Dr. Carson’s Syria Strategy

Dr. Carson noted that President Obama’s attempts to arm “moderate” Syrian rebels have thus far been a disaster. He called Obama’s measures an “abject failure.”

The retired pediatric neurosurgeon also noted Russia’s expansionism into the Middle East.

“Alarmingly, Vladimir Putin has now inserted both Russian military equipment and troops into Syria to help keep dictator Bashar al-Assad in power,” he said.

Russia’s presence in the Middle East continues to destabilize the region as a whole, and we must ensure that the United States stands with its regional allies in these trying times, he added.

“The instability that has consumed Syria” presents a “growing danger to Israel, our longtime ally in the Middle East,” Carson said. “The U.S. must stand with Israel to ensure her safety.”

Source: Breitbart

Regarding the ongoing turmoil in Syria, Carson laid out a four-point plan for defending U.S. national interests in the region.

Firstly, the United States must “maintain current engagements with air and ground forces” in the area.

The U.S. should at the same time seek to weaken both Assad and ISIS, he maintained.

We should “continue to assist Syrian insurgent forces in their conflict against pro-Assad and ISIS forces with advisors, intelligence and weapons,” Carson said.

The United States must also work with its NATO ally, Turkey, in establishing a “no fly/no fire zone along the Turkish-Syrian border” to stabilize the escalating refugee situation. The strategy will help cut off the entry point for foreign fighters who wish to join ISIS, Carson added.

“We should not back down to Russia’s demands to cede control of the airspace over Syria,” Carson said, explaining that the United States should “establish airspace control mechanisms” with Russia “that reduce risk, while not ceding U.S. freedom of maneuver, anytime and anyplace.”

Dr. Carson’s offerings on Russia appear more hawkish than the propositions made by top GOP contender Donald Trump, who suggested last week that Russia propping up the Assad regime was an acceptable outcome.