Defense Secretary Ash Carter supports the deal brokered by Secretary of State John Kerry to conduct joint attacks against terrorists in Syria, in return for Russian influence in implementing a cease-fire and enabling the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians, a Pentagon spokesman said Thursday.
“He absolutely supports Secretary Kerry’s efforts to reduce the violence, to try to bring some ease to the suffering of the Syrian people,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook. “The secretary absolutely supports that.”
But Cook says planning has not begun for the “Joint Implementation Center” now dubbed the JIC and pronounced “jick,” where U.S. and Russian military officers would share intelligence and coordinate air attacks against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria.
The U.S., Cook said, is still waiting to see if the cease-fire is broken, and whether Russia lives up to its the end of the bargain.
“The open question is whether Russia will start doing the right thing in Syria, and the secretary would be the first person to welcome that,” Cook said, noting that Carter has been highly critical of Russian involvement in Syria.
“He has expressed that skepticism in the past, and now the test is up to the Russians,” Cook said.
There is some question as to whether the Pentagon might need a waiver from Congress to pursue joint military operations with the Russians, because direct military-to-military cooperation was cut off after Russian troops invaded and eventually annexed the Crimea part of Ukraine.
“We understand the restrictions that are currently in place and are prepared to address those in close consultation with Congress as required,” Cook said.
For now, the U.S. says the the cessation of hostilities appears for the most part to be holding, but Cook echoed Kerry’s caveat that a cease-fire doesn’t exactly mean all fire has to cease.
“The goal that’s been articulated by Secretary Kerry and supported by Secretary Carter is an easing of the suffering of the Syrian people. And finally, some delivery of humanitarian assistance to people who are suffering,” Cook said. “So I think nobody’s expecting across-the-board a complete cessation of violence.”
