US seeks lasting ‘footprint’ in Mideast

The main objective of the US military campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria is to “maintain a military footprint” in the Middle East and to “topple” the Syrian government, an American commentator says.       

The US-led airstrikes, which lack a clear strategy, are also aimed at increasing Western influence in that region and benefiting the US arms industry, said Karen Kwiatkowski, a former Pentagon and intelligence official in Virginia.

“The fundamental goal from the US perspective is to maintain a military footprint in the Middle East and… to topple the Syrian regime and to create more opportunities for US and Western influence in this part of the world,” Kwiatkowski told Press TV on Monday.

Another goal that is never discussed is to “feed the military manufacturing machine here in the United States,” she added.

The US and several of its allies, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan, have been conducting airstrikes against the ISIL terrorist group inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.

The airstrikes are an extension of the US aerial campaign against ISIL positions in Iraq.

However, top US military officials have said an air campaign alone would not be sufficient to achieve the announced goal of defeating ISIL, and that the US might ultimately be forced to send ground troops to combat.

US President Barack Obama has ruled out American boots on the ground in a combat role, a promise many experts say might soon be broken.

AHT/HRJ