Biden secretly doubles troops in Syria without approval
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The Pentagon recently revealed that approximately 2,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed in Syria, a number significantly higher than what was previously disclosed to the public. This revelation came through Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder, who casually mentioned this substantial increase shortly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The timing and manner of this disclosure exemplify a concerning pattern of military leadership’s reluctance to maintain transparency regarding overseas operations.
The casual nature of Ryder’s announcement raises serious concerns. Despite labeling these deployments as “temporary rotational forces,” his subsequent statement that “Right now, there are no plans to cease the defeat-ISIS mission” suggests a more permanent arrangement, reflecting a pattern of expanding military commitments characteristic of post-9/11 American military operations.
Remarkable video of US military admitting that it had double the number of soldiers in #Syria than previously declared – and was lying all along.
Confidential information, I suppose.Look, no media fuss about 'illegal occupation', 'invasion' blah blah here. https://t.co/KBhuXBEjux
— Secki P. Jose (@digitalsecki) December 24, 2024
This expansion of military presence, coupled with the administration’s lack of transparency, stems from unchecked executive authority and Congress’s tendency to rubber-stamp anything labeled as counterterrorism operations. The situation becomes more concerning in light of recent revelations about President Biden’s fluctuating mental acuity as early as 2021, raising questions about the true architects of current White House policies.
The deployment faces significant legal challenges. U.S. forces are operating without Syrian government invitation and lack proper Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), which only Congress can provide. The administration’s attempts to justify these operations by linking ISIS to Al-Qaeda represent another instance of executive overreach designed to minimize public oversight.
The situation reflects broader issues in U.S. military spending and accountability. On the same day as Ryder’s announcement, the Senate approved an $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act, while U.S. debt approaches $37 trillion. Adding to these concerns, the Pentagon failed its seventh consecutive audit in 2024.
Current conditions in Syria don’t justify expanding the anti-ISIS mission. While ISIS has increased activity in 2024, their operations remain minimal compared to their peak, with less than 20 attacks in September versus hundreds in April 2022. The group no longer poses a significant international threat from Syria or Iraq.
Most ISIS fighters are currently detained in facilities run by U.S. allies, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces. While some worry about the approximately 10,000 imprisoned fighters, alternative strategies exist for managing these facilities and addressing potential threats without expanding U.S. military presence.
https://twitter.com/IanJaeger29/status/1869855436834521408
Regional partnerships, including cooperation with Turkey and local armed groups, offer viable alternatives. Given ISIS’s weakened state, establishing sustainable security arrangements through capable local actors who have direct stakes in preventing the group’s resurgence appears feasible. The current open-ended U.S. presence mirrors unsuccessful counterterrorism operations across Africa and Asia.
The Syria situation highlights broader issues with U.S. military deployment policies. American global influence doesn’t require universal intervention but rather demands strategic wisdom and appropriate military restraint based on actual necessity rather than bureaucratic preferences.
The practice of misleading the American public must end. The Syria troop announcement demonstrates the urgent need to abandon this unsustainable and undemocratic approach to foreign policy that consistently disregards public opinion.
