What a lot of people don't get is the strong parallels between the Erdogan call and the Zelensky call. Trump had a nefarious personal favor to ask of Zelensky, who had the presence of mind not to give in. But when Erdogan asked Trump for a little favor of his own (to massacre the Kurds), Trump said okay. There should be an investigation to find out what else went on in that call.
Trump is using the power of the presidency and resources of our government to ingratiate himself with the most oppressive regimes in the world. He prefers the company of dictators and despots to the civilized leaders of the world. He is becoming more and more emboldened by claiming those who seek to hold him accountable are guilty of Treason. The GOP’s refusal to hold him accountable for his disgraceful language and actions draws us closer to the day he begins executing his political opponents with impunity.
Another dictator that has Trump bending over backwards to accommodate at the expense of our national security. Trump himself is becoming a dictator in the making. He appears to be fulfilling his long term desire to do so as a full fledged autocratic dictator. His ex-wife Ivana previously revealed that in all the years they've been married Trump kept Hitler's speeches, Mien Kamph (Hitler's book) and books about Hitler on his night stand where he would study them assiduously every night. What does that tell about the man? Now he is willing to betray our most devoted ally, the Kurds in order to accommodate the aggressive goals of Turkish dictator Erdogan. Trump continually takes actions that reveal how meaningless democracy is to him.
1
Erdogan probably thinks to himself, I’m gonna call that weasel in the US and remind him how much he owes me, quid pro quo.
1
Evangelicals are appalled with Trump; but they should not be surprised by someone who has had a long history of infidelity.
Betraying the Kurds is the greatest act of disloyalty. Evangelicals, if you are concerned about corruption, support impeaching and removing Trump.
Surely you remember Matthew 6:24, the love of two masters. Trump has always loved money above all else. Money is the only master he follows.
2
"“It’s consistent with other seemingly inexplicable Trump actions that are more in line with Russian interests than with ours,” added Mr. Gordon, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations."
Everything Trump does weakens the U.S. and benefits Russia. When are Republicans going to wake up and join the Democrats to impeach and remove this unfit and dangerous president?
2
So let's check where we're at as a nation. We spent decades building our bonds with nations such as Canada. Our soldiers fought and died alongside theirs. In a world increasingly turning away from freedom and democracy we continued to stand for these values. And standing together with us we have always had a handful of countries—again, Canada, plus the U.K., France, and Germany.
Now, our President has systematically alienated the leaders of our traditional allies. For a recent example, he proclaimed the wonderful prime minster of Denmark to be "nasty" when she wouldn't sell part of her country (Greenland) to him.
Yet he has befriended a new crew of allies—the worst evil dictators in the world, specifically Putin of Russia, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, and now Erdogan of Turkey. Erdogan has a special interest in being besties with Trump, which is to get Trump to have us stand aside so he could cross his borders and attack our Kurdish allies in Syria. Trump has apparently agreed to do this, and the Turkish forces are attacking right now.
So to sum up, under Trump's leadership we have dumped our allies who uphold democracy and freedom and embraced as a new crew of allies a bunch of evil dictators! Is this a dream? Can this really be happening? How can the Republicans or anyone who calls himself an American support this? How can our once-great country of the United States have fallen so far?
76
@Jerry Schulz I think the answer to your question is that Trump is giving voice to the deeply-held conservative view that globalism, a result of western thinking arising from the Great War, is a bad thing and that everyone would be better off going it alone and looking out for their own nationalistic interests. Obama referenced the folly of this conservative viewpoint in his campaign speeches, so that further fuels the notion among conservatives that globalism is a bad idea.
10
@Jerry Schulz
I think he has a nice selection of countries to find asylum in
12
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." It's simple. Turkey's leader disliked Obama. Trump hates Obama. They can bash Obama together. That makes them buddies. Plus they both want to rule the world as uncontested oligarchs. What better match can be made? This president's mind seems to work on you scratch my back principles. He wants to be one of those world leaders with the power to absolve himself of any crimes and place all the criminal activity on someone else.
5
Below, here's Ivanka's tweet on the opening of Trump Tower, Istanbul. As in most cases, Trump's policies are indistinguishable from his personal interests.
In addition, doesn't Erdogan have the tapes from the murder of Washington Post journalist Kashoggi in Istanbul's Saudi Embassy? The evidence is that the Saudi Royal (aka mobster) Prince---a close ally of Trump's-- ordered the murder of this US journalist. Trump dismissed the murder as insignificant. Trump doesn't want these tapes released.
Like the Ukraine, Trump has made US foreign policy an extension of his business and political interests. He's a traitor to our nation, justice, peace, and humanity.
https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump/status/193337302066540545?s=20
6
Autocrats tend to think alike. Some get jealous over other autocrats greater power...
3
Erdogan has polished his discussions to a point where he gets what he wants, makes Trump look like the fool he is and is convinced he looks smart.
11
Turkey is already firing on Syria while the US just sits by and lets its allies take the heat. One person is responsible. He should be ashamed, but no doubt he is not.
4
What does Erdogan know about Trump and with which he’s being that blackmailed?
4
There is no Trump tower in Kurdistan.
6
A disgusting bromance, the full details of which we will learn eventually, the fallout from which people are dying as I type.
NATO should dump both Turkey and the U.S.
We can apply to be reaccepted when we reemerge from the cave. The world is not safe with us currently.
10
Did Turkey Play Trump Like A Fiddle?
https://youtu.be/h5Oe6JLw9PU
4
So what did Erdogan promise Trump, if the US pulled out of Syria? Given Trump's wanting Russia, China, and Ukraine to interfere in US election; it would not be surprising that Erdogan has agreed to do so. I am waiting for whistle blower to come forward who was in on those phone calls.
The one thing we learned about Trump, he does not do something, unless he gets something in return.
10
It might be as simple as " hey Mr. President, we are going to attack the Kurd's along the border. Prefer the US not be involved and drag out to a a war that lasts years, because we can accomplish what we need to in a month or so...without your involvement"
I'm ok with that..let the EU/UN/NATO step in and fight the Turks.
2
@wallace
Turkey is a member of NATO and has long wanted to be admitted to the EU!
"American and Turkish officials alike describe an unusual partnership in which Mr. Erdogan has repeatedly guided Mr. Trump toward positions that pit him against his own national security advisers and Republicans allies."
Good grief.
Okay Republicans, enough of this nonsense. For a foreign leader to repeatedly guide your guy towards "positions that pit him against his own national security advisers and Republicans allies" how do you NOT hear any bells ring or see any red flags?
Since when does a US president allow a foreign leader to dictate foreign policy?
He is out of his depth and out of control.
He needs to be reeled in and shut down.
Start thinking what is best for this country instead of self-interests.
12
He told Trump that he knew something about those two hotels he has over in Turkey. He told Trump dirt about what Trump has been doing at these hotels.
Everyone knows some dirt on Trump except the American people. now Trump will have blood on his hands and the foreign leaders are pulling the strings. Poor Rick Perry he is going down with Trump to, we forgot he even worked in this administration he has been quiet as a mouse. Wonder what he knows about turkey, and the rest of the middle east.
5
I can’t help but wonder to what extent this is a diversionary tactic by Trump. I note how the impeachment inquiry has now taken a backseat in the news headlines.
2
@jane Everything this man does is a diversionary tactic.
1
Dare I say, getting out of the border area with Turkey is inevitable for the US. The day would someday come when we leave the Kurds to their own devices
as happened to the South Vietnamese and Iraqis before them. That is how we roll, get entangled, pull out. This way Trump is blamed for it. Not a consolation, but it is a fact.
3
I wonder what information Erdogan has about Trump that made Trump a pawn in his hands. Maybe Erdogan monitored Trump conversation with Saudis. That might suffice to have Trump abandon Kurds. Not that Trump seems to care about their plight, nor does he care that betraying Kurds is also betraying American values and weakening beyond repair United States position in the world.
6
Trump is simply a dictator fan-boy.
No surprise. Who but a dictator is better positioned to trade favors-for-value without all the aggravation of having to go through bureaucratic red tape, or, even more annoying, democratic protocols.
Back in New York City, do you imagine Trump went around getting construction permits, licenses, board approvals, etc., by following the rules for mere mortals? Or do you more realistically guess that Trump, with the help of the likes of Roy Cohn, et al, went right to the movers and shakers in Manhattan, and cut deals, went for every shortcut, worked every angle, greased every outstretched palm?
Starting in January, 2017, our government entered the Trump Zone (We'd been heading to the Trump Zone for decades, of course.). There is only one way out of the Trump Zone. More accurately, there is only one way to begin to start to work our way out of the Trump Zone.
10
Where’s the whistleblower? Who listened to the Erdogan calls, what was said? Blame Obama and receive a get out of jail card, while passing “Go?” With Turkey alone, Trump has violated his oath of office, undermined the security of the US.
8
Birds of a despotic feather.
So long rule of law.
Welcome authoritarian rule and dystopia.
10
For Trump for Americans who disagree with him are the enemy not Dictators, Tyrants or murderers.
2
Trump doesn't really have a political ideology, but he strives to be a dictator. He craves the absolute power, the forced love, the final word, the one way flow of money that dictators enjoy. This kind of control is everything to his narcissistic ego. So of course Erdogan seduces him, as does Putin and Kim Jong-Un. God only knows what kind of conversations you'd find between him and the dictators of this world if we could break into the secret White House vaults. It's ridiculous and terrifying all at the same time.
11
Trump dreams of being a strongman like these dictators he swoons over. Simply put, he’s vindictive, weak and lacks a conscience.
7
Remember when Erdogan's security detail got out of their cars and beat peaceful protesters in Washington DC and Trump swallowed his tongue?
What's he got on Trump?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/01/trump-stands-by-while-erdogan-orders-attack-protesters/580093/
8
Is it really enough to say Trump "sold his brand name to the Trump Towers Istanbul in 2010"? The linked NYT story states that Trump had been paid as much as $5m by July 2015 for the name, which implies an ongoing, periodic fee. That continuing conflict of interest would completely compromise Trump, allowing Erdogan to manipulate him extravagantly.
51
Is it possible that in their phone call, Erdogan asked Trump for a “favor” regarding the Kurds in Syria, with the quid pro quo being favorable treatment of the Trump brand in Turkey?
11
In one day, Erdogan talks to Trump who announces withdrawal of U.S. troops from Kurdistan area of Syria and Turkey begins attack of same. Awfully fast work. Who gets the oil facilities the Kurds built up and were using to finance their activities and cities?
30
When will be see the "transcript" of Trump's phone calls with Erdogan and find out how much more Trump promised?
57
How did this story miss the Bannon interview in 2015?
“I have a little conflict of interest ’cause I have a major, major building in Istanbul.”
or this?
"In June 2016, after Trump said he supported a ban on immigration by people from countries he said were associated with Islamic terrorism—he called them “terror countries”—Erdogan objected...threatening to remove Trump’s name from the buildings...he has earned somewhere between $3.2 million and $17 million in royalties from the deal. Less than a month after the threat to remove his name was made, Trump very publicly voiced support for Erdogan when the Turkish leader faced a coup attempt." (truncated from a Mother Jones article)
49
Trump's decision and treatment of the Turkish strongman is not inexplicable; it is based on his personal self interest and the financial self interest of the Trump organization. Trump has a "Twin Towers" development complex in Istanbul and he is seeking to expand this as well as other development opportunities in Turkey. This decision is also in the best interests of Russia and will not hurt Trumps Moscow and Black Sea development opportunities.
69
I assume that every time Erdogan asks for something, he offers an increase in the brand licensing fee that Trump Tower Istanbul pays the Trump Organization. Assuming personal corruption just makes understanding the dynamic MUCH easier.
11
Is there a Trump Hotel in Turkey? Are there any plans to build one in the years ahead? Follow the money. President Trump really likes dictators from countries with nice beaches and where he can build a golf course. Obviously, he doesn’t currently have time to think about stuff like that because he’s very busy being president. Well, except for all that “Executive Time” blocked out on his calendar.
5
How many times have we chalked up the Trump administration’s dangerous and immoral policies to naïveté?
Believe Trump when he tells us he admires cruel dictators and mocks democratically elected governments.
10 years ago turkey was a democracy, if you think it can’t happen here, think again. There may be more going on than we want to admit.
9
Trump does have a weakness for dictators: Putin, Kim Jong-un, Erdogan... . he does envy them, and they are the only ones who respect him, anyhow that is what he believes.
8
"In Trump, Turkey’s Erdogan Bought a Sympathetic Ear"
That's the title.
1
No doubt MBS has a hand in all this. After all, Turkey is now Saudi Arabia on the Bosporus. To add insult to injury, both are autocrats! Terrible! Uncle Vlady must be happy, Pinocchio on 1600 Penn. Ave. doing his bidding.
1
@Elias
There is no comparison. The butcher MBS of Saudi Arabia who is America's "strongest ally" and best friends with Trump's son-in-law. As horrible as Erdogan may be, he is not in the same league as MBS, not even close.
Erdogan, is a thug and has found a sympathetic thug in the White House. As they say, birds of a feather flock together.
5
Trump, the ever pliable, gets manipulated by the wily Erdogan into making a military decision that is and has been (Mattis resignation) opposed by his military leaders and both Republican and Democratic legislators.
But don't fret folks. Trump, in his "great and unmatched wisdom" ..."will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey" if anything goes wrong with the agreement. And can I interest you in shares of Kurdish Oil Corporation.
Will no one rid me of this turbulent president? Impeach, please!
17
Two dictators in alignment, trump better watch out he has already said that he and Kim Jung Un are in love and he might get jealous and retaliate. The trump soap opera just keeps getting zanier everyday. Please exploited the impeachment.
6
Turkey should be immediately expelled from NATO for its agression. Hope Turkey ends up in the same position as the Crimea.
5
Add another strongman dictator to Donald Trump's list of those whom he wishes to emulate, even if it means setting up the next stage of Recep Tayip Erdogan's ongoing war against the Kurds and anyone else who dares to get between him and his dreams of a personal Caliphate.
Next step. Genocide and tyranny.
I fear we're next.
11
Don’t worry we have strong checks and balances here (LOL).
2
@Indy1
And THAT is what scares me.
2
Trump has a sympathetic ear because Trump Group (his company) has two properties in Turkey.
NYT: When will you publish the revenue generated by these two properties? In doing so we will learn the price paid to Trump for reneging on our country's commitment to our (former) Kurdish allies.
20
Trump admires Erdogan, Duterte, and Putin. Macron and Merkel not so much.
11
It’s that same sick feeling as in March 2003.
8
How have we not become partners in genocide? Turkey has begun ethnic cleansing, and will not cease until all Kurds have been decimated. We're now as guilty as Turkey is in this act of genocide. In addition to impeachment, POTUS now needs to be investigated for war crimes.
13
@PSJ
All that you say may be true, but remember, this was a country founded on genocide and slavery, our better angels not withstanding.
It would be good if one day the U.S. came to the same understanding that Germany realized after the Holocaust. That way, we could with a straight face take Turkey and Japan (among others) to account.
6
“The Turkish leader has repeatedly talked the president around to his view of the world....”
And probably his view of the world is very similar to the view of Trump. Maybe Erdogan found some dirt on a political opponent of Trump. Or maybe he just licked his ‘feet’.
In any case Trump is too stupid and too heartless to keep the promise made to the Kurds who sacrificed thousands of lives for our western interests.
It is such a shame. Such a betrayal. I know here in Europe we are considered very “liberal” by Americans. But do you still consider yourself Christians?
This is the work of the devil.
14
This commenter insists:
"Trump does what Putin wants."
Trump and Putin say otherwise. We asked Robert Mueller to look for evidence of collusion, but he didn't find any after nearly two years of looking.
Could it be that Trump and Putin are telling the truth on this? Or should we hire somebody else to look for evidence?
That is a mischaracterization of the Mueller report. I think it is fairer to say that the collusion did not reach the level of a conspiracy. That doesn’t mean that Trump was not and does not continue to behave in ways that Putin and the Oligarchs that funded Trump prefer.
5
@David
Once you get to the oligarchs funding Trump, that is a conspiracy.
1
Among many Trump’s advisors only Putin and Erdogan have his ear.
They surely act in the best of US interests.
6
So, what has trump asked erdogan in a earlier phonecall that he now has leverage over the US president?
4
@N
Honestly I think he simply intimidated him. Trump is a coward.
We should just leave behind all our weapons, particularly our anti tank missiles, as we pull back and give them to the Kurds. We shouldn’t fight for the Kurds but we don’t have to leave them defenseless.
2
Talked him around to his world view by pointing out Trump has Trump Towers in Istanbul. And as Trump told Breitbart radio during his campaign:
"I have a little conflict of interest ’cause I have a major, major building in Istanbul. It’s a tremendously successful job. It’s called Trump Towers—two towers, instead of one, not the usual one, it’s two.”
It's like what he said about Saudi Arabia:
"They buy apartments from me. They spend $40 million, $50 million. Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much.”
8
Trump doesn't have a sympathetic ear. He has his business interests. Wherever his businesses are or could be, he's interested. Trump Co. in Turkey, Moscow, Panama, Scotland, Washington DC... his red phone rolodex and presidencial piggybank is the gift us taxpayers just keep giving.
9
Turning our backs on our allies and embracing a dictator. Which part of Make America Great Again is that? We are being re-made in Donald Trump's image: a mean, dark, hate fueled country full of ignorance and arrogance. Everything we used to loath in dictatorships.
9
Trump agees with the last person he speaks to. What is the US state going to do about a rogue President who rules by edict. When I last looked there was no provision in your constitution for a monarchy
9
Trump Towers Istanbul opened by Donald and Ivanka Trump in 2012? Small wonder Turkish president Recep Erdogan has been able to dictate his Syrian policy to our president!
"Istanbul was Constantinople, now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople" 1953 pop song...."why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks" and Donald Trump's, our 45th president who has profitted hugely from his Trump name in Istanbul. And many other places.
8
Allan Lichtman’s 13 Keys have correctly predicted every election since 1984. “...if > than half of the keys are true, the incumbent party will stay in power, and if > than half are false, the challenging party will win the White House.” (WaPo May 2016) This disastrous decision flips #10 to false. We only need one more key to flip to false, and Trump will be out in the next election.
1 Party Mandate: incumbent party holds more seats in U.S. House of Reps than after previous midterm elections.
2 Contest: no serious contest for incumbent party nomination.
3 Incumbency: incumbent party candidate is the sitting president.
4 Third party: no significant third party or independent campaign.
5 Short-term economy: economy is not in recession during election campaign.
6 Long-term economy: Real per-capita economic growth during term equals or exceeds mean growth during previous two terms.
7 Policy change: incumbent administration effects major changes in national policy.
8 Social unrest: no sustained social unrest during the term.
9 Scandal: incumbent administration is untainted by major scandal.
10 Foreign/military failure: incumbent administration suffers no major failure in foreign or military affairs.
11 Foreign/military success: incumbent administration achieves a major success in foreign or military affairs.
12 Incumbent charisma: incumbent party candidate is charismatic or a national hero.
13 Challenger charisma: challenging party candidate is not charismatic or a national hero.
Editor’s note: This comment has been anonymized in accordance with applicable law(s).
4
@Alisa I keep the 13 updated monthly!
And interpret them a but differently. I have 9 F's,
1., 4.- as I consider Bernie to be a 3rd Party, 5.- cuz the short term economy is fake, propped up $1 trillion annual deficit, 6. cuz I figure this year comes in at 2% growth, and next year, .6%. aka less than Obama, 8., 9., 10., 11., and 13.
2
@Rob Nice. Much sunnier take. I hope Lichtman writes an op ed for NYT during the lead up to the election.
Editor’s note: This comment has been anonymized in accordance with applicable law(s).
Trump loves dictators. What more needs to be said at this point?
9
Erdogan and Trump both dislike elites? I don't know about Erdogan, but Trump IS an elite! He's supposedly a billionaire, though I and many others have our doubts. Besides, Trump seems to dislike just about everybody.
14
This is all you need to know
Trump Towers Istanbul are two conjoined towers in Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey. One of the towers is an office tower, and the other a residential tower, consisting of over 200 residences..ashopping mall with some 80 shops and a multiplex cinema. They are the first Trump Towers built in Europe.
In December 2015, Trump stated in a radio interview that he had a "conflict of interest" in dealing with Turkey because of his property, saying "I have a little conflict of interest, because I have a major, major building in Istanbul ... It’s called Trump Towers. Two towers, instead of one. Not the usual one, it’s two. And I’ve gotten to know Turkey very well.“
15
Of course. Dictators like to stick together.
5
Follow the money. The links between Putin Erdogan and Trump are there. This really shouldn’t be difficult to piece together, and yet our GOP continues to support our disgusting POTUS. Perhaps someone at the NYT can engage in some investigative journalism and write about what is really going on.
11
Sorry Kurds, you deserve better.
9
We are so hosed.
5
Trump is more than happy to be led down this road by Erdogan, since there are two Trump Towers in Istanbul.
This is what comes of not forcing His Royal Corruptness and offspring to divest of his interests in his businesses.
I despair about what the United States is becoming. Sure, we've done unsavory things in the past and supported evil people in power, but this is a new level of horror and rot.
18
How many Trump Towers are in Turkey— hence the sympathetic ear of Mr Trump.
8
"Erdoğan was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul in 1994, as the candidate of the Islamist Welfare Party. Later he was stripped of his mayoralty, banned from political office, and imprisoned for four months for inciting religious hatred." - Wikipedia
And you are all okay with Trump being friendly with this guy who obviously has cleverly camouflaged ulterior motives by stroking Trump's ego.
The idea was to get rid of the ISIS extremists, but Trump is friends with an extremist and y'all don't get it.
25
Trump likes dictators because he knows that he can cut backroom self-deals without the scrutiny of a democratic body, foreign or domestic. Let's face it, the GOP's reluctance and resistance effectively blunts oversight on our end. The only thing Trump has to fear is an open, transparent government on the other side of any self-deal.
No doubt, we can look for more Turkish gifts to the oil/gas industry and Trump hotels.
BTW, if we don't impeach Trump now, we will eventually be looking in the rear viewer mirror asking, "How could we be so stupid?"
18
As per someone who heard Trump on the Erdogan call, he's 'spineless' and got 'rolled.'
It's not that Trump has a sympathetic ear.
The problem is that he is a coward. Like most bullies.
Iran figured out how to deal with bullies. Punch them in the face, and watch them run off screaming threats. Making threats while in full retreat looks silly though.
Erdogan also punched Trump in the face.
Next up, Xi, of China, will punch him.
And then his pal Kim Jong-un....
And so forth. Trump set a bunch of fires.
They are consuming him now.
24
Trump is "adhering to the enemy," to quote the Constitution's language on treason. He adheres to Putin and all the two-bit dictators who either have something on him or know how to flatter his fragile but massive ego. He sells out our allies and insults their leaders. In this case, he is responsible for a genocide in the making. wake up, Republicans, and save your souls.
16
Trump will always prefer the advice of a foreign despot to an American expert.
45
I think most Americans favor reducing US involvement in Mideast wars, including Syria. I certainly do.
Reducing involvement is easier said than done, and inevitably will meet resistance. Indeed, an amusing result of this pull-back has been an unlikely alliance of Trump opponents: Republicans who feel we're abandoning the Kurds and should not, and Democrats who once were opposed to Middle East wars. The first group has always wanted to maintain or expand US involvement in the Syrian war. The second group always opposes Trump. Their interests coincide on this "pull-back" issue; odd bedfellows, but they do agree on this issue.
I, however, agree with Trump on this "pull-back" issue, and I'm confident most Americans do too. We'd prevent Turkey from abusing the Kurds if at all possible, but the main objective is to pull the US military out of Syria, period.
4
@Commenter
This American does not. Abandoning the Kurds is unforgivable especially left to the hands of a brutal dictator like Erdogan.
4
@Steve
I think that you give the Kurds too little credit. They would have been fools to have been overly reliant on the U.S. They must remember what happened to Iraqi Shiites in the 1990s when the U.S. government promised support to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Once the rebellion began, the U.S. was nowhere to be found.
Even as we speak, the Kurds are forming new alliances. It will involve some combination of the Syrian government, Iran and Russia. There will probably be some sort of detente in the near future in which the Turks can settle some of their several million Syrian refugees in a no-fly zone in northern Turkey while the aforementioned future alliance will offer some protection to the Kurds (who themselves are quite adept at defending themselves).
Americans are tired of endless war and foreign entanglements. The world is a tough place. We don't have to be everywhere. Indeed, I'd posit that we've caused more harm than good these past thirty years. Our country is falling apart (infrastructure, political system, economy) and yet some people just do not want to address the problems right in front of us.
1
@Commenter - I do not agree. And pulling out of Syria while giving Turkey permission to invade? That is more than simply being uninvolved. That is reprehensible AND against our interests. ISIS thrives in destabilized places, and then they bring their violence to us.
1
Yet more of the morass the stable genius has stirred up. Aside from the obvious basic question of why a country like Turkey is even a NATO member to begin with, what damage is Trump inflicting on us with these decisions that one cannot help but suspect is deeply tied to his inexperience in real world international diplomacy and politics, and his personal financial ties to Turkey and Erdogan?
This whole debacle illustrates why Congress needs to get its act together. Their current investigatory impeachment efforts need to be better coordinated and less scatter shot. If that means that actually formally initiating the impeachment process and appointing a committee that will actually coordinate things on a professional and effective manner that will present findings to the American people in a way that will convince them of the totality of the circumstances, then do it.
10
As one of Trump's aides in his family business said (before the election), Trump takes the advice of whoever spoke to him last. Mr. Erdogan has taken great advantage of Trump's pliancy.
16
@DFR You are absolutely right!
Ozgur Unluhisarcikli says “Trump would probably like to govern the way Erdogan does.” Of course Trump would. Erdogan has jailed thousands of critics, including hundreds of journalists, and intimidated the rest of the media. There is now no free press in Turkey, and anyone who dares to criticize Erdogan can look forward to a lengthy stay behind bars. That probably sounds like heaven to Trump.
It's clear Erdogan is far more intellectually gifted than Trump, whom Erdogan can play like Yo-Yo Ma can play a cello. The problem is that while the "music" from Erdogan's playing Trump may be pleasant to the ears of Turkish nationalists, it is entirely abhorrent and immoral to the Kurdish people who fought and died for Americans, as well as contrary to America's national security interests.
39
@Jamie Nichols
And he has been silent about the murder of Khashogi that took place in his country.
5
From the article:
"Mr. Erdogan has repeatedly guided Mr. Trump toward positions that pit [Trump] against his own national security advisers and Republicans allies."
Good. I have no doubt that John Bolton would have advised Trump to stay in Syria, even to up the ante there. I don't know whether O'Brien will too, but he probably will. But most Americans want to pull back in Syria (and in Afghanistan and Iraq -- throughout the Middle East, for that matter), and we know full well that many other Americans (including an odd coalition of Republican war-mongers and Democratic Trump opponents) oppose this. A pull-back inevitably ruffles feathers, and may even endanger "allies" such as the Kurds, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't pull back. We should. I support Trump fully in this decision, and I'm confident most other Americans do too.
3
@Commenter What do you mean by allies In quotes such as Kurds. if you are a Russian, Islamist Turk, Iranian or ISIS you are celebrating right now. No sane American even those who believe we need to reduce our footprint in the MiddleEast will support such a self defeating action. Our cowardice in letting down one of the only loyal Middle eastern allies will come back to haunt us in the future
14
@Commenter
Don't count me in your "most Americans".
58% are happy with Trump being investigated prior to being impeached.
Now, THAT group I DO belong to!
9
@Commenter Most Americans are not in favor of abandoning our allies, especially those that sacrificed everything. Most Americans believe we must live up to our commitments and not turn our backs on our friends. Most Americans do not want to
Most Americans are in favor of becoming great again, not backing a tyrant so that Trump can get a new hotel in Istanbul.
8
Could it be that our president, that deep thinker that he is, does not want to have his name removed from Trump Towers in Istanbul?
Though the Trump organization only licenses the name to the Turkish owner there have been past efforts to change the name when Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric reached a certain decibel.
Therefore, the president is motivated to please the Turks in order to keep fueling his insatiable ego. So what if it starts a new war.
28
So many Trump puzzles clear when one assumes Putin has covered Teump's debts for years and now, fearing Putin like no one else, Trump does what Putin wants.
22
Shouldn't the article at least mention the possibility that Trump's attitude towards Edrogan is influenced by the following:
Trump Towers Istanbul are two conjoined towers in Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey. One of the towers is an office tower, and the other a residential tower, consisting of over 200 residences.[1] The complex also holds a shopping mall with some 80 shops and a multiplex cinema. They are the first Trump Towers built in Europe. The property developer is Turkish billionaire Aydın Doğan, in a license-partnership with American businessman and current United States President Donald Trump. The complex is considered to be one of the most prominent in Istanbul.[citation needed] Many businesses based in Europe and the Middle East occupy the complex.
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The last time that Erdogan was in the United States, his cadre of body-guards rioted in the park next to the White House.
They bashed skulls and sucker-punched men and women , leaping over the shrubbery to get to new victims.
No.
Not one of them --- including Erdogan --- must ever be allowed in this country again.
Trump needs to go.
This country is not his private potty.
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@rosa
Actually the attack was outside the Turkish embassy near the WH. Nine people were injured in the attack. Trump refused to comment, defend his fellow Americans or to check on their injuries.
9
@Steve
Yes. It was horrific. And one of those curious film clips that is there and, boom, gone, in the blink of an eye.
I must have missed the exact location, I was so stunned watching one of the "guards" kicking someone's head in.
Thank you, Steve!
1
Of course Trump and Erdogan are buddies, they're both thugs.
8
Trump the cowardly bully, always cowers before the bigger bullies of the world and innocent people die. Vote this out in 2020 and end this shameful presidency.
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