US Secretary of State<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-troop-withdrawal-from-syria-will-happen-mike-pompeo-189435"> Mike Pompeo </a>vowed Thursday the United States and its allies would chase all Iranian troops from Syria, and urged Middle East nations to forge a common stand against Tehran.

"It's time for old rivalries to end, for the sake of the greater good of the region," said Pompeo at a keynote address in Cairo.

America "will use diplomacy and work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria and bolster efforts "to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people," he added.

The top US diplomat was in Egypt on the latest leg of a whistle-stop regional tour aimed at shoring up Washington's Middle East policy following President Donald Trump's shock decision to withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria.

Pompeo stressed the pullout would go ahead, despite comments in recent weeks appearing to walk back Trump's decision, but that the US would remain engaged.

The "decision to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that. We will withdraw our forces, our uniformed forces, from Syria and continue America's crushing campaign," Pompeo told reporters at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry.

He also met earlier with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, after arriving in Cairo late Wednesday on his longest trip since taking office last year which has already taken him to Jordan, Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital Arbil.

'New beginning'

In his address entitled "A Force for Good: America Reinvigorated in the Middle East" at the American University in Cairo, Pompeo also took aim at former president Barack Obama without naming him.

Trump's predecessor had "grossly underestimated the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism," Pompeo said.

And parroting Obama's words in his landmark 2009 speech in Cairo, Pompeo vowed that now was really "a new beginning" in ties between the US and the Middle East.

Pompeo's tour is aimed at urging regional allies to continue to confront the "significant threats" posed by Iran and jihadists.

Even though Islamic State group jihadists have been largely eradicated from Iraq, after capturing a vast swathe of territory in 2014, some still control a few pockets in war-torn Syria.

Pompeo will also visit Gulf countries including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

As he arrived in Egypt, the State Department described the country as a "steadfast partner in the anti-terror fight, and a courageous voice in denouncing the radical Islamist ideology that fuels it".&nbsp;

But there are rising concerns that US policy is getting bogged down. A long-promised Trump plan for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians has so far failed to materialise.&nbsp;

And many of the Trump administration's decisions have stoked confusion and angered many regional allies.&nbsp;

'Middle East even messier'

"By most accounts, Trump's Middle East policy has made a messy Middle East even messier," Aaron David Miller, a former US diplomat and now an analyst at the Wilson Center, said on Twitter.

"A risk averse president who makes new policy by tweet or phone call surrounded by risk-ready advisers who run cleanup, don't respect deliberation and have objectives that aren't clear or attainable equals US policy (or lack of it) in Syria."

Turkey and the United States are now at loggerheads over the future of Syrian Kurdish forces, considered by Ankara as "terrorists", after the troop pullout.

Turkish officials had a tense meeting this week with Trump's national security adviser John Bolton in Ankara aimed at coordinating the pullout process after Bolton set conditions that appeared to postpone it indefinitely.&nbsp;

The terms included total defeat of IS -- still active in some Syrian regions -- and ensuring that Kurdish fighters who fought alongside the Americans against the jihadists will be protected.&nbsp;

On Thursday, Turkey renewed its threat to launch an offensive against Kurds.&nbsp;

"If the (pullout) is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV television.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Thursday the United States and its allies would chase all Iranian troops from Syria, and urged Middle East nations to forge a common stand against Tehran.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Thursday the United States and its allies would chase all Iranian troops from Syria, and urged Middle East nations to forge a common stand against Tehran. "It's time for old rivalries to end, for the sake of the greater good of the region," said Pompeo at a keynote address in Cairo. America "will use diplomacy and work with our partners to expel every last Iranian boot" from Syria and bolster efforts "to bring peace and stability to the long-suffering Syrian people," he added. The top US diplomat was in Egypt on the latest leg of a whistle-stop regional tour aimed at shoring up Washington's Middle East policy following President Donald Trump's shock decision to withdraw 2,000 US troops from Syria. Pompeo stressed the pullout would go ahead, despite comments in recent weeks appearing to walk back Trump's decision, but that the US would remain engaged. The "decision to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that. We will withdraw our forces, our uniformed forces, from Syria and continue America's crushing campaign," Pompeo told reporters at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry. He also met earlier with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, after arriving in Cairo late Wednesday on his longest trip since taking office last year which has already taken him to Jordan, Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital Arbil. 'New beginning' In his address entitled "A Force for Good: America Reinvigorated in the Middle East" at the American University in Cairo, Pompeo also took aim at former president Barack Obama without naming him. Trump's predecessor had "grossly underestimated the tenacity and viciousness of radical Islamism," Pompeo said. And parroting Obama's words in his landmark 2009 speech in Cairo, Pompeo vowed that now was really "a new beginning" in ties between the US and the Middle East. Pompeo's tour is aimed at urging regional allies to continue to confront the "significant threats" posed by Iran and jihadists. Even though Islamic State group jihadists have been largely eradicated from Iraq, after capturing a vast swathe of territory in 2014, some still control a few pockets in war-torn Syria. Pompeo will also visit Gulf countries including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. As he arrived in Egypt, the State Department described the country as a "steadfast partner in the anti-terror fight, and a courageous voice in denouncing the radical Islamist ideology that fuels it". But there are rising concerns that US policy is getting bogged down. A long-promised Trump plan for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians has so far failed to materialise. And many of the Trump administration's decisions have stoked confusion and angered many regional allies. 'Middle East even messier' "By most accounts, Trump's Middle East policy has made a messy Middle East even messier," Aaron David Miller, a former US diplomat and now an analyst at the Wilson Center, said on Twitter. "A risk averse president who makes new policy by tweet or phone call surrounded by risk-ready advisers who run cleanup, don't respect deliberation and have objectives that aren't clear or attainable equals US policy (or lack of it) in Syria." Turkey and the United States are now at loggerheads over the future of Syrian Kurdish forces, considered by Ankara as "terrorists", after the troop pullout. Turkish officials had a tense meeting this week with Trump's national security adviser John Bolton in Ankara aimed at coordinating the pullout process after Bolton set conditions that appeared to postpone it indefinitely. The terms included total defeat of IS -- still active in some Syrian regions -- and ensuring that Kurdish fighters who fought alongside the Americans against the jihadists will be protected. On Thursday, Turkey renewed its threat to launch an offensive against Kurds. "If the (pullout) is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this decision," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV television.

Pompeo vows to expel 'every last Iranian boot' from Syria

Donald Trump confirmed his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria and said that his country cannot be the world's policeman. “We're no longer suckers, folks," Trump told the troops, warning that he is committed to bringing home US troops from foreign wars even over the objections of his administration's experts. 
 
"The United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world," he added. "It's not fair when the burden is all on us, the United States." Trump's remarks and the subsequent action(s) conform and correspond to the man’s campaign pledges and the nature of his presidency. &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Syria pull out is portentous and suggests that Trump wants to upend the post-war liberal international order. The political and policy reviews that he has undertaken till now validate and confirm this. Clampdown on immigration into the United States, pulling out from the Climate Change Accord, stemming and stanching free trade and veering toward a mercantilist and protectionist political economy paradigm, disavowing America’s “civic nationalism” in favour of an inward-looking, narrow variety, &nbsp;and insisting upon America’s allies to pay or share the burdens of alliances are all themes that not only reflect Trump’s preferences but also his disdain for the post-war liberal order.

Trump, some of his advisers and much of the Republican base believe that the liberal world order and its premises have not worked for the United States and that a review would restore the country’ greatness. &nbsp;While these beliefs are debatable, but the question is: Did the liberal world order, the norms and regimes that underpinned it work for the United States?

An answer to this question warrants a brief exegesis on the nature of this order. Internationalism, promotion of democracy,&nbsp;integrating human rights into the foreign policy of the United States, an emphasis on freer trade, and international cooperation through institutions of global governance, roughly speaking, were central to the liberal order. By and large, these themes and focus on these worked for the United States and made the country’s hegemony secure. 
 
But, interventionism, embedded in the liberal framework, as demonstrated by the second Gulf War, in the nature of a “War of Choice”, constituted a disaster for others. In terms of liberal economics, while globalisation and freer trade benefited the United States’ economy, but there were obvious distribution issues which led to gross inequality in the country that, among other things, paved the way for Trump. Insofar as human rights are concerned, the United States was always selective in terms of their implementation.

While the liberal order worked for the United States, it was also then laced with many hypocritical elements.

Donald Trump, in effect, wants to reverse and rewind this order and develop a new one instead. (In this sense, by taking on the United States’ foreign policy establishment, he is well and truly an insurgent)

The question now is: if Trump succeeds in decimating the liberal order, what will be character, shape and form of world politics?

The answer to this question remains in the domain of the “unknown unknown” but a few contours can be identified. As the United States will retreat into itself, international relations and politics will probably morph into a zero-sum competition, among and between states. This will increase the salience of security dilemmas which, in turn, will mean arms races between states, as they will increasingly look to fend for themselves. Defence and security needs will be elevated over economic growth and development which might even be diminished as mercantilism and protectionism become entrenched. 
 
And, as there will be no one to mediate and arbitrate conflicts, these might exacerbate and intensify. New regional orders might evolve and develop with other major powers taking the lead in “regional complexes” of security and order. All in all, there will be fluidity and churn of nature which, given the nature of the 21st century, might have no clear parallel in history.

Will, the question is, peace obtain?

With states increasingly relying on themselves for security, defence and power maximisation, their national interests will be reformulated in very narrow terms. They will also become self-referential. The corollary to this will be militarisation and foreign policies. And, international politics, being anarchic in nature, the global conflict might also be on the horizon. The retrenchment of the United States will also mean more multipolar world systems which are, by the standards of history, unstable. The 21st century, against the backdrop of these developments, might see a Great Power confrontation and even war. But, this analysis, is largely speculative. 
 
Much will depend on who occupies the White House and assumes power in the United States in the next elections.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Donald Trump confirmed his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria and said that his country cannot be the world's policeman. “We're no longer suckers, folks," Trump told the troops, warning that he is committed to bringing home US troops from foreign wars even over the objections of his administration's experts.

Donald Trump confirmed his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria and said that his country cannot be the world's policeman. “We're no longer suckers, folks," Trump told the troops, warning that he is committed to bringing home US troops from foreign wars even over the objections of his administration's experts. "The United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world," he added. "It's not fair when the burden is all on us, the United States." Trump's remarks and the subsequent action(s) conform and correspond to the man’s campaign pledges and the nature of his presidency. The Syria pull out is portentous and suggests that Trump wants to upend the post-war liberal international order. The political and policy reviews that he has undertaken till now validate and confirm this. Clampdown on immigration into the United States, pulling out from the Climate Change Accord, stemming and stanching free trade and veering toward a mercantilist and protectionist political economy paradigm, disavowing America’s “civic nationalism” in favour of an inward-looking, narrow variety, and insisting upon America’s allies to pay or share the burdens of alliances are all themes that not only reflect Trump’s preferences but also his disdain for the post-war liberal order. Trump, some of his advisers and much of the Republican base believe that the liberal world order and its premises have not worked for the United States and that a review would restore the country’ greatness. While these beliefs are debatable, but the question is: Did the liberal world order, the norms and regimes that underpinned it work for the United States? An answer to this question warrants a brief exegesis on the nature of this order. Internationalism, promotion of democracy, integrating human rights into the foreign policy of the United States, an emphasis on freer trade, and international cooperation through institutions of global governance, roughly speaking, were central to the liberal order. By and large, these themes and focus on these worked for the United States and made the country’s hegemony secure. But, interventionism, embedded in the liberal framework, as demonstrated by the second Gulf War, in the nature of a “War of Choice”, constituted a disaster for others. In terms of liberal economics, while globalisation and freer trade benefited the United States’ economy, but there were obvious distribution issues which led to gross inequality in the country that, among other things, paved the way for Trump. Insofar as human rights are concerned, the United States was always selective in terms of their implementation. While the liberal order worked for the United States, it was also then laced with many hypocritical elements. Donald Trump, in effect, wants to reverse and rewind this order and develop a new one instead. (In this sense, by taking on the United States’ foreign policy establishment, he is well and truly an insurgent) The question now is: if Trump succeeds in decimating the liberal order, what will be character, shape and form of world politics? The answer to this question remains in the domain of the “unknown unknown” but a few contours can be identified. As the United States will retreat into itself, international relations and politics will probably morph into a zero-sum competition, among and between states. This will increase the salience of security dilemmas which, in turn, will mean arms races between states, as they will increasingly look to fend for themselves. Defence and security needs will be elevated over economic growth and development which might even be diminished as mercantilism and protectionism become entrenched. And, as there will be no one to mediate and arbitrate conflicts, these might exacerbate and intensify. New regional orders might evolve and develop with other major powers taking the lead in “regional complexes” of security and order. All in all, there will be fluidity and churn of nature which, given the nature of the 21st century, might have no clear parallel in history. Will, the question is, peace obtain? With states increasingly relying on themselves for security, defence and power maximisation, their national interests will be reformulated in very narrow terms. They will also become self-referential. The corollary to this will be militarisation and foreign policies. And, international politics, being anarchic in nature, the global conflict might also be on the horizon. The retrenchment of the United States will also mean more multipolar world systems which are, by the standards of history, unstable. The 21st century, against the backdrop of these developments, might see a Great Power confrontation and even war. But, this analysis, is largely speculative. Much will depend on who occupies the White House and assumes power in the United States in the next elections. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Syria troop withdrawal: Is Donald Trump burying post-war liberal order?

Jihadists have killed at least eight Syrian government troops near a planned buffer zone around the country's last major rebel bastion, a monitor said on Saturday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack took place late on Friday in the north of Hama province near the planned buffer zone around rebel-held territory in neighbouring Idlib.

The attack was led by fighters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda branch which is the dominant force in Idlib, the Britain-based monitoring group said.

"An assault by HTS targeted a Syrian regime position on the outskirts of the de-militarised zone" and was followed by clashes in which eight regime forces were killed, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. Two jihadists also died.

The de-militarised zone was announced by rebel backer Ankara and Damascus ally Moscow in September to separate government troops from rebel fighters in Idlib and adjacent areas.

Under the deal, the rebels were supposed to have removed all heavy weapons from the buffer zone by October 10 but skirmishes have continued to pit regime forces against jihadists and other insurgents on the ground.

Rebel factions have said they withdrew their heavy weapons from the zone but HTS and other hardline groups have refused to pull out their fighters.

The deadly jihadist assault came hours after government troops killed 23 fighters of a formerly US-backed rebel group inside the planned buffer zone.

Idlib and some adjacent areas are the last major rebel bastion in Syria, where the Russian-backed government has in recent months retaken much of the territory it had lost since the civil war erupted.

It had threatened an assault on rebel territory around Idlib, which is home to some three million people, but the truce deal struck by Russia and Turkey averted it.

Aid organisations had warned that a fully-fledged offensive on Idlib could spark the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the civil war so far.

More than 360,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict erupted with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.&nbsp;

Jihadists have killed at least eight Syrian government troops near a planned buffer zone around the country's last major rebel bastion, a monitor said on Saturday.

Jihadists have killed at least eight Syrian government troops near a planned buffer zone around the country's last major rebel bastion, a monitor said on Saturday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack took place late on Friday in the north of Hama province near the planned buffer zone around rebel-held territory in neighbouring Idlib. The attack was led by fighters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda branch which is the dominant force in Idlib, the Britain-based monitoring group said. "An assault by HTS targeted a Syrian regime position on the outskirts of the de-militarised zone" and was followed by clashes in which eight regime forces were killed, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. Two jihadists also died. The de-militarised zone was announced by rebel backer Ankara and Damascus ally Moscow in September to separate government troops from rebel fighters in Idlib and adjacent areas. Under the deal, the rebels were supposed to have removed all heavy weapons from the buffer zone by October 10 but skirmishes have continued to pit regime forces against jihadists and other insurgents on the ground. Rebel factions have said they withdrew their heavy weapons from the zone but HTS and other hardline groups have refused to pull out their fighters. The deadly jihadist assault came hours after government troops killed 23 fighters of a formerly US-backed rebel group inside the planned buffer zone. Idlib and some adjacent areas are the last major rebel bastion in Syria, where the Russian-backed government has in recent months retaken much of the territory it had lost since the civil war erupted. It had threatened an assault on rebel territory around Idlib, which is home to some three million people, but the truce deal struck by Russia and Turkey averted it. Aid organisations had warned that a fully-fledged offensive on Idlib could spark the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the civil war so far. More than 360,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict erupted with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Jihadists kill 8 Syria troops near truce zone: Monitor

Syrian troops and allied fighters advanced Saturday to capture most of Albu Kamal, a monitor said, in a tug-of-war over the Islamic State group&#39;s last urban stronghold in the country.

The town in Syria&#39;s oil-rich Deir Ezzor province has changed hands several times, with government troops announcing its capture but losing it to a blistering IS counter-attack a week ago.

Syria&#39;s army and Lebanese, Iranian and Iraqi loyalists re-entered Albu Kamal two days ago and by Saturday had taken most of it from IS, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

&quot;Syrian regime forces, (Lebanese) Hezbollah, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and Iraqi militias seized control on Saturday of more than 80 percent of Albu Kamal, after a huge attack that began Friday night,&quot; said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

&quot;IS was pushed back to the northern and northeastern sectors of the city. Clashes are ongoing,&quot; Abdel Rahman told AFP.

The Britain-based monitor said the fresh push came with heavy bombing raids by regime ally Russia, and that troops were advancing more &quot;carefully&quot; than in their previous assault to ensure their gains would not be rolled back.&nbsp;

A string of territorial defeats across northern and eastern Syria left Albu Kamal, near the border with Iraq, as the last significant town held by IS in the country.&nbsp;

Losing it to regime forces would cap the group&#39;s reversion to a guerrilla organisation with no urban base.

On Saturday, Syrian state television aired live footage from Albu Kamal, showing plumes of smoke rising over the city&#39;s skyline as explosions echoed in the background.

It said the army was preparing to &quot;storm the remaining areas&quot; held by IS in Albu Kamal&#39;s east.

&quot;What has most impeded the Syrian army&#39;s advance is the large amounts of mines left by Daesh (IS) and its attempt at using families as human shields,&quot; state television reported.&nbsp;

Syrian troops and allied fighters advanced Saturday to capture most of Albu Kamal, a monitor said, in a tug-of-war over the Islamic State group's last urban stronghold in the country.

Syrian troops and allied fighters advanced Saturday to capture most of Albu Kamal, a monitor said, in a tug-of-war over the Islamic State group's last urban stronghold in the country. The town in Syria's oil-rich Deir Ezzor province has changed hands several times, with government troops announcing its capture but losing it to a blistering IS counter-attack a week ago. Syria's army and Lebanese, Iranian and Iraqi loyalists re-entered Albu Kamal two days ago and by Saturday had taken most of it from IS, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Syrian regime forces, (Lebanese) Hezbollah, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and Iraqi militias seized control on Saturday of more than 80 percent of Albu Kamal, after a huge attack that began Friday night," said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. "IS was pushed back to the northern and northeastern sectors of the city. Clashes are ongoing," Abdel Rahman told AFP. The Britain-based monitor said the fresh push came with heavy bombing raids by regime ally Russia, and that troops were advancing more "carefully" than in their previous assault to ensure their gains would not be rolled back. A string of territorial defeats across northern and eastern Syria left Albu Kamal, near the border with Iraq, as the last significant town held by IS in the country. Losing it to regime forces would cap the group's reversion to a guerrilla organisation with no urban base. On Saturday, Syrian state television aired live footage from Albu Kamal, showing plumes of smoke rising over the city's skyline as explosions echoed in the background. It said the army was preparing to "storm the remaining areas" held by IS in Albu Kamal's east. "What has most impeded the Syrian army's advance is the large amounts of mines left by Daesh (IS) and its attempt at using families as human shields," state television reported.

Syria troops, allies retake most of the last IS-held town: Monitor

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Pompeo vows to expel 'every last Iranian boot' from Syria

Syria troop withdrawal: Is Donald Trump burying post-war liberal order?

Jihadists kill 8 Syria troops near truce zone: Monitor

Syria troops, allies retake most of the last IS-held town: Monitor