'Trump’s desire to work with Russia against Daesh is hopeful'
US President Donald Trump’s willingness to conduct joint airstrikes between US and Russian forces against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group in Syria “is a hopeful indication,” says a former US Senate policy adviser and diplomat.
“The United States, under the Trump administration, is willing to work with the Russians,” said James Jatras, who is also a specialist in international relations and legislative politics in Washington.
“This is something that he said during the campaign he wants to do; not only in order to improve ties with Moscow, but to work against what he sees as a common enemy,” Jatras told Press TV on Tuesday.
Terrorist groups have been afflicting Syria for almost 6 years now and unfortunately the administration of former President Barack Obama supported them, he added.
The United States is open to carrying out joint military operations with Russia in its fight against Daesh in Syria, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday.
Responding to a question about a Russian statement on a joint air mission with the US in Syria, Spicer said the Trump administration would “work with any country that shares our interest in defeating” Daesh.
"If there's a way we can combat ISIS (Daesh) with any country, whether it's Russia or anyone else, and we have a shared national interest in that, sure, we'll take it," he said.
Since September 2014, the US and some of its Arab allies have been carrying out airstrikes against Daesh inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate. The US-led coalition has done little to stop Daesh's advances in Syria.
In September of 2015, Russia launched its own air offensive against the terrorists who were still wreaking havoc in Syria. The Russian campaign, analysts say, has broken the backbone of Daesh and other militants.
During his election campaign, Trump said Obama and former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, “founded” Daesh in the Middle East.
He also often criticized Obama’s decision to withdraw American military forces from Iraq and leaving behind a void for Daesh terrorists to fill. “We unleashed terrible fury all over the Middle East."
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