Thread by @Charles_Lister

The logic driving this “humanitarian” narrative is riddled with inaccuracies & contradiction.

1. @MaxBoot says we should “let #Assad win,” but that at the same time, the U.S. should “stand with” the #SDF in 25% of #Syria (the northeast) -- how does that work, exactly?

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2. The author also says U.S should “cut a deal” w. #Erdogan, in which “the #YPG will sever all support for the #PKK” … [despite the vast majority of #PYD/YPG leadership being long-time PKK/KCK veterans.]

Speak to anyone who regularly visits #SDF in NE - PKK calls the shots.

3. The author also links recent pictures of #Aleppo’s public park to compare “2016 charnel house” to 2018 "civilians strolling through its rebuilt public park.”

Except the park sat in regime-held territory & was barely touched in 4yrs of war. How does conquered east Aleppo look?

3 pt.2. According to @UN satellite imagery, #Aleppo’s public park sustained “0” damage throughout the war in the city - see the park circled in blue in their map, (released on December 20, 2016) & compare it to eastern, southern & northern areas relentlessly bombed by #Assad.

4. @MaxBoot then says “leaving #Assad in control of three-quarters of #Syria will be a bitter pill to swallow.”

But 7yrs of war has given us zero indication that Bashar would *ever* give up 1/4 of his country, especially the U.S.

Moreover, the #SDF is now working with Assad…

5. The problem with these minimalist #Syria arguments that are masked as humanitarianism is that in actual fact, they are as un-humanitarian as it’s possible to get.

“Letting #Assad Win” would guarantee an intensification of regime violence & we’d effectively be abetting it.

6. Moreover, giving #Russia more of a free hand in #Syria will only encourage greater adversarial behavior, risking rising tensions.

And leaving #Israel to defend itself vs. #Iran/#Assad makes uncontrollable escalation even more likely than it is in current conditions.