US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s “arrogant” statements about Russia’s push for peace in Syria underscores Washington’s intent to curb Russian influence in the Middle East, an American political analyst says.
“What I think the Secretary of Defense’s statements reflects is that the United States is intent upon frustrating Russia’s advances and successes in Syria, using whatever it will take to do,” Mark Glenn told Press TV on Friday.
Glenn, who is also with the Crescent and Cross Solidarity Movement, noted that Washington has a far greater plan for the Middle East than just simply removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.
Carter said Thursday that Russia’s military campaign against Daesh (ISIL) terrorists in Syria is “deeply mistaken and doomed to fail.”
The Pentagon chief added that Russia needs to “get on the right foot” and change its strategy in the Arab country, opting for a future in Syria where Assad is not in power.
Russia launched its campaign against terrorist groups in Syria in late September upon a request from Damascus.