And finally, CHAOS-Mattis in action. The plan:
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis presented a classified plan to the White House Monday for the rapid defeat of ISIS that was reportedly an updated version of the Obama administration's strategy of relying on local forces to carry the brunt of the fight.
"It is a plan to rapidly defeat ISIS," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, but he stressed that "this is a preliminary plan" whose details will be closely held to allow for continued discussion and to avoid giving the enemy forewarning.
The plan called for the involvement of "all elements of national power" in what Davis called a "trans-regional approach" to defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria."Diplomacy is a key part of the plan" that was focused on ISIS but was also shaped to include other "trans-regional" terrorist groups, Davis said. "This is really a framework for broader discussion." The formulation of the plan fulfilled a campaign pledge by Trump, who had said that if elected he would order up a 30-day review on accelerated action to eliminate ISIS as a threat. On Jan, 27, Trump went to the Pentagon for the first time to sign an executive order directing Mattis to draw up the plan within 30 days.
At the White House, Mattis outlined the plan to the "Principals Committee" of the National Security Council, led by the new National Security Advisor, Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, Davis said. The Principals Committee included White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and other senior Trump advisers. McMaster had been at the Pentagon last Friday to be briefed on Mattis' proposals which Davis described in general terms as a "broad plan. It is global. It is not just military. It is not just Iraq-Syria." Davis said Mattis intended the plan to require choices by the president and his team "but it's not a "check-the-block, pick A or B or C kind of a plan."
See Military.com's article
Mattis Gives White House Tentative Plan for Rapid Defeat of ISIS
Some remarks. First and foremost, Mattis & McMasters don't dissappoint. At least yet, that is. The plan isn't at all the usual idealistic policy intended only for the domestic US soundbite, but understands the complexity of the situation. It isn't just "You go in there and kick ISIS ass". Notable things even from the above are the "trans-regional approach" and that "diplomacy is a key part of the plan" and that it is not "just Iraq-Syria".
One of the true reasons for the US to botch things up has just been the limited focus without taking into account the broader picture, without thinking about things like diplomacy, but simply go for the terrorist and only giving the countries a "you are with us or against us" ultimatum. The US is naturally talking to Turkey and Russia on these issues.
Yet we shouldn't forget that it's really fucked up there:
Free Syrian Army rebels supported by Turkey have attacked the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance, which has the US’ backing as its most effective ally on the ground.
Both groups oppose the Assad regime, which has launched an offensive on enemy-controlled territory with allies including Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group. The fight against Isis has made the groups uncomfortable allies but the so-called Islamic State's impending defeat in northern Syria is letting former divisions escalate into open conflict along new frontlines.
See
Russian, Turkish and US commanders meet to calm worsening Syrian 'proxy war'
Let's say that Trump's first war has begun. With Stars and Stripes flying.
