The top U.S. general told Congress on Thursday it would be unwise to share intelligence with Russia and stressed that would not be one of the military’s missions if Washington and Moscow were to ever work together against Islamist militants in Syria.
The United States and Russia clinched a ceasefire deal earlier this month that held out the possibility of joint targeting of militants after a cessation of hostilities and delivery of humanitarian aid.
The text of one of several related documents, published on Thursday by the State Department, said both countries would “share intelligence and develop actionable targets for military action” against the al Qaeda-linked group formerly known as Nusra Front.
It also called for “independent but synchronized efforts” in the fight against Islamic State.
But Marine Gen.Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the U.S. military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested any such military coordination at a so-called “joint integration cell” would be extremely limited. The military, he said, had no intention of forging an intelligence sharing arrangement with Russia. – READ MORE
