged Despite Shifting Strategic Focus

Strategic Insights -

The US policy on Syria has been a longstanding issue, with a shift in strategy being discussed in 2011 when President Obama stated that Assad must go. However, according to State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki, the US policy has not shifted and continues to believe that Bashar al-Assad has lost legitimacy and has no future in Syria. Psaki emphasized that the US goal is to bring both sides together through diplomatic efforts, including training and equipping the Syrian opposition and providing additional assistance.

Despite the continued US support for the opposition, Psaki acknowledged that the Syrian government, led by Assad, has shown little willingness to negotiate, with Assad stating in an Iranian television interview that any talk about his future is for the Syrian people. Psaki responded by saying that the international community is not going to stand by and accept Assad's word, and that the US will continue to think of ways to put necessary pressure on the Syrian government.

The US is currently at a critical juncture in negotiations with Iran, with Secretary Kerry meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif in Switzerland. Psaki stated that the next couple of days will be key in determining whether the two sides can reach an agreement, but emphasized that the technical talks were both difficult and ongoing.

Additionally, Psaki addressed the issue of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails, stating that she had turned over 55,000 pages to the State Department, and that the US would release the documents online after going through the process of redacting sensitive information.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US policy on Syria has not shifted, with the US continuing to believe that Bashar al-Assad has lost legitimacy and has no future in Syria.
  • The US goal is to bring both sides together through diplomatic efforts, including training and equipping the Syrian opposition and providing additional assistance.
  • The Syrian government has shown little willingness to negotiate with the opposition, with Assad stating in an Iranian television interview that any talk about his future is for the Syrian people.
  • The US will continue to think of ways to put necessary pressure on the Syrian government, including diplomatic, military, and economic pressure.
  • The US is currently at a critical juncture in negotiations with Iran, with Secretary Kerry meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif in Switzerland.
  • Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has turned over 55,000 pages of emails to the State Department, which will be released online after going through the redaction process.

Statistics:

  • Since 2011, a quarter million people have been killed in the conflict in Syria.
  • The US has provided training and equipment to the Syrian opposition, which is currently ongoing.
  • The US has been negotiating with Iran for several months, with a focus on reaching a comprehensive agreement on nuclear issues.
  • Hillary Clinton has turned over 55,000 pages of emails to the State Department, which will be released online after going through the redaction process.

Sources:

  • CNN, "Jen Psaki: US policy on Syria 'has not shifted'", 2015-03-16
  • CQ Transcriptions, "NEW DAY", 2015-03-16
  • State Department, "Press Briefing", 2015-03-16