Chris Ernesto

(RINF) – The old adage, “desperate times call for desperate measures” appears to be the theme of U.S. officials these days.

With Russia entering the fray in Syria, the United States’ ultimate goal of ousting President Bashar al-Assad is becoming much more elusive.

So is that why U.S. officials and analysts essentially applauded this weekend when ISIS killed a top Iranian military commander in Syria?

“There’s no doubt that it is a psychological blow to pro-regime forces in Syria,” a current U.S. intelligence official said, referring to the ISIS killing of Iranian Brig. Gen. Hossein Hamedani.

“The losses for the (Iranian) Guard Corps are increasing,” said former CIA officer Reuel Marc Gerecht. “We see the funeral announcements all the time of (Iran Revolutionary) Guard members who are perishing in Syria.”

So, ISIS – who the U.S. claims to be fighting in Syria – kills people in Syria, and the U.S. is crowing about it? That’s a dead giveaway.

It probably shouldn’t be shocking though, given U.S. President Barack Obama announced in 2013 that his government would directly arm terrorist groups in Syria when he waived a federal law designed to prevent weapons from being sent to designated-terrorist organizations.

“I’m not sure it’s the Iranian objective to beat ISIS,” said Gerecht. “I think the primary Iranian objective is to ensure that Assad does not fall.”

That may or may not be the case, but it’s clear that Washington’s objective is to oust Assad, not to defeat ISIS.

The U.S. has not achieved its hegemonic goals in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Libya, Yemen, Iran and other countries in recent times.

And now as Russia appears to be supplanting the U.S. as the presumed leader in fighting extremism, Washington is reeling at the prospect of losing potential control of the government in Syria.

Certainly, more desperate measures are ahead.