'..the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces are not only the most powerful, but arguably the least apart in terms of their differing visions for the country .. While Moscow has set out to sponsor such efforts, Washington has remained largely silent on any dealings with Damascus, an element that would likely be key to any future arrangement.''Successive rounds of peace talks sponsored by the U.N. have made little progress, even as Russia, Iran and Turkey have stepped up to sponsor talks and arrange ceasefires. And none of these international efforts include the Syrian Democratic Forces or much Kurdish representation at all.
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Syria, Russia and Iran have responded to this militant threat by escalating their efforts to take on the jihadis, as the U.S. report noted.
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In the absence of negotiations at present, sporadic clashes have broken out between the two sides in recent months. Still, among Syria's warring factions, the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces are not only the most powerful, but arguably the least apart in terms of their differing visions for the country.
"Presently, the SDC is not conducting any talks with Damascus," Mohamad said. "The SDC is not opposed to a dialogue with Damascus, the mutual goal of which should be a political solution for Syria."
While Moscow has set out to sponsor such efforts, Washington has remained largely silent on any dealings with Damascus, an element that would likely be key to any future arrangement.
"The SDC is open to both American and Russian diplomacy to that end," Mohamad said. "Both powers can be helpful in reaching long-standing peace in Syria."
Hopes for engagement between the U.S. and Syrian governments were expressed by one prominent independent Syrian politician who requested anonymity due to the sensitive geopolitical nature of the conflict.
"I personally believe that the best interests of the U.S. cannot be achieved with some circumstantial ties with some separatist militias nor with other illegal pay-to-hire gangs," the politician told Newsweek, "but can only be achieved with a stable working relationship with the Syrian government."
The politician, who has expressed criticism of both Assad's administration and U.S. foreign policy toward Syria, felt Damascus also may not object to Washington's long-term economic presence in the northeast if other issues were resolved.'
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Biden Leaves Afghanistan, Pulls Back in Iraq, But U.S. Troops Fight On in Syria, August 5, 2021
Context'..the U.S. out of the Middle East..''..Raisi said he foresaw a reopening of Iranian and Saudi embassies in Riyadh and Tehran..'(US troops leaving Saudi Arabia) - 'Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Saudi crown prince of drawdown in June 2 call..''..the US has very little interest in the Muslim Civil War, other than that neither side win..'(Peace) - '..Sadly, my generation had to relearn the lessons of Vietnam in Iraq and Afghanistan .. to do everything in our power to avoid more wars..'(Afghanistan, Realism & Restraint) - '..the Afghan war alone drove [US] decline.' - Afghanistan Buries Another Empire