Reporters lack sense of nonsense. Where nations stayed on de sideline in March 2003, many have joined the neocons in aggressive policy. We're in a full-fledged Cold War scenario by any means. This includes an ungoing hybrid warfare against the enemies of the West: Russia and China.

Our new heroes ...

○ Why is the US in Afghanistan | BBC News |
○ Sen. Graham is on a mission to convince the President Afghanistan is still worth fighting for | CNN News |

Trump's Syria move pleases dictators and hands initiative to ISIS | The Guardian Opinion |

Donald Trump's sudden decision to pull US troops out of Syria, and slash the numbers deployed in Afghanistan, came as a nasty shock to Britain, regional allies such as Israel, and to many in his own administration and Republican party. Although he had threatened such action in the past, his wiser, more experienced advisers had succeeded in restraining him - until last week, when the president finally got away from the White House "grown-ups" and went rogue.

[...]
Syria's dictator, Bashar al-Assad, will be gratified too, as will his allies in Iran. US Republican senators quickly pointed out that, by his decision, Trump has effectively "lost Syria" for the west and confirmed the victory of the pro-Assad forces. Assad may now feel emboldened to launch an assault on Idlib, Syria's last holdout province.

Less happy are the Saudis, who rely on US support in their proxy wars with Iran in Yemen and elsewhere. They will fear further American disengagement. Another ally, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, refrained from criticism but said he would escalate Israeli military action against Iranian-aligned forces in Syria and Lebanon following the US decision.

Trump's troop withdrawals also pose a conundrum for Britain and France, which both have military units engaged in Syria and Iraq. Downing Street said it had been consulted in advance and opposed it, but was clearly not listened to.

The benefits of our Middle-East policy ....

'Sapere aude'