In a co-authored opinion for War on the Rocks with Elizabeth Dent, General (ret.) Joseph Votel, member of the CERL Executive Board, urges the Trump administration to prioritize U.S. involvement in Syria to avert the resurgence of the Islamic State. It will be critical to reiterate the United States’ commitment to its military objectives in Syria and engage in robust efforts to broker communication among all parties in support of a united Syria.

General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.), is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow on National Security at the Middle East Institute and a member of the CERL Executive Board. Read his bio here.

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