US and Daesh: Responsibility for Those You Tamed

US President Barack Obama held a meeting of the National Security Council in the Ministry of Defence on December 14 where he made a statement on the fight against Daesh (banned in Russia as a terrorist organization). Are the Americans really going to review their anti-terrorism strategy?

During his speech the American leader said the coalition fighting ISIS was hitting its targets "harder than ever". He also added Islamic State leaders were being killed off one-by-one.

Destabilization of the Middle East in order to control key energy transit and trade routes, restoration of serious image loss or a real struggle against Daesh? Obama is hardly ready to solve this problem. Because then they would have to recognize the mistakes made during Arab Spring that destroyed Iraq, Libya and undermined Syria.

Previously, Obama sometimes acknowledged that "we still do not have a complete strategy", but later was seen presenting that same "strategy" to the public. It looked very impressive and even threatening, and included four key points: air strikes, supporting allies directly in the combat zone, counter-terrorist operations and humanitarian assistance.

Western coalition air strikes led only to the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Syria and did not cause appreciable harm to Daesh, which allowed the "Islamic state" to significantly expand its area of influence in Syria and Iraq. This is clearly seen in comparison with the effective operation of Russia, local government and Iran against the Daesh in Syria. This was clearly and unequivocally stated by President Bashar al-Assad.

Americans' support for so-called "moderate" opposition in Syria, including with weapons, has contributed to the weakening of Damascus struggling with Daesh and to the strengthening of "Islamic state."

Anti-terrorist operations involving intelligence sharing between allies, blocking funding sources, hard administrative policing and other measures have not yet led to any tangible results. Right after Europe, terrorist attacks continued in US, bombings in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon occur every now and then. Now the US are trying to attract France, Germany and other allies to actual fighting against Daesh. Washington itself is not going to carry out a ground operation in Syria. There is nothing strange: responsibility "sharing" is a traditional welcome of American foreign policy.

Meanwhile, the "humanitarian aid" as a full measure of countering terrorism looks a mockery against the backdrop of the humanitarian catastrophe in Libya, Iraq and Syria.

At the same time, Americans continue to insist that "Assad must go" and try to discredit the Russian military operation in Syria. By the way, some experts believe that Turkey, while remaining a member of NATO buys oil from Daesh, went to a provocation with the downing of Su-24 only after consultation with US leaders. As a result another obstacle emerged in the way of forming a coalition between Western countries, Russia and regional countries.

Former Minister of Defense and CIA Director Robert Gates told CNN in an interview in November 2015, that Russia should be involved in Syrian conflict resolution and combating terrorism. However, he didn't exclude the possibility of Russia leading international efforts aimed at combating Daesh.

Chuck Hagel, another former head of the Defense Ministry, said he had previously presented US National Security Advisor Susan Rice with an analytical report, which proposes pragmatic approach toward relations with Bashar al-Assad. He stressed the need to establish a counter-terrorism alliance fully involving Russia. Moreover, Hagel recognized the destruction of Daesh as a priority in the context of Syrian crisis settlement.

It turns out that even in US there are some balanced and sober assessments of what is happening. However, no one can tell that Daesh and "Al Qaeda" cells have not already got into EU and US along with refugees. Against this background, it is very characteristic of the US Congress to form a working group aim at investigating facts of disinformation presented on terrorism the by US Command and intelligence. It includes exaggeration of Western coalition successes against Daesh.

Of course, the US are very concerned about the current situation: the Middle East destabilization project clearly went out of control, which poses a threat to US itself. Russia's decisive actions in Syria allowed it to gain popularity not only in the Middle East but throughout the whole world. Europe is in crisis due to the effects of anti-Russian sanctions, and is clearly interested in neutralization of terrorist threat, and thus interested in cooperating with Washington's geopolitical enemy - Russia.

Moreover, the US administration is unable to cope with Daesh, as the reason for Daesh's appearance and its rapid strengthening lies in the protest of Muslim population of the Arab countries, affected by American "democracy", against Washington's policy. It is a struggle of ideas, which increasingly captures the minds of even the wealthier EU countries' citizens. Terrorists have successfully exploited the natural human desire for justice and international community's chronic fatigue from US-backed unilateral world order.

To overcome Daesh the US will have to fight themselves, but they just do not know how to do it: geopolitical arrogance and state selfishness prevents them from doing so. Meanwhile new anti-terror strategy statements are a sort of "reassuring" medicine for internal and external consumption.

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