The Yemeni civil war, one of the most brutal this century, appears to be nearing a stable conclusion thanks to the tireless efforts of American envoy Tim Lenderking and concessions from Saudi Arabia, a country that Americans (often with good reason) love to hate. Yemen could still erupt, but the Saudis should be commended for keeping things at least somewhat under control for a whole year.
After speaking on the phone with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week, national security adviser Jake Sullivan "welcomed Saudi Arabia's extraordinary efforts to pursue a more comprehensive roadmap for ending the war and offered full U.S. support. It's past due. The United Nations estimated that by the end of 2021, the war the Saudi ruler started with American support had killed or starved 377,000 people.
If anything, the civil war in Syria is even more tragic. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 500,000 people have died in the conflict since 2011, and 6 million people have fled the nation. However, there is no American mediator and no plan for resolving this miserable conflict. As a result, Arab nations are taking independent action to strike separate deals. For the first time since 2011, the Saudi foreign minister visited Damascus this past week. That indicates that nations are preparing to freelance their agreements.
After countless fruitless diplomatic efforts, American policymakers are suffering from Syria's fatigue, which is understandable. Instead of a policy, we impose sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad and reject any attempts at normalization. The sanctions may give us some leverage and comfort to Congressmen, but they do not affect Syria's suffering. This strategy makes me think of America's non-policy towards Iraq under Saddam Hussein.
Although it is simple to describe, it is extremely challenging to carry out the proper role of the United States in Syria. First and foremost, we owe it to the Syrian Kurds to secure their place in a future federal Syria after they bravely fought and died to defeat the Islamic State. Gen. Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, came dangerously close to being assassinated this month in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, by a drone strike, which was most likely launched from Turkey.
The United States should cooperate with its regional allies in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and, yes, Saudi Arabia, to defend our Kurdish allies in future Syria. I'm hoping the covert diplomacy has already started.
The SDF has a debt to the entire world. After defeating the Islamic State, the militia assumed custody of detainees, including foreign fighters who, if released, would pose a threat to every nation in Europe and the Arab world. Giving up on the SDF after it lost 12,000 soldiers in the fight against the Islamic State would be revolting.
More than just our Kurdish allies are included in America's Syria policy. To lessen Iran's military influence in the region, neighboring Arab states (as well as Israel) need assistance. Turkey also needs assurances regarding the security of its southern border, and refugees need a means of returning home. And without the return of Austin Tice, a freelance journalist and Post contributor who was taken hostage there in 2012, our agenda won't be complete.
Let's take a moment to reflect on poor, destroyed Lebanon when we consider the ugliest wars in the region. Five decades of civil war and corruption have wreaked havoc on that nation. Because of how corrupt its political system is, the country cannot elect a president. Gen. Joseph Aoun, head of the Lebanese Armed Forces, is a clear, apolitical symbol of the country and its aspirations. The United States can assist by endorsing his bid for president. Many Lebanese people like him, but Hezbollah does not. Finally, let's press the Lebanon reset button.
With the sad exception of the never-ending Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Middle East has been a conflict zone for the majority of our lives. The four keywords that best describe the new operating system are: Make pals and earn cash. Now is the time to settle disputes. The Saudis are repairing their ties with Iran with Chinese assistance. The UAE's disputes with Qatar and Turkey are over. The Arabs are improving their relationship with Assad (while holding their noses). The Saudi-Iran agreement is credited to China as its middleman. However, the UAE, the creator of the "no-problem" foreign policy, is the driving force behind the region.
After decades of American wars in the region, the Biden administration is also rediscovering diplomacy. Deals are being negotiated with Saudis, Kurds, Emiratis, Lebanese, and possibly some Syrians as well. Some of our allies are unpleasant, but that is part of diplomacy. It's time for ugly peace because we've had too many decades of ugly wars.
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