The United States is reportedly exploring options for a military withdrawal from Syria—something it should have done long ago. A withdrawal is necessary considering Washington’s mission has been rudderless for years after defeating the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Amid ever-worsening global instability, the United States should limit its military footprint abroad, including a full withdrawal from Syria.
The inertia of U.S. foreign policy has blocked this decision. Like clockwork, numerous analysts and former officials condemned any withdrawal from Syria, resorting to the same tired arguments about the need to defeat ISIS. Washington’s foreign policy establishment never fails to fearmonger while elevating so-called credibility and moral arguments for military adventurism abroad—with Syria constituting an excellent case study.
Hawkish arguments do not match facts on the ground. The Islamic State was territorially defeated in 2019 following the battle for Baghuz in northeast Syria. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), while expressing some concerns about the group’s activities in recent years, regularly assesses that the terrorist group does not pose a threat to the United States.
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