Who actually calls the shots in the US?

Last Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder stated in a briefing that there are 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria. However, previous official reports had put the number at “900.” Ryder did not provide a satisfactory explanation for this discrepancy, leaving many questions unanswered. It almost seemed as though Ryder had “discovered” this new number rather than relying on established data.

While Ryder mentioned that 1,100 of these troops were in Syria before Bashar al-Assad’s ousting, he did not clarify when they were deployed. He also noted that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was aware of the figures but admitted he had not spoken to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Michael Kurilla. When asked whether President Biden was informed of the updated troop count, Ryder sidestepped, saying he would not speak on behalf of the White House. The lack of any comment from the White House has fueled speculation that Biden himself might be unaware of these numbers. In short, Ryder’s statements have raised more questions than they have answered.

Former President Donald Trump, much like during his first term, has signaled his intention to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. In 2018, Trump’s decision to do so prompted Defense Secretary James Mattis to resign in protest, followed by Brett McGurk, the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria. While Trump argued that the U.S. military mission in Syria was complete, both Mattis and McGurk disagreed. At the time, Trump claimed, “We have defeated Daesh in Syria, the only reason we were there during my presidency.” He also lamented in a separate statement, “Had anyone other than Donald J. Trump announced we were bringing our troops back home after defeating Daesh, that person would have been America’s most popular hero.”

Trump’s withdrawal plan faced backlash not only from Democrats but also from Republicans, including hawkish senators Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham. Now, Rubio, who has been nominated by Trump for Secretary of State, remains an unknown factor regarding his stance on troop withdrawal. Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that Brett McGurk, who resigned over Trump’s Syria policy, was later appointed by President Joe Biden in January 2021 as the Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa.

Although Trump did withdraw some troops from Syria, it was later revealed that his administration had misled him about the number of remaining forces. James Jeffrey, McGurk’s successor, admitted after Trump’s 2020 election loss, “We were always playing shell games to not make clear to our leadership how many troops we had in Syria.” Jeffrey confirmed that while Trump believed there were only 200 troops in Syria, the actual number was significantly higher.

CENTCOM’s influence appears to be a key factor in the continued U.S. military presence in Syria. For instance, James Mattis, a former CENTCOM commander, became Trump’s Secretary of Defense in 2017. Similarly, current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also previously served as CENTCOM commander until his retirement in 2016.

In conclusion, Trump seems to be largely maintaining his 2018 stance on Syria. However, the subtext in statements from senior Biden administration officials suggests that the U.S. intends to keep its troops in Syria indefinitely. No clear timeline or conditions for withdrawal have been provided thus far. Despite significant changes on the ground in Syria, U.S. troops remain, giving the impression that the military presence has become an end in itself, with other justifications serving as mere narratives to legitimize this goal.