Does the US have a Syria plan?
What's the impact of Washington's mixed messages to its allies in the Middle East?
Following a late evening phone conversation with the president of Turkey, President Trump approved the Turkish decision to send troops in parts of Syria that are now controlled by American backed Kurdish forces. He said that it is time for the US troops to be pulled out. The announcement caught America鈥檚 allies by surprise, and the president鈥檚 supporters off guard. The move is seen as a major shift in the US policy which, critics say, will embolden Iran and Russia and might even help the Islamic State group to bounce back. They say the absence of US support will put Kurdish forces - America鈥檚 strongest ally in the region - in a vulnerable position and expose them to Turkish attacks. There is also concern about the fate of the thousands of ISIS prisoners held by the Kurds. But this is not the first time president Trump has expressed a desire to end American involvement in Syria. So what exactly is president Trump鈥檚 policy towards Syria? Will a US pull-out be a betrayal of its allies in the region? Will it open up new front lines and a return of ISIS? And where does it leave America鈥檚 standing in the Middle East? Paul Henley and guests discuss president Trump鈥檚 endgame for Syria.
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Contributors
Lt Col Daniel L. Davis - Senior Fellow, Defense Priorities
Dana Stroul - Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute聽
Elif Sarican - Kurdish Anthropologist, London School of Economics
Osman Sert - former Turkish government adviser
Also featuring
Salih Muslim - spokesman, Kurdish Democratic Union Party
Josie Ensor - Middle East Correspondent, Telegraph
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Broadcasts
- Fri 11 Oct 2019 08:06GMT91热爆 World Service
- Fri 11 Oct 2019 23:06GMT91热爆 World Service
- Sat 12 Oct 2019 02:06GMT91热爆 World Service Australasia & Americas and the Caribbean only
- Sat 12 Oct 2019 03:06GMT91热爆 World Service except Americas and the Caribbean & Australasia
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The Real Story
Global experts and decision makers discuss, debate and analyse a key news story.