West seeks all-or-nothing ceasefire in Syria: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed James Jatras, a former US Senate foreign policy analyst in Washington, to discuss the remarks made by Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, saying the government forces will retake the whole country from terrorists.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Essentially the Syrian President is saying what many people in Munich have agreed upon it – terrorist-held areas will still be attacked to liberate those areas of those terrorists?

Jatras: That is right but we also see the United States and other Western powers calling for an all or nothing total ceasefire and the reason for that is quite clear that Damascus with support from the Russians and from the Iranians is making real gains here and they have a sound strategy - capture Aleppo, cut off supply to the terrorists from Turkey.

If they can secure the western and central part of the country which is the demographic core of the country, then they can afford to take their time with the Islamic State (Daesh) in the eastern part of the country in the desert areas closer to Iraq where they can be subjected to irritation and also cut off of supplies. That is a longer term prospect but the shorter term prospect of gaining effective control of Syria’s populated areas is I think increasingly within reach.

Press TV: And obviously, talking about cutting off supply lines to Turkey has annoyed many of these countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and now the UAE as well especially the two of the last ones are saying their decision to send in ground troops at some point is “irreversible”. How will that change the reality on the ground do you think?

Jatras: Well I think we have to make a distinction. With regard to the Turks and whether they might do something in northern Syria especially against the Kurds, given how irrational Mr. Erdogan is, anything is possible and then we have to see then how the Russians and Damascus respond.

As far as the Saudis and the [Persian] Gulf states, I think they are bluffing. They are trying to force the United States to save their bacon in Syria by leading a ground force in and I think the prospects of they would actually be foolish enough to send in their own forces without Americans taking the lead is quite ... and as far as the Americans go, I do not think President Obama wants to start World War III during his final year in office.

Press TV: So are we at a crossroads in Syria? Are things going to get a lot better from here on in or do you think this entire cessation of hostilities will just fall apart?

Jatras: I hope things would get better from here and I think the trend line is that direction but when you have die hard countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey who are unwilling to accept that strategically they have lost the war in Syria and Assad is not going to go anywhere and that they are going to have to accept the strategic defeat and get the best deal they can at the negotiating table, these people are willing to upset the entire applecart to avoid that and let’s just see how dangerous they [will] behave.

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