WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday that
he would talk to his Russian counterpart again about Moscow's military
intentions in Syria, but cautioned that if the Russians insist on fighting the
Islamic State without simultaneously pursuing a political solution to Syria's
civil war they will be "pouring gasoline" on the conflict.
In comments at the Pentagon, Carter said the Obama administration is
concerned that Russia could use the warplanes and other military force it has
recently assembled in Syria to attack the Islamic State or the moderate Syrian
rebels who are fighting against the government of President Bashar Assad.
Carter declined to say whether he believes the Russian buildup is intended to
undertake airstrikes or other offensive military action.
"We're going to be talking to them about their intentions both on
the political track and the military track," Carter said. He spoke to
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu last Friday, and afterward Pentagon
officials said it remained unclear how the Russians intend to use their
military in Syria.
"To pursue the defeat of ISIL without at the same time pursuing a
political transition is to fuel the very kind of extremism that underlies ISIL,
and if that's the Russian view that's a logical contradiction," Carter
told reporters. "And the way out of that contradiction is to pursue both
of those in parallel. And on that basis I think we're prepared to discuss a way
ahead with Russia where the political and the military move in parallel."
To do otherwise, Carter said, is to "pour gasoline on the ISIL
phenomenon rather than to lead to the defeat of ISIL. At another point he
likened a military-only Russian approach to "pouring gasoline on the civil
war in Syria."
Russia has been building up its military presence at an air base in
Syria, including fighter jets, tanks, helicopters, air defense missiles,
personnel and other equipment. Russia is a traditional ally of Syria and has
supported Assad, who has clung to power despite a U.S.-led international effort
to force him to step down.
Obama And Putin Will Meet At UN General Assembly
In an interview taped with CBS' "60 Minutes" for broadcast
Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked if his country was
"trying to save the Assad administration."
Putin responded, "Well, you're right." He said any effort to
destroy Assad's government "will create a situation which you can witness
now in the other countries of the region, ... where all the state institutions
are disintegrated."
The Russian leader added, "There is no other solution to the Syrian
crisis than strengthening the effective government structures and rendering
them help in fighting terrorism."
Carter spoke at a Pentagon news conference alongside Ukraine's Minister
of Defense Colonel-General Stepan Poltorak. Carter said that even if the U.S.
and Russia share the desire to oust the Islamic State from Syria, that does not
take away from America's support for Ukraine and its condemnation of Russia's
military actions there and its annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.
Asked whether he could trust what the Russians tell him about their
intentions in Syria, Carter said that in earlier days, "the answer to that
question was 'trust but verify' and that always seems reasonable. It's not a
matter of trust. It's a matter of seeing what the Russians do."
State Department spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the U.S. was
concerned about Russia supplying Syria with fighter aircraft and surface-to-air
missiles to fight the Islamic State, which doesn't have an air force.
"I think there are legitimate questions that we continue to have
about the kinds of capabilities we see flowing in there," Kirby said.
"Secretary Kerry will continue to have the conversations he needs to have
on the diplomatic side to try to get better clarity and better
understanding."
Russia has begun flying drone surveillance flights over Syria, gathering
intelligence in preparation for what most expect will be the launch of fighter
aircraft in the coming days, according to U.S. officials.
The officials said that so far there have been no problems or conflicts
with the U.S. and coalition fighter aircraft that continue to bomb Islamic
State militants there. They say the Russian drone seen flying Wednesday was a
small, unarmed aircraft.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to discuss the issue publicly.
Carter has previously said he is inclined to support defensive lethal
aid to Ukrainians battling Russian-backed separatists, a position that differs
from the White House. He said Thursday that the U.S. has spent $244 million in
equipment and training for Ukraine, but that he and Poltorak said they did not
discuss lethal aid during their meeting.
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Associated Press video journalist Sagar Meghani and Diplomatic Writer Matthew
Lee contributed to this report.
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