Sounds like that “Peace with honor” deal I remember from a few decades back. That turned out well, as I also remember from a few decades back.
I do not often agree with the President, but I do agree with his decision to withdraw troops from Syria. Hey, if we get out of Afghanistan, maybe we can get Putin to come take that mess over as well.
1
My wish for the Kurdish people in the conflict zone would be for them to establish rule of law for the small swatch of land . Demonstrate to Turkey and Syria that they just want a place to live in peace. Some Kurds like some Americans want to disrupt Peace.I pray for those who want a peaceful solution on both sides of the Kurdish territory. There is enough land for everyone.Peace be with each and every one involved.Dear God aren’t you sick of war and greed.
Negotiating a ceasefire on a conflict that you MADE POSSIBLE with irresponsible troop withdrawals is something you should be proud of?
156
@Nobody Special
It’s a management style - Create a problem, solve the problem, be a hero. I think it came from Lee Iacocca’s book from the 90’s but I can’t seem to remember the title.
8
@Nobody Special
Ridiculous.
“a conflict that you MADE POSSIBLE with irresponsible troop withdrawals”
We instigated the conflict by arming radical Islamist terrorists/jihadis and mercenary Kurdish militants.
And I do not agree that the US withdrawal from Syria was irresponsible or disorderly. When a war is lost and withdrawal is the only option it will look very disorderly. That is the nature of war.
Trump's Syrian withdrawal:
US casualties: 0.
Kurdish causualites: likely less than a few hundred.
US collaborators that must flee their homes: Not clear but no likely to exceed a few 10s of thousands.
Obama”s record: half a million dead, several million displaced, Europe flooded with refugees.
1
@Nobody Special sign up and go if you feel so adamant about it, keyboard warrior.
4
Natalia F. Roman you are absolutely correct that the truce with Turkey would not have been possible without Trump's efforts – since he abandoned our Kurd allies and green lighted Turkey’s actions in the first place. Typical Trump – create a crisis then fix it claiming victory
I'm sure that this wonderful theory getting us out of wars will have no adverse consequences ... until Mr.. Putin finalizes control over the middle eastern oil fields where we can pay for this decision at the pump.
Ceding power is not winning. It’s called running away. Troubling that a super power could not stand up to Turkey. Under trump the US will run from anything...
5
Trump not only won the War on Christmas, but now has brought peace to the Middle East and we get the oil. Playing chess when everybody’s playing checkers!
2
Trump- you have blood on your hands for what you commanded in Syria. Now you want to take credit for some temporary dissolution of warfare.
Sorry, Trump, you don’t get to do that . This entire genocide was precipitated by you and you’ve caused the loss of so many lives.
I believe you have no capacity for empathy and do not care about those lives who have been lost because of your actions. There are names you that I cannot type here. It would be best for the entire world if you would resign.
I know that’s not your way, however. We are going to have to make sure you are impeached and convicted or voted out of office.
11
Just amazing - he reduces Syria to a “sand” wasteland. The inhabitants Kurds or Sunnis are beneath his worth as a fellow human. Only his needs count. These Kurds, to him are equal to those Guatemalan widows with two young children escaping the drug cartel or gang who just murdered her husband.
Then this sad excuse of a human takes a disastrous, never impulsive decision with the Kurds, (Mattis’s resignation) his full term capitulation to Putin and his perpetual self dealing in Ankara and today he prepared a sound byte for Fox “News” for the 7:30 pm news.
The sound byte, short quote on video.
‘A fantastic resolution for the world”
It is not about him being a disgrace, this is a very sick soul, a dangerous man that even the doctors have rarely ever come across.
7
Trump has sold & traded the USA to Putin & Russia.
And all the while, Trump & his ignorant followers rail against so-called socialist policies. You know, like Social Security & Medicare.
9
trump has fulfilled his charge from Putin to get the US out of the way and allow Russia to yet again influence outcomes in the Middle East to Russia’s best interest; mark Russia’s 2016 election meddling paid in full. What will be the price for Russia’s 2020 election meddling? I shudder to think what new lows trump will drag the US in repayment.
9
Those pictures that Putin has over trump's head must be really something.
8
What is missing in this article is that the Kurd military leader in Syria personally thanked President Trump for the cease fire in a tweet today. Just a few days ago, he also was a major Trump critic over this move.
Trump is playing three dimensional chess that is well beyond those of average abilities who are his critics here.
3
Beyond his critics, including nearly all GOP and Dem elected leaders, and policy experts, former generals, etc.. LOL!
8
@Dan evidence? citation?
2
@Dan, the Kurds, like Ted Cruz before them, have already figured out that if they want anything from Trump - and they may well need help given that they are now at the mercy of the Russians, Syrians, and Turks - must praise him. This IS NOT 3 dimensional chess - this is Trump’s malignant narcissism and the Kurds realizing that they better stay on his good side because some good ego-stroking will likely be the only reason he’ll intervene to help them.
5
So Trump kvetched about NATO AND thinks that if the US stayed in Syria with the Kurds, NATO member Turkey would go to war against the US? I would almost think he doesn’t know what NATO is. Actually, that seems highly likely.
The foreign policy President has abandoned allies in Asia also.
For a few $ million — the ignored Philippines now lets the Chinese navy in.
That huge successful World Court case? Not a priority.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1193729/South-China-Sea-news-Donald-Trump-Xi-Jinping-US-USS-ronald-reagan
Trump never has tweeted once about the South China Sea!!!
It is only about fulfilling targeted yet deceiving campaign promises — not the security of the US or the Globe!!
Transactions and opportunities only for him — the most selfish — the most deplorable — the worst leader ever.
6
Congressmen storming the most secure rooms of the House Intelligence Committee - utterly lawless and reminiscent of the bus loads of thugs entering the Florida vote count in 2000.
Today President's Trump lawyer argued in court that Trump could not be prosecuted - or stopped - from shooting someone on 5th Avenue in New York.
He argued that a 45 year-old Justice Department memo that is not law but guidance provides the President with absolute immunity from any crime at all.
The police or any other first responder would be powerless to intervene in a crime involving President Trump, as long as Trump is President.
So if Trump decided to rape a 4-year old girl, or dozens of them, no one may intervene. Presumably the Secret Service would fight off and arrest the parents of the children the President was raping.
Trump could grab a bazooka and blow up Congress to stop his impeachment hearings. No person can stop him, interfere with him, or otherwise constrain him.
Enough. America did not elect a King. We fought a Revolutionary War to end fealty to royalty.
Enough. Trump and his attorneys and his sycophants and his bootlickers must be prosecuted.
I hope this happens through the Congressional Impeachment process.
If it does not, Trump will not find the same acquiescence for foreign manipulation in our sovereign elections.
He is a Russian asset. He wants to be a dictator and he advocates violence at his rallies, in Congress and even in federal court.
Stop him.
14
War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, and Ignorance Is Strength. The people get the leaders they deserve, as evidenced by our feckless Fool-in-Chief
9
Yes, and he thinks that Kurds express gratitude when throwing fruit at our departing convoys. He's got that kind of gut feel the helps him understand local customs. Regular folks would think that it was the response of a betrayed ally and partner in battle, who realize they're now forced to become yet more displaced victims on the move in Syria - as Turkey and Russia get them out of their own homes and land.
9
When those 100 ISIS fighters that just escaped make their way to the US, will we all remember that it was Trump's fault?
6
Trump creates a crisis
The crisis escalates
Backlash ensues
Trump backtracks on the crisis he created
Trump declares victory
Rinse and repeat
11
President Trump is a great man. If he were God, I think it would only have taken him five days to create the world instead of seven. Who knows, maybe four or even three. And there wouldn’t be a Devil either, because all the angels would be totally loyal to him.
4
@Patrick
The pills won’t work unless you take them every day, as directed.
4
His news conference was a nauseating display of his alternate reality. Terrifying.
7
Enough of this incompetent, ill informed lying sociopath. I believe that every move he makes is motivated by potential ( or current) business deals he has made with these Demagogues. Lock him up.
8
I’m just guessing Trump’s not going to get the Nobel Peace Prize for his effort here.
8
Awwww....but Trump is trying so hard to make peace with dictators by giving them everything they want at the expense of America!
6
Trump is trying to whitewash his cowardly abandonment of the Kurds. He handed Russia the Black Sea - Ukraine, Turkey and Syria. Trump is too ignorant to understand the ramifications of his phone call. Lock up Trump and his phone. His simple TV mind can not grasp the scope of Russia’s coup! Truly an idiot!
8
@Barbara, he may or may not understand. He doesn’t care, though, because what he has personally gotten and will get out of his deals with Russia and Turkey (eg, winning the presidency, revenue for his failing properties, consolidation of other business deals) make it all the terrible things the Kurds, migrants, etc endure worth it.
1
Even for Trump the amount of lies told with every breath during this 2020 campaign speech, which is what this was really about, was ...well, breathtaking.
One lie from this dumpster fire of lies was so absurd that I had to rewind and play it again to be sure I heard correctly.
Trump claimed that the Kurds are still guarding the detained ISIS fighters in northern Syria and will continue to do so and that Turkey will be just an emergency backup to the Kurds. Umm, a little hard to do when the Kurds have already been forced out of the area where the detention facilities are located.
Trump is telling us all to believe that 2 + 2 equals 5 and to be thankful that he alone solved this difficult equation for us...something that he attempts to pull off every day.
3
Is there any space in Trump's dim brain for the history of how petty squabbles over blood-stained European turf triggered WW1 and 2? Is there anyone in a position of authority in the Trump White House who has even a sliver of historical perspective?
Disaster. With nuclear arms on hair-trigger disaster.
6
What Turkey is doing in northern Syria is ethnic cleansing.
Why is nobody outraged?
Turkey is expelling Kurdish families, before he seeds that territory with Arab families.
Nobody cares anymore about ethnic cleansing.
3
If America voted six years ago whether they wanted Syria to become "essentially a United States protectorate", I wonder what those numbers would've looked like?
4
I wonder if Americans were told 3 years ago that Trump would
- force military to overnight abandon a nearly accomplished mission, totally destroying the mission’s accomplishments
- encourage the slaughter of our decades long allies that fought with US against terrorism
- allow thousands of captured terrorists to escape
- abandon millions of dollars of military equipment
- allow Turkey to fire on our elite troops...
whether we would have President Trump now.
6
@Lizardo
- Our mission was nearly accomplished? Don't think so.
- Everything we did is TOTALLY destroyed? Doubt it.
- Decades long allies? No... Syrian Kurds since 2013.
- Slaughtered? No.
Casualties, yes. But population centers were not targeted.
- Thousands of terrorists or even suspected terrorists did not escape. Tens, not thousands escaped. Possibly thousands of suspected terrorist family members, i.e. women and children, did "escape".
- Abandoned military equipment? This may be true. But millions of dollars in military equipment could fit in a household garage.
- Turkey fired on our elite troops. Maybe. Probably depends on the definition of "fired upon". Apparently, there were no injuries whatsoever.... maybe not even a loud noise.
Trump won by a sizable margin of 77 electoral votes.
1
Wait, Trump claims credit for a cease-fire in a conflict that he allowed to start in the first place? And the cease-fire is basically allows for a Russian foothold in the region while the US pulls out? Come on, man. This country has 300 million people. They all work hard, really hard to make a living. Long hours, and they'll get fired for much less. These appearances are an insult to every hard-working man and woman. He owes us hours of planning and preparation, instead of this garbage delivered in between the endless rounds of golf and self-promotion. He is the president and that is the most important job of all.
10
In furtherance of his Middle East policy, trump has just issued a new Executive Order, mandating that all US military vehicles from now on only be equipped with “Reverse” gear and extra bright back up lights.
Signed,
Disgusted Veteran
9
How many career soldiers will not rejoin after knowing they may again be ordered to cowardly give in to the enemy, to allow the escape of thousands of captured terrorists, to allow their allies who worked beside them to be slaughtered, give millions of dollars of military equipment to the Russians?
I fear for the well-being of our soldiers who were assigned there. So many have told of the emotional pain of this cowardly retreat. The suicide rate of active military has been increasing.
None of the soldiers removed from
this area went home: they were sent to protect Saudi Arabia, the country where most 9-11 terrorists came from, sponsored by Arabian princes.
4
About a month ago, our NATO ally Turkey bought another battery of S-400 anti-aircraft missiles from Russia, the world power against whom the North Atlantic Treaty Organization members were supposed to mutually defend one another. The primary purpose of this weaponry in a world where you can buy Raytheon hardware from your NATO ally America, is to shoot down things that NATO defenses are not supposed to shoot down. Things like the F-35's American pilots fly. (It eludes me why a bigger deal was not made of this big deal in the press.)
Instead of making a big deal about this major strategic victory for Russia, Trump in the time since has decided that there's no reason to continue the commonsense anti-proliferation treaty that permits our surveillance and monitoring of (Russian and other) nuclear stockpiling.
Then, after abandoning our strategic ally in Syria, and revealing to the surprise of absolutely no one that he is the sort of American leader to extort crucial ally Ukraine with a credible threat to withhold aid needed to fight against Russian military encroachment in their territory, Trump proceeds to brag about letting Russia and new bestie Turkey divvy up northern Syria, at the expense of our allies and what was left of our credibility.
At this point, I think Joe McCarthy himself would be justified in asking this obvious stooge for Putin, "At long last, sir, have you no decency?" As for the Republicans standing up for this treachery, how do they plead?
8
Of course, he did and his cultists cheer him; fake fox will, too.
The Kurds, in ruin and homeless, burying their dead; Israel looks to Russia; al Assad back in northern Syria after five years; Russian troops now have a base in Syria; Erdogan looking for nukes from Putin; Iran now with a direct path thru Syria to Israel; American military “given” four weeks to remain in Iraq. And ISIS.
Once again, a victory for Mr. Putin; a great success for trump.
7
Might as well give Putin Iraq and Afghanistan too.
3
Yeah...why not? Crazy upside down world. Sad.
@Dan Barthel Afghanistan is a real problem as attacks on 9/11 were co-ordinated by Taliban. But we aid Pakistan who is feeding Taliban. Trump stopped the funding or at least tied it to Pakistani behavior. Now Pakistan is funded by china in lieu of strategic access to Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
1
@Raj You are wrong factually. 9/11 was done by Al Quaeda, not the Taliban. The rest of your comment is correct.
If anyone believes what trump said, I’ve got the Brooklyn Bridge for sale!!!
2
Neville Chamberlain saved Europe by giving in to Hitler. Or did he? Oh, that's right. Appeasing Hitler did nothing to stop the coming war, but only emboldened him. Donald Trump has just done the same for Mr. Putin. Putin now has free reign in Syria and the Mideast. He sees a weak President Trump, and has Ukraine next on his list. Donald Trump is out of his league and doesn't know it. Check mate.
9
Trump thinks he sounds Presidential and oh so wise. He lied and schemed and was so weak that he allowed himself to be used by Putin (again) as well as President of Poland. He didnt even know where Syria was or its history. What a sad pathetic man voted in by uninformed people who were also taken in by Putin and his meddling.
9
Syrian Kurdish commander Abdi says the truce with Turkey would not have been possible without the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump. Abdi thanked Trump for his “tireless efforts” to stop the Turkish offensive https://apnews.com/b8915488cc054b938e4fcfdaf161ac96
4
Jonathan Cook gives the intelligent and honest history
of the Hillary Obama, and other neo-con, travesties
which led to ISIS and vast harm in the MidEast.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/10/23/the-democrats-helped-cultivate-the-barbarism-of-isis/
In this, he supports Trump's action.
5
And the payment from Putin will arrive, as scheduled.
TRAITOR.
5
@Phyliss Dalmatian
ANY evidence ?
More laughable hillary-esque conspiracy theories.
2
@Phyliss Dalmatian
There’s no other possibility
Honor has never been in Mr. Trump's toolkit. And his claims about anything he comes even remotely involved with as "best ever," " like nobody has ever seen, " etc. sound like so much over-compensating aural garbage that we easily run the risk of not listening to him at all. In Syria his concerns were not the Kurds or our own American forces; but, rather pleasing Mr. Putin. He has certainly done that, with the GOP looking on in silence. Honor is, apparently, not a strong suit for them either.
5
He should concurrently claim credit for the beginning of the hostilities also! It’s like a thief trying to be a hero for returning stolen goods.
4
Say what? Really? Oh come on now Donnie, even you don’t believe this stuff coming out if your mouth. As we all used to say as kids that have grown up though I have doubts about this guy, “Liar Liar Pants On Fire”
1
What this story says is that when the time comes and this administration goes down as being the most corrupt one to date, Trump will be able to take credit for it and he will do so with relish.
2
President Trump's self-serving mendacity is hideous to the point of obscenity. As a direct consequence of his no-strings give-away to genocidal war criminals, innocent people have died, the displaced population is approaching 200,000 individuals, and ISIS escapees have not been "largely recaptured," as the president claims.
All this, plus the annihilation of US reputation as a trustworthy international partner for any joint endeavor, military or otherwise. The action for which President Trump is grotesquely claiming "credit" is nothing less than a craven capitulation in face of a non-existent threat.
Heaven help us when a real threat is dumped at our national doorstep.
6
Can Congress actually compartmentalize the Ukraine & Syria issues regarding Impeachment and a subsequent trial ? As days go by that seems more unlikely. Not very good news for the President.
1
It's interesting to see how much liberal/conservative positions have flipped. Democrats, since post-Vietnam, have historically wanted our military out of foreign lands when no direct threat to the USA was posed. It has always been Republican conservatives who have argued for an overseas military presence to protect "our interests". No judgement here on who has generally been right or wrong. It's surprising to see how vehement Democrats are now (1) for our military being overseas, (2) against Russia, (3) for a strong foreign "statement". Is this really how they feel or are they so anti-Trump that they are willing to sacrifice others lives to show that his decisions are wrong?
7
@Billy: Democrats and Republicans haven't differed very systematically on foreign policy, except maybe in the case of getting out of Vietnam. And that was a long time ago, and remember, Nixon was just continuing Kennedy and Johnson's war.
Since then, both parties have been pretty militaristic and interventionist. It's not like their real differences about domestic policies. And it all goes back long before Trump jumped onto the stage. Remember, Putin chose to support Trump, in part at least because he hated Hillary for being so staunchly opposed to Russian expansionism. That mutual dislike goes way back.
1
@Billy
“Well, the trick of the national security state is, first of all, there must always be an enemy, and he’s—must be terrifying, and he wants to blow us up because he’s evil and we’re good. So every day we are brainwashed: The Russians have discovered antigravity, or they’ve done this, or they’ve done that, and they’re evil; we are good, as well as overweight. Things—little things like this matter a great deal in advertising. Great advertising campaign to keep ourselves fully armed to the teeth.”
"It makes no difference who you vote for — the two parties are really one party representing four percent of the people."
Gore Vidal
3
@AACNY I don’t think Troops are getting out of the Middle East, but they are being shifted around. Kudos for the prison reform. Otherwise, he’s just your run of the mill sociopath.
Great outcome.
1. Kurds were not “slaughtered” and are indeed safe. They are protected by Syrian and now Russian forces.
2. While Kurdish forces must pull back 20 miles, Kurdish civilians are not required to do so.
3. Turkey made very minimal gains, limited to a couple of narrow fronts, and is not advancing any more.
4. No more bloodshed.
5. No more U.S. troops. (Except to “secure the oil” in some parts of Syria. Yes, it’s true – Trump has no filters and is brutally honest.)
6. No mass breakout of ISIS prisoners.
So everyone who was concerned about the fate of the Kurds can celebrate.
Of course, everyone who really just wanted the U.S. military to occupy another country and encroach on a traditional Russian sphere of influence will be disappointed.
And the rest, who only shed crocodile tears for the Kurds because they don’t like Trump will be devastated. Cheer up. You’ll find something else to criticize Trump for in 3, 2, 1….
9
Nice copy & paste of WH talking points.
Too bad even most Republicans don’t agree.
11
@Chad Verly
Unable to refute a single point.
I guess you are in the third category.
Like I said, cheer up. You can certainly find other things to criticize. Heck, I'm a Trump supporter and I can find a dozen without really trying.
4
@John, Don't forget that this is consistent with Trump's "Maximum Pressure" campaign against Iran. That's why he's sending 3,000 troops to Saudi Arabia--no more foreign wars, you know--and it's why Iran is incredibly weakened by Trump's genius in pulling troops out of Syria so quickly that the troops left their bases behind and they're being pelted on the way out. Because Iran is severely weakened by Trump's bold strategy in Syria. Right? Please spin it for me so I understand.
7
Trump talked to himself, agreed to get out of the way as Erdogan invaded a sovereign nation and waged aggressive war, tolerated war crimes, and now wants to be patted on the back. I think not. Another example of his craven, unstable character. Now he'll sell our troops to the highest bidder.
2
Trump wants praise for “fixing” his error of retreating tail between our legs.
His “solution” gives away the land of our allies the Kurds. His “solution” does not bring back to life the slaughtered Kurds nor bring back to custody the hundreds or thousands of the captured ISIS soldiers who escaped. Nor do we have custody of the remaining thousands of terrorists.
His “solution” does not bring back the massive amounts of US military munitions and equipment that we bombed and burned to avoid giving it to away, and worse, many millions of dollars worth got into the hands of the Russians due to the short time frame our elite soldiers had to run away.
Nor does his solution restore the spirit of our elite soldiers who were forced to run away while their friends, their allies were slaughtered and others lost their homes. Not one soldier was brought back to the US as Trump proclaimed. Those not staying in Syria now go to protect Saudi Arabia, the country where most 9-11 terrorists came from, sponsored by Saudi princes.
Trump loves to help out dictators and terrorists.
5
It may provide some perspective that Trump was draft dodger during the Vietnam war. He is skilled in avoiding any and all responsibilities that don't personally benefit him. That's how these unilateral and horrible decisions are made.
9
Like any of trumps past fixes give it a few days before popping any corks. It’s all in the details in the end and he is not good with details. Things tend to unravel. Hoping not so and we can some stability in the region
We will see how all the parties act in the next few weeks
2
Quite apart from everything else, how can sand be “long”?
Trump is doing to the English language the illiterate equivalent to what he is illegally doing to the laws and Constitution of the United States.
4
@MJM
I’m a Trump supporter. His creative abuse of the English language is my biggest criticism.
But, in this case, you are incorrect.
“Long” modifies “bloodstained”, not “sand”. Just as in a “long-awaited debut”, “long” modifies “awaited”, not “debut”.
Of course, it requires a hyphen to make this clear.
But Trump only spoke these words as far as I know. It is therefore incumbent on the reporters/editors to spell it correctly.
5
@MJM No, it's not that "long" modified ""sand", if modified "bloodstained".
But it's worth noting that Trump is perpetuating an ignorant myth about the Middle East; that the region has a worse tradition of violence than the bloodstained soils of Europe or Asia or the Americas. (am I leaving anybody out?) We're a bloodthirsty bunch, and it's globalized like everything else: many (not all) of the wars of the Middle East derive directly from Western conflicts and conquests.
1
And just where is Jared in all of this?
Wasn’t he solving peace in the Middle East?
6
He should also get due credit for the sun rising in the morning
2
Trump will soon propose giving Alaska back to Russia. And he’ll call that a great deal, too.
6
“Let someone else fight over this long bloodstained sand,” and I will be sending another 3000 US military personnel next week to Saudi Arabia to spend their vacations there.
6
The consequences of this are still to play out to start running victory laps.
Don’t know how this will affect the return of our troops to Syria’s oil fields and the large swaths of former ISIS territory.
Since Assad used ISIS to attack us in Iraq this could come back to haunt us.
Also now everything in the Middle East now goes through Russia which makes our Iranian sanctions a stupid joke.
1
Yeah, let somebody else do it, Donald. Like you always have, right?
Pathetic excuse for a man, husband, father, President.
5
Disgraceful
@Drew Johnson - peace on pretty could terms and protection for the Kurds- Disgraceful? Very odd comment.
7
Well most like everything he says and does, he tends to exaggerate the impact he has had on things. With that said, anyone who is fair minded should give him some credit and also admit that most/all politicians exhibit similar behavior.
14
@Steve No Steve. They don't all do what Trump has done as candidate and President since he exploited the "birther" charge against President Obama.
9
@Steve I guess we should have made Benedict Arnold commander of West Point -- traitors do not get credit
4
There's no way to see this as anything but a win for Trump. Yes, it was a horribly rash step that could have led to a lot of bloodshed for our Kurdish allies. But it didn't.
This is about what we could have reasonably expected in the case of a well-structured withdrawal, with maybe a few hundred less casualties. Unless Democrats have some kind of ultra-genius plan that will seem credible to the American people, they shouldn't press too hard on this, or it'll look like they intended to stay forever.
19
@Dhanushdhaari If Trump's master plan was to reward Assad and Russia's butchery in Syria, and green light Turkey's genocidal pursuit of the Kurds, have America's proud military retreat in front of the world as Russians moved into their bases without any gain whatsoever; if Trump's genius notion was to leave allies hanging to twist in the wind against a mortal enemy for no other reason than political posturing at home; and to let the world know, America's promise on anything is basically worthless; while removing any leverage we may have had against Iran, Russia, Turkey and ISIS in the region - then yes, this is truly a win for the President.
41
You mean ceding dominance in the Middle East to Russia and destabilizing ISIS is a win for Trump? Let’s see how that works out in the months, years and decades to come.
29
Dear @Dhanushdhaari - More than a few people died because of Trump's rash decision. Ask them if it's a win.
16
It's hard to fight the entire military-industrial complex.
And the intelligence/national security state.
And the neo-liberal interventionists (Republican and Democrat), both in the US gov't and in the mainstream media.
As far as getting US troops out of Syria and Afghanistan, I am in agreement with the Donald. One of the very very few things I find myself at all agreeing with him on.
Most people commenting here will refuse to give Trump credit for anything, but the results speak for themselves.
In less than a week, two of the main participants (Russia and Turkey) have consummated an historic deal that could resolve issues on the border, allow Turkey to resettle tens of thousands of refugees in syria, and clear the way for an end to the war.
No matter how you cut it, this is a major achievement.
It's worth noting that the Syria war was never going to end as long as the US occupied territory east of the euphrates.
So, if peace finally breaks out, it will be largely because of the change in US policy.
Trump deserves credit for that.
Trump might not be the president that everyone wanted, but he's sure done a amuch better job than smooth-talking, warmongering Obama.
16
@Chris Hardly, Trump likes to create problems, let other people fix them, then claim credit for the accomplishment.
Remember that Turkey would ... not ... have ... invaded if not for Trump giving Erdogan the green light during a phone call only 3 days before it occurred.
Also remember that Turkey refers to the Kurds as terrorists. Al Assad's Syria until recently referred to them as rebels. That doesn't bode well for any ethnic Kurd living in Syria (as they've done for centuries) once no one's looking.
7
@Chris You can also give Trump "credit" for Strengthening the positions of Iran, Assad's regime, and Russia in the Middle East. The fact is, he didn't do this on purpose, you have to realize that. He made a half-witted decision because a campaign promise to his political base is important to his re-election campaign than maintaining our position in the Middle East.
He also abandoned allies that fought along side our troops against ISIS. We couldn't have done it without the Kurdish fighters, we didn't have the boots on the ground, and then we turned our backs on them.
The last point I'll make is you need to understand the difference between a peacekeeping force and an "Army". A handful of troops were keeping the peace in that area before Trump pulled them out (supposedly to send them home but actually sent them to Iraq?). We have peacekeeping forces all over the world and that will always be necessary. It was and still is necessary in Syria, but we blew it and I predict more instability and crimes against humanity are what we will see going forward.
How you can give Trump any credit here is beyond me, this was one of the biggest blunders of his Presidency, and there have been many.
10
And increased Russia's influence.
"Everything comes back to Putin with you" -- these words by Nancy Pelosi have never rang more true.
Given the Ukraine debacle, we have to seriously consider if Trump hasn't started a backchannel with Russia, bargaining America's soul & world power.
Given the ethically shady tactics already employed by this administration, the answer, sadly, may be yes.
The real horror may lie there.
8
Was that a planned plan?
.. To cause chaos, watch people die and not have any idea where they might go for safery and shelter?
.. To abandon military installations, leaving equipment to be scooped up by Russia and Turkey?
.. To have a nonsensical presser touting a non victory?
.. To try to put a positive gloss on a non policy that even has your own party declaring it a disaster that leaves blood on a President's hands?
I agree with not having our soldiers fighting all over the world.. But, an organized departure beats this debacle any day.
8
Thank you, President Trump for clearing all these messes up for us. All these previous Presidents were clueless. Your unmatched wisdom is indeed a shining example to all us Americans. Keep up the good work. (Hint: Nixon unwisely resigned before he could keep continuing his good work).
2
This 'sand' gave the world most of its major religions, including one which Trump allegedly follows. As long as there is Oil beneath those sands, the US will always be involved in those lands.
Israel and the Arab nations need to stop seeking western intervention and move toward a future in which the sons of Isaac and Ishmael come together once again just like they did 4,000 years ago to honor the life of Abraham.
I just can't take much more of this ignorant blowhard boasting. He has to go.
2
“ I have just spoken to General Mazloum. He could not be more thankful.”
This no doubt ranks right up there with, “I talked with Mitch about my telephone call to President Zelensky. He agreed it was perfect.” Mitch says that conversation never occurred.
Never,ever forget that the President is a pathological liar.
8
and a treasonous child-don’t forget that bit.
1
This is like Lee Harvey Oswald claiming credit for Jacqueline Kennedy's marriage to Aristotle Onasis.
Never have I seen in my seven decades so many people willing to ignore a politician's total break from reality.
Our President just stated today that the Kurds are "very happy about the way things are going."
Excuse me, but getting wounded, killed, and kicked out of one's homes generally doesn't make people "very happy."
7
@Marcus Aurelius
My comment in no way advocates the U.S. maintaining a military presence in countries that don’t want us there. That idea has nothing to do with what I wrote. Nothing at all.
The president announced that he has brokered a permanent cease-fire in north-east Syria. I pointed out that, from a historic perspective, “permanent” cease-fires are often tricky or impossible to maintain.
My intended implication was that our braggard president may well be giving himself more credit than he deserves, which he does frequently.
I don’t think I’m compelled to come up up with solutions to problems I didn’t mention.
2
“Permanent” cease-fire will likely rank right up there with “Mission Accomplished.”
4
@J. It will probably last as long as the sanctions against Turkey lasted. If that long.
1
This is the most progressive foreign policy that we have ever seen. Liberals, the media and the entire Left should be rejoicing and feting Trump as their savior.
3
@Hank
It is not now, nor was it ever, liberal policy to withdraw troops in the callous, irresponsible manner that Trump ordered our forces from Syria.
It is not liberal policy to betray our allies, to abandon honorable fighters who have kept faith with us.
Blame none of this infamy on liberals or “liberal policy”, Hank. Blame it on our unfit, criminal president. Blame it on Trump’s complete lack of loyaty, ethics, honor and courage.
Blame all of this dishonorable outrage on the nitwit who publicly pointed out that the Kurds didn’t help us 75 years ago at Normandy!
Come to think of it, someone should tell Trump that the Kurds let us down at Valley Forge. He’ll weave it into one of his nonsensical rants!
3
Look! I stopped the war I started!
And I made it much, much worse!
Trump has got to go for the sake of everyone except Putin, Erdogan and MBS.
3
Start forest fire.
Claim credit for clearing land.
2
This is such a stable part of the world that i am certain that the seize fire will hold, all fighting will stop and peace will come to the entire region. /s
I did mean cease fire. Unfortunately auto correct gets the best of me sometimes
"Mr. Trump seemed to reject the idea of Russian influence." As par for the course, if this blithering egomaniac refuses to accept facts, then they just aren't true. Thank you for weakening American influence and trust in the rest of the world. Looking forward to impeachment.
Looks like it is working. This is terrible. Peace in the Middle East under Trump. This is worse than the black unemployment numbers.
Work on a new narrative.
I hate it when Trump succeeds.
This isn't good.
Get someone to spin this in the right direction - our direction, and do it now.
4
Another Republican Mission Accomplished moment.
1
As George W. Bush once said: "Mission Accomplished."
1
Have anybody asked Netanyahu what he thinks about Trump's withdrawal?
“This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else,” - Trump
Now he's referring to himself as the royal "we". Great.
Thank goodness Trump, or someone with his views, was not in charge during World War II. A lot of sand was stained with the blood of Americans.
1
Putin got what he wanted. Erdogan got what he wanted. And Trump doesn't care about the Kurds so Mission Accomplished!
1
I listened to as much as I could stomach of Donald Trump's chest-thumping Victory Speech after he announced a Turkish cease-fire.
Part of what he brayed was that not one, single American drop of blood had been spilled.....not one!
I practically wept, considering the tens of thousands of Kurds who are/were fleeing for their very lives after the ill-considered, ignorant decision of your president.
NOT my president
1
Enough of US getting involved in convoluted civil/religious wars on the other side of the globe. Trump is right, the US should not be the worlds police.
If it was any democrat president that pulled out our troops, NY times(and the comment section) would be celebrating that decision.
2
Our Incompetent-In_Chief wouldn't need a ceasefire if he hadn't pulled out our troops. And just how is he going to mitigate the thousands of displaced people, take care of the injured and answer for those killed all just to satisfy Putin.
2
Our Kurdish allies who lost thousands to defeat ISIS deserted by U.S. Troops forced to retreat because of Trump's capitulation to Erdogan and Putin and are now being ethnically cleansed from the region. That's the traitorous Trump policy, right?
1
Trump is sending troops to Saudi Arabia and Iraq ... so, his right hand doesn’t know what his left hand is doing. The bottom line is Trump is doing Putin’s agenda ... Russia will now have imposed its control further into the ME. This is insane and why, WHY would this be good for our national security, it’s anything but and NOW, ISSIS is free because of Trump and his republican enablers to attack in Europe and back in the US. Our troops are now in even more harm’s way with ISSIS freed ... what is wrong with you, republicans, seriously ?
“Others have come out to help and we welcomed them to do so; other countries have stepped forward”
As Turkey and Russia helped the USA when it betrayed its Kurds allies? This is beyond disgusting.
I suggest that Trump - tone deaf as he is - should have delivered this ludicrous message while a huge banner reading “Mission Accomplished” in huge lettering was unfurled in the background.
Since terrorists don’t attack trailer parks or Walmarts there is no political downside for Trump resurrecting ISIS.
3
@Metrognome Only our home grown Trump inspired white nationalist terrorists attack WalMarts.
1
Why does the phrase "Peace for our time"comes to mind?
1
I believe Trump also claimed credit for invented the cure for polio, and solving the remaining problems in the general theory of relativity.
“Yeah guys, that was me!” he gleefully said.
“Believe me!”
1
Trump will be re-elected, regardless of what this "excuse of a newspaper" thinks. The American people want out of these endless wars in the Middle East.
2
Come on guys, the headline should be:
"Trump 'Solves' Problem He Created"
Subtitle:
"Simple solution for Russia to replace US in Syria reached"
It was painful to watch this man. At times he seemed almost incoherent. Embarrassing and shameful.
4
It would make a bit more sense if he wasn't at the same time sending troops "for the oil." No doubt this is a totally benign goal without any potential for leading to conflict.
Not a big surprise that Trump wouldn't know that our involvement in the last world war started over oil. It wouldn't be a surprise if his supporters didn't know that either.
But upon hearing this latest bit of nonsense Americans are rolling their eyes at the idea he is getting us out of Middle Eastern conflicts by only sticking around for "the oil."
How stupid does he think we are? We can look at a map. We can see where Russian troops are on the move..
2
Operation Peace Spring is being carried out for two main objectives. The first is the eradication of the terrorist organizations PKK/KCK/PYD/YPG and DAESH which constitute threats to Turkey’s national security. The second objective is ensuring the safe return to their homes of the Syrian asylum seekers who came to Turkey due to the civil war, and providing humane standards of living for them in their country. As a result of Operation Peace Spring, Turkey will eradicate a major geopolitical threat and will provide the ground for about one million refugees to return to their homes safely. Operation Peace Spring is the third in a series of cross-border Turkish military operations in northern Syria, following from Operation Olive Branch and Operation Euphrates Shield. The operation is being carried out in accordance with the right to self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the UN Convention and the UN Security Council’s Resolutions on the fight against terrorism.The operation is mainly targeting the PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and certain terrorist groups related to them and to DAESH.The active terrorist organizations located east of Euphrates are Turkey’s targets.The fact that the military operation started against Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn puts eradicating the terrorist organizations between these two areas -approximately 120 km-on the agenda.Presenting the operation as a “Turkish-Kurdish war” is an unjust accusation that targets not only Turkey but also the region’s peace and tranquility.
1
Did The Donald Ego ever receive its Nobel Peace Prize for the work it did with North Korea? The ego construct around the mediocre host within the President is huge!
Trump will take credit for everything. He took credit for "defeating Isis" when it was really the Kurds who gave up over 10,000 lives doing so, only to be betrayed by Trump who has allowed them to be slaughtered. Cease fire my eye. Trump should be tried by the International Court for his betrayal and TREASON to mankind.
1
Really dumb statement by Trump. By withdrawing the U.S. becomes not just a bystander but an entity with less control over events. We are depending upon Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Assad to make decisions which will not affect us adversely.
1
To be fair, Trump is crazy as can be.
The people who support him are the problem.
4
Didn’t Trump just send troops to Saudi Arabia? Aren’t the troops who abandoned our Kurdish allies now in Iraq?
Is Trump’s base really as dumb as he seems to thinks they are?
1
“I love the uneducated.” Donald J. Trump.
Now we know why.
2
Sands aren't the only bloodstained items here. Trump's hands are, too. What a shameful betrayal.
2
Will the fact that Trump had to let a few Kurds get killed before he could broker the ceasefire keep him from getting the Nobel Peace Prize?
2
I'm surprised the president hasn't yet stated that he probably deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his actions in Syria.
The Manchurian president did exactly what he was told to do, open another path for the return of Russia to the Middle East.
1
Sure. Problem solved. Now, Mr. Trump can go back to finding another hotel for the G7 Summit. Or, planning a military parade in his honor.
1
“The United States was the closest ally of the Kurds over the past few years. But in the end, the U.S. abandoned the Kurds, actually betraying them,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, Tass reported.
2
Sadly, I've learned never to trust, nor to take at face value, any statement issued by this White House. That is a heck of thing to believe, isn't it. -C
Here we go again - the only thing missing was the MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner. Hail to the Thief!
1
Let’s proclaim the president as “The Great Appeaser”.
Why does the phrase "Peace in our time" come to mind?
Crowley’s story fails to report that US troops are still in Syria—oil fields and the al-Tanf base.
The National Interest has released a story that gives some background to US-Kurdish situation. See:
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/exclusive-inside-state-departments-meltdown-kurds-90241.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joel Rayburn wanted the Kurds to join with Islamist militants to combat Asad and Iran. One source stated, “He [Rayburn] is pushing [the Kurds] to meet with jihadists.” When Free Syrian Army thugs took, killed and cut up the Kurdish leader Hevrin Khalaf, James Jeffrey blocked US condemnation. Jeffrey is now trying to get SDF members to join rebels in creating an anti-Iran force.
Apparently, we are not adversed to all jihadists.
The National Interest pointed out that the Russian-Turkish pact was identical to one that Jeffrey had with Ankara.
If those pushing for greater Syrian involvement want the public to believe that this is a life and death situation for America, then why not declare an all out war?
This is not the first, nor regrettably probably the last, time that policy makers are deceiving the American people.
Turkey and Russia took the worthless agreement the fools Pence and Pompeo though they had and put it right where Turkey put trump’s shameful, sophomoric after the damage was done letter — in the trash.
This is one of the most pathetic, Russian directed US foreign policy fiasco I’ve seen in my lifetime.
If anyone still has any doubts about Putin having a closet full of dirt on trump, look no further than this handout to Russia.
Years of Russian money laundering and god knows what’s on videos from trump’s “beauty pageants“ in Moscow, and here’s what you get.
trump is a severely compromised, morally bankrupt traitor to this country.
5
He also blamed Obama three times.
1
My heart goes out to the Kurds who put their faith in us to help defeat ISIS and secure their homes only to be betrayed. This is no victory but a humiliating defeat for America and by extension, the world.
To me, this is nothing more than appeasement in the face of brutal dictators and their henchmen. I have stated previously here, this agreement is reminiscent of the disastrous Munich Pact signed in 1938 by Hitler and Chamberlain ceding the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to the Germans with no interference from either Britain or France. "Peace in our time..." turned out to lead to war within a year when Germany invaded Poland in September, 1939. Once an adversary senses weakness in an opponent, he will push the limits of the envelope until stopped. Hopefully, we will not have to stop those such as Putin with a war which will be an unmitigated disaster for all.
Trump, because he has no sense of loyalty or honor, will continue his march towards total isolationism which will cost America and all of the free people of world dearly. His continuing support of dictators such as Putin, Erdogan and Kim will leave us vulnerable and much weakened.
“Let someone else fight over this bloodstained land!” Are you listening, Israel? Today Trump stuffs the Kurds; tomorrow it may be your turn.
2
I don’t think we have witnessed this level of self delusion since OJ Simpson.
Trump would sell out his family if it met his ends.
Watch out Javanka, Eric, Don Jr., Barron.
According to CNN, “The commander of US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) thanked President Trump today for his "tireless efforts" that stopped the Turkish military offensive in northern Syria.”I just spoke with President Trump and explained to him the Turkish violations of the truce that would not have been possible without his great efforts. We THANK President Trump for his tireless efforts that stopped the brutal Turkish attack and jihadist groups on our people, " General Mazloum Abdi tweeted.
https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/syria-turkey-russia-10-23-2019/index.html
3
Please add genocide to Trump's bill of sale (excuse me, docket). The only life he cares about is his own.
1
Trump wants a Nobel Peace Prize? Let him use his infinite wisdom and deal-making prowess to cajole Turkey and Iraq and Iran and Syria to acquiesce in the long-overdue creation of an independent Kurdistan. Short of that, he should just play golf, eat cheeseburgers, and keep his mouth shut.
Donald, you struck a match and started the fire. That’s all the credit you’re gonna get. Your greed has no bounds. And by the way, what does this strange word “remorse” mean to you?
2
This show how much Putin has the legitimate president working for him, no another explanation, speaking as grand orator and his pheasant to his side as cheap homemade movie calling himself hero as Pilates in the killing of Jesus Christ, funny that occurs in the same land a Pharisees who are working for another government that is the new world ,these should be a crime against humanity but the UN is the same bias and corrupted
Incompetence at it's best. Losers in the white house. Gone with them all. Hurray for elections in 2020. Bye Bye Trump.
- if I showed up to work intoxicated, slurring my words - like POTUS during this announcement today, and many others - I would be fired
2
Bring our troops home from Saudi Arabia!
Bring our troops home from Saudi Arabia!
Bring our troops home from Saudi Arabia!
1
If Democrats want to stand tough and do it all themselves, let them break a leg trying.
A major success for Russia and their investment in trump.
It takes a special kind of person to cause a disgusting betrayal of a strategic ally. Then claim credit for a cease fire while they are still dying.
As Russian tanks pour in and claim the territory for their political influence.
This is a sinful crime to the memory of the ten thousand Kurds who died serving your countries aims.
Unforegivable.
105
@Richard Bradley But the Syrian Kurdish commander Abdi says the truce with Turkey would not have been possible without Trump's efforts; he thanked Trump for his “tireless efforts” to stop the Turkish offensive activities https://apnews.com/b8915488cc054b938e4fcfdaf161ac96
2
@Richard Bradley
Correct. Not surprising that Trump is best mates with your nauseating excuse for a PM.
6
@Natalia F. Roman But the Syrian Kurdish Commander said ‘Our trust in the United States is at its lowest.’ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/sdf-chief-our-trust-united-states-its-lowest%3famp
Trump would take credit for the sun rising in the east and his sycophants would nod their heads in unison, solemnly agreeing that this was so. Trump has wrought chaos in Syria, and will now work hard to lie and back-pedal his way to a more benign image, while his toadies will again nod their approval, but ... but the world knows better, our allies and would-be allies know better, and sadly, most thinking Americans know better. Things do fall apart, the center is not holding, and our stupid but ever-boastful president is slouching toward his own impeachment. Amen.
72
@Metrowest Mom
I’m neither a sycophant or toady so would you consider this alternate view:
President Trump’s actions have produced startlingly quick and good results – if it holds.
He has abruptly forced us, Europe, the world, and above all Turkey to see that if a nation is to be modern, civilized – a member of NATO in so many words – then it can’t use arms and war to settle border disputes.
If (for crazy hypothetical example) Denmark contests a border with the Netherlands it of course won’t, can’t, shouldn’t, and wouldn’t, go to war over it! It’s modern civilizational practically by definition.
Turkey – now in the brightest world spotlight – must choose whether it is by that definition a modern, civilized, European, nation, or not.
Or if Turkey claims it is justly protecting its borders and must, unfortunately, use arms in action to do so then Denmark and the Netherlands – and France, Germany, Norway, Montenegro, Albania, Spain, Latvia, the United States, and the 19 other members of NATO – better start thinking what troops and matériel they will be sending to Turkey in support of their NATO ally – as they are bound by the NATO Charter so to do! Anybody ready for that?
Trump has abruptly changed the game – in the way it suddenly seems obvious it should be changed.
(His address this morning is very worth watching in full – it’s on YouTube.)
If this holds it’s very, very good. Like, Nobel Peace Prize good.
Let’s all in good faith hope it does!
2
@RLS You have got to be joking especially the Nobel Peace prize part. The Kurds have been betrayed so bad that they will never trust us again. Why should any other country trust us except maybe Russia and North Korea. BTW, I don't have the stomach to watch Trump lie and brag on himself.
8
@RLS NATO charter states if a fellow member is attacked then we are to come to their defense. In this case Turkey is attacking, NOT being attacked. There is no reported effort(s) or attacks by the Syrian (SDF) Kurds to cause harm upon Turkey. Check your facts.
There are always minor events, most a reaction to what Turkey does. The Kurds are not a fault here, Turkey is.
1
Donald Trump is not part of any ' we' that has been doing the real fighting in Syria and Iraq against ISIS. The Kurds have lost 11,000 dead. And Kurds captured and imprisoned 10,000 ISIS fighters.
No member of the Trump family has ever been bravely honorable and patriotic enough to wear the military uniform of any American armed force.
Trump is the acting President of the United States. Spending 1/3rd of his time playing golf and vacationing on Trump Organization properties. Trump spends 2/3rds of his time tweeting and speaking nicknames and slurs while watching Fox News.
The real President of the United States aka Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is smiling and smirking while managing and manipulating both Bashar al Assad and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
64
@Blackmamba Well said!
2
@Blackmamba : "the acting president"!! Thank you, Blackmamba!!
1
@Blackmamba Yup. While Trump's fairy bawdfather was creating a racist real estate empire, my father had resigned his tenure-track teaching position at an old Midwestern College and was killed flying night photo-recon missions over Nazi Germany--Where Trump's cowardly father's cousins were.
1
In one breath he claims credit for a permanennt cease fire. Then he turns around and says let others fight over this long bloodstained sand. It seems like even he doesn't believe the cease fire will hold.
44
Has anyone fact checked this statement from Trump in his announcement? "I have just spoken to General Mazloum. He was extremely thankful for what the United States has done. He could not be more thankful." It is almost impossible to believe that the head of the Kurds forces, who's been critical of Trump's every move in the last week, "could not be more thankful." I haven't seen any commentator talk about this. Help, please!
3
Why are so many Americans addicted to sending other people's kids to fight in religious civil wars on the other side of the world?
Syria was destroyed by Syrians. It was destroyed by Sunni terrorists backed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
This isn't our fight. It was never our fight. The people of Syria do not spend one moment thinking about us. Why are we sending our children to die there?
US foreign policy, for decades now, has nothing to do with protecting the interests of the United States or its citizens. It is just a game for our politicians- they treat our sons and daughters like pieces on a game-board.
And, sadly, it appears that Democratic citizens like that. They are more than happy to send the sons and daughters of conservatives, and Republicans, to die needlessly. Their own kids? Their kids need to protest Trump so they will be unable to fight and die.
1
Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution provides that Congress have power —to declare war.” If Congress thinks the United States would make war on Turkey, it should declare war on Turkey. However, we would have to restart the military draft to fight Turkey’s 650,000-member military and the NATO nations who are treaty obligated to come to Turkey’s aid if is attacked by a foreign nation. (Turkey is a member of NATO.) This wouldn’t be popular with the U.S. public.
2
Trump claiming credit for the cease-fire in Syria that resulted primarily from Russia flexing its muscles is the equivalent of Russia claiming credit for the 2016 election of Trump. Oh wait, never mind.
4
Pretty low casualty count for this to be some terrible “invasion” by Turkey and Russia.
Words like "massacre" get thrown around willy nilly to the point where they have no meaning. It seems like any military action the US regime doesn't approve of is labeled a "massacre." In reality, a "massacre" is a large scale killing of a defenseless group of people, usually but not always civilians. The bombing of retreating Iraqi troops in 1991 on the Highway of Death by American forces, that was an actual massacre. The Israeli attack on Gaza was a massacre.
The real massacre here was the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Syrians as a result of the US regime change efforts.
Remarkable how the cry is all about the Kurds now.
But what of the Syrians when Obama began the illegal invasion of that country? Or the Obama-Clinton bombing and destruction of Libya? The Bush-Obama (and HRC) bombing of Iraqis and Afghanis? What of the Yemenis? And the Palestinians?
The Kurds were helping, alongside the jihadis (funded and armed by IS, US and KSA), the US to balkanize Syria, destroy it, steal its oil.
All because the Syrian government wouldn't do what the US wanted (re the pipeline) and because Israel wants to grab more lands and weaken surrounding states.
Betrayal begets betrayal.
Russia and Syria, even Turkey, are just cleaning up the mess the US left behind, and I daresay they're doing a pretty good job of it.
Trump deserves credit for this, despite all the warmongers saying otherwise.
1
What did Erdogan promise to do for Trump to give home Northern Syria and condemn the Kurds to death? He “brokered” a deal? He walked back genocide for the time being only.
Let someone else fight over this long blood-stained sand? That is not a policy.
Trump will never wash away this stain of betrayal. He calls failure success, which is typical.
1
DJT seems be favoring people/countries where he sees (plans?) future growth for Trump Org post Presidency like Turkey & Moscow.
1
I dunno.
Is the American free press misleading me?
Or is Trump misleading me?
"Mr. Trump seemed to reject the idea of Russian influence".
But, my readings lead me to think this cease-fire came about via Putin and Erdogan communication, pretty much ignoring Trump.
But, Trump says;" This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else”.
Hmmm.
Quite the quandary. Whom to believe?
The Washington post puts Trump lie count now above 12K.
Putin and Erdogan are evil and manipulative, but probably not pathologically, unlike DJT.
Sorry Donald, not buying this one.
3
President Trump’s actions have produced startlingly quick and good results – if it holds.
He has abruptly forced us, Europe, the world, and above all Turkey to see that if a nation is to be modern, civilized – a member of NATO in so many words – then it can’t use arms and war to settle border disputes.
If (for crazy hypothetical example) Denmark contests a border with the Netherlands it of course won’t, can’t, shouldn’t, and wouldn’t, go to war over it! It’s modern civilizational practically by definition.
Turkey – now in the brightest world spotlight – must choose whether it is by that definition a modern, civilized, European, nation, or not.
Or if Turkey claims it is justly protecting its borders and must, unfortunately, use arms in action to do so then Denmark and the Netherlands – and France, Germany, Norway, Montenegro, Albania, Spain, Latvia, the United States, and the 19 other members of NATO – better start thinking what troops and matériel they will be sending to Turkey in support of their NATO ally – as they are bound by the NATO Charter so to do! Anybody ready for that?
Trump has abruptly changed the game – in the way it suddenly seems obvious it should be changed.
(His address this morning is very worth watching in full – it’s on YouTube.)
If this holds it’s very, very good. Like, Nobel Peace Prize good.
Let’s all in good faith hope it does!
1
No one is mentioning how dismissive and insulting it is to call Middle Eastern lands “sand.” Its inhabitants are often portrayed as uncultured desert dwellers, but that’s grossly inaccurate and prejudicial. The Middle East is the cradle of civilization. Middle Eastern history is comprised of millennia of culture, literature, intellectual advances, three major religions, and if nothing else, humans like you or me who have loved ones, families, children. Arab lands have iconic cities, both historic and ultramodern. It’s a common ploy to dismiss Arab people as living in a desert with no history or culture. This is mean-spirited and/or ignorant. In other words, it is not surprising when considering the source.
80
@Nick Bolshoy
Excellent point. But the darling of the Evangelicals probably couldn’t find the Holy Land on a map.
8
Trump will have very few if anything to celebrate in the future. The irrefutable facts of his duplicity in Ukraine have him on very shaky footing. His loss of his day job at the WH is imminent.
30
Again I ask the question ;
What cease fire ? In less than 24 hours after agreeing to Pence's pretense of a cease fire Turkey was right back to bombing , shelling and ground fighting with the Kurds in the agreed ' safety zone ' .
Fact is there has been no cease fire ... unless of course one choses to adapt Trump and Erdogan's revisionist definition of what a cease fire is
As for Trump's scripted comment ; “Let someone else fight over this long bloodstained sand,”
Does that mean Trump is going to abandon the Israeli conflict as well seeing as how that fits the definition to a tee ?
If I were Israel ... I'd seriously start worrying
31
@TJ Martin
A cease fire where 167,000 people have been displaced is nothing to celebrate as a triumph...but coming from a man who has 5+ bankruptcies to his name and countless lawsuits pending maybe it is.
7
@TJ Martin Trump has sent 14000 troops to the Middle East since May. The 1000 that Trump pulled out of Syria are going to Iraq to protect Iraq (oil) and fight ISIS. Trump’s Syria victory is nothing more than a sellout to Putin. The payoff to Trump? Russian interference in the 2020 election? Kremlin Towers?
https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2019/oct/22/brett-mcgurk/mcgurk-right-trump-has-sent-14000-troops-middle-ea/
5
Donald Trump is the classic example of the Peter Principle. He is in over his head and unqualified to deal with the intellectual complexity of the job of President.
1
Syria is being re-assembled as one country again. The resulting country will be large, and it is likely to be very angry and holding grudges. Against the West which did this to Syria.
And to Iraq. And to Libya. And to Yemen. And to Afghanistan. They won't be isolated alone in their anger and grudges.
Sow the wind. Reap the whirlwind.
2
To be clear, Trump negotiated nothing. Whatever may, or may not, have been agreed to by the parties still in the region, it was Vladimir Putin, together with Turkey who came to agreement on how to kill or otherwise rid the area of the Kurds. No one is listening to the criminal with bone spurs. He, and America, have become an international pariah, or laughingstock. Take your choice.
2
Does Trump deserve credit for the ceasefire? Perhaps, but deals are easily agreed to when one gives the opposition everything it wants.
35
Let's see: The Kurds have been fighting Turks for decades to establish an autonomous space in their area. The US enlists their help to fight its enemies, ISIS, something that they do successfully and for which Trump takes credit. And to reward them for their assistance, Trump gives Turks the green light to bomb them and clean them out. With their overwhelming power, the Turks take over, disband the Kurds, send thousands into exile in Iraq and peace is declared. Trump goes on TV and claims credit for bringing peace to the area. Indeed, he states that he is solely and personally responsible for these wonderful results. Nice going, Donald. It's like claiming credit, for example, for bringing an end to the fight between Germany and Poland by letting the Germans to go ahead and take over the country. It's one way to bring about peace,
38
Turks have great relations with Iraq Kurds. Turks only do not like Kurdish terrorists. The media here do not report the tunnels that Syrian Kurdish terrorists dig in the border.
I do not blame for your lack of information. It is all of the media are not reporting it because it does not fit their agenda.
1
@mike You are right that the Iraqui Kurds have come to an agreement, particularly as regards oil, but this is because they are in Iraq and not in Turkey. Kurds in Turkey do not enjoy great relations with the government and Turkey's fear is the establishment of a Kurdish independent area.
@Frank Casa Trump is a congenital traitor. He is incapable of doing anything honorable. Like "Doctor Strangelove," whenever Trump starts to say or do something honorable, his right hand grasps his throat in a stranglehold.
The very staged for Fox looking, Steve Bannonesque storming of the impeachment inquiry diverted attention away from Trump’s compulsory maladroit rambling on about “his singlehanded, Kurd-saving and world saving cease fire “that Is one of the greatest things that ever happened in the history of that region of the Middle East”. And no one will even remember this day. It will go down as just another in the Twilight Zone of Trump era America.
29
"American-allied Kurds"? We have no alliance with the Kurds. We do, however, have an alliance with Turkey, a founding member of NATO.
9
@John Smithson
Turkey was invited to join NATO by the US in order to flank the Soviet Union - in 1952, nearly 7 years after it was founded.
2
@John Smithson They are not a founding member, although they have been a member since 1952. But I am splitting hairs. They are more allied to Russia now than to NATO, so allies in name only.
3
@John Smithson -- That is talking facts to emotions.
They hate Trump, and those Kurdish women's units are so cute. That's what matters. To them.
3
If the northern portion of Syria contained major oil production facilities, US troops would continue to be there as they are now protecting Saudi oil assets.
7
Trump says, "Let someone else fight." That seems to be his mantra because that is exactly what he did during the Vietnam war.
28
So did a lot of others. They didn’t want to die for our corporate overlords. I remember those days.
1
@Whole Grains, This comment should be a NYT pick.
3
So, it's now a "success" when we leave an ally on the field to fend for themselves AND we've laid out the red (pun not intended) carpet for Russia to waltz in and now have a significant foot hold in the region huh?
What an absolute disaster this is and our so-called international policies.
6
There is a great millstone of history which hangs about the necks of the West that goes back to the end of WWI and the Treaty of Versailles.
Being the case that Donald Trump has never read a book in his life, of course he has never read The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence.
The British promised the Arabs during The Great War that, should they join in the fight against the Ottoman Empire -- the Turks -- that they would be have the right to their own nation, free from any interference or meddling from the West. The Arabs took the Brits at their word.
What the Arabs got was the Sykes-Picot agreement, which divided the Middle East between the British and the French. Lebanon, Syria and half of Iraq went to the French, and Palestine, Trans-Jordan and the other half of Iraq went to the British.
The Kurds, who had lived in the same region for thousands of years, and were promised an independent Kurdistan at the end of WWI, awoke to find themselves living in five different countries, with no homeland of their own.
Turkey shares a common border with both Europe and Russia, and has repeatedly sought admission to the EU. The EU has rebuffed all Turkey's entreaties for admission. So what has Erdogan done? Allied himself with Putin and Russia -- purchased Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, and invaded northern Syria to engage in an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kurds -- who fought against ISIS for America.
Trump, for shame, betrayed the Kurds to the Turks.
13
@Todd Kenneth Dwyer - turkey does not border Russia. The Arab states promised by the British all exist today and have for over 70 years. The ottoman empire rule over Arabia ended 100 years ago. Your analysis had some basis in 1925 but you are way off today.
2
@Mkm you are correct -- I should have looked at a map before I spoke. Turkey borders the former Soviet Republics of Georgia and Armenia to the East and Bulgaria to the West. It also has a long coastline along the Black Sea -- where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is based at Sevastopol, Crimea (which was annexed by Russia in 1783 -- woops, excuse me -- by Putin in 2014. Silly me.
This is clear victory for the American forces that would have been put in harms way. No American lives were lost. If you have problem with that, then you clearly do not value our service men and women. How can any of you be angry with a diplomatic resolve vice putting our service men and women in harms way?
3
@Franco Don’t you think he could have methodically helped move the Kurds out of the zone first along with our expensive armaments that he blew up? And then had the US broker a deal. And now he is sending those troops to another part of Iraq to protect oil fields that we don’t own and to Saudi Arabia to protect that country. What about those service people. Did they sign up to be paid mercenaries?
2
@Franco
Voltairian logic. One agrees that the end result was okay, therefore how one got there was okay too.
We have no idea what would have happened if Trump hadn't told Erdogan "Go ahead, invade - I don't care." Oh wait - yes we do. Turkey would not have invaded - period.
@Franco
And you dear Franco have no idea what the military are supposed to do.
Retreating is not one of them.
1
He probably does deserve some credit for the cease fire but there is no getting around the fact that he was the one who created the situation where a cease fire was needed.
21
@Ludwig -- Trump handled it badly. He did however do something, however badly he did it.
He did not create this. This is a creation of the warfare state that successfully defied Obama and ran Hillary against Trump.
Part of the reason it was so badly done is the opposition to doing it at all, from within the warfare state. That was overcome only by a heavy hand smashing recklessly.
Was there another way in practice? Obama did not find one, and he was a much smarter man than Trump, better than we deserved.
6
@Ludwig @Rob D
Do you really see something in this horrific mess to grant Trump credit for?
Donald Trump has taken one of a precious few stable and pro-American parcels in the Middle East and handed it over to its most hated enemies, who are now carving it up like a holiday turkey, without a single plan for rehousing the Kurdish people, who have been violently tossed from their homes amid shelling of their communities.
Tell me what to celebrate so I too can cheer this victory "for civilization" at the next Trump rallies.
6
@Peggy Rogers You are allowing your hatred of Trump to override your rational judgment. There is no denying that he created a mess. And there is no denying that he helped to - partially - clean it up. If your hatred forces you to deny him credit for the latter, that only means that your judgment is too biased and not to be trusted.
2
For some reason, people just do not accept that Trump is one of those people where what you see is what there is. He has no deep thoughts nor willingness to try to plan thoughtfully any complicated endeavors. He wants to have things happen and be done, without doing more the giving orders. He will always assert success, regardless of the facts, and he does this because he has no intention of further efforts to actually accomplish what he said that he would do. His conscience will never bother him.
5
@Casual Observer -- The more complex someone is, the more difficult it can be for that person to accept that someone else is not that way at all, that what you see is what you get.
1
It seems early in the process for Trump to seriously proclaim success. The situation is still fluid, if not indeed chaotic.
He should wait a few weeks more, let things settle down a bit while putting some deep thought into how best to stage a more conclusive declaration. A nice traditional touch might be to land the presidential chopper on the deck of an aircraft carrier, with Trump leaping out in his eagle-embossed windbreaker and sprinting across the deck to declare, "Mission accomplished!"
11
@woofer
Trump did not plan this, he just did what he did in the hope of having bragging rights.
@woofer
What do you expect?-- He's still campaigning for the Nobel Peace Prize!
We’ve learned a few things here. Turkey is a member of NATO on paper suffering few penalties for invading another nation. Once again the long suffering Kurds have no friends. And despite anguish over abandoning the Kurds there’s not much voice for repositioning major American forces in the area. Pres. Trump probably has his handle on lack of major American support for spending blood and treasure in the Middle East where wars seem to never end. Just change names.
5
@Peter I Berman
Aye, NATO was founded as a DEFENSIVE alliance. Turkey's action should result in its being ejected.
1
@Peter I Berman -- Then again, Turkey learned that being a NATO ally would not protect it from regime change attack. Nor from moving terrorist bases to its border with intent to attack into it. Nor from being target of massive refugee flows. Nor from threats of economic sanctions for the even the slightest defiance, such as on where to buy weapons.
So this anguished look at what the US learned about the limits of what it can do to allies is somewhat lacking in insight and perspective.
2
@Peter I Berman All at the guidance of Putin.
"Let someone else fight over this ling bloodstained land" are the words coming from a president who has allowed everyone else fight and fall for him -- just like he did in Vietnam by faking bone spurs.
Make no mistake about it.
This cease-fire isn't a "triumph" nor will it be lasting, and the fallout of the recent U.S. troop withdrawal will not necessarily save any lives, especially now that Recep Tayip Erdogan has made it abundantly clear that his military incursion into Syria has little to do with creating a buffer zone, and that he now wants the Bomb.
Between that and the hundreds, if not thousands of released ISIS prisoners from Kurdish captivity -- this country's problems are far from over.
11
@N. Smith "This cease-fire isn't a "triumph" nor will it be lasting," that is your emotion and does not amount to reasoned judgment.
Here is my take on this. You hate Trump and want an action by him to have bad results. Hence you predict these bad results to justify your hatred of him.
But actually there are other actors there beside Trump and Erdogan, namely Russia, Syria and Iran. These last three would LIKE the ceasefire to last and so it probably WILL last, regardless of your prediction.
2
@N. Smith You hit all the grim nails on the head, excellent analysis.
The explanation the Defense Secretary has been peddling is that when Erdogan informed Trump the Turks were going to invade Syria, US forces would have been in danger and so were withdrawn. Every prior President would have said to Erdogan: "if US troops come under fire, they have orders to engage, including ordering air support which is only minutes away." Trump is now doing an awkward moonwalk (the dance where a person is moving backwards while trying to make it look like moving forwards) but the failure to measure up as Commander in Chief is once again highlighted.
25
The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 established the borders of modern Turkey, Syria and Iraq but denied the Kurds their own state. For decades, Kurds have been working to carve a homeland—Kurdistan—out of the Turkish, Iraqi and Syrian borderlands. Many Americans support the Kurds efforts to establish a Kurdish homeland, but this has never been U.S. policy
As a Wall Street Journal columnist recently pointed out, “Turkey is an Article 5 NATO ally. We have obliged Ankara for two decades by designating its Kurdish separatists as terrorists. The U.S. has never advocated breaking up Syria (or Iraq, Iran or Turkey) to allow a Kurdish state. U.S. support for an autonomous Kurdish enclave in Iraq was dependent on the Kurds’ recognizing Baghdad’s sovereignty and not using Iraqi Kurdistan as a base to subvert neighboring states.”
Turkey is a U.S. ally. Turkish soldiers has also fought alongside U.S. soldiers. The Kurds have been conducting guerrilla operations from their Syrian enclave. To assert that the United States should used military actions to prevent a NATO ally from protecting itself from cross border attacks is absurd.
The Kurdistan issue should be left to the United Nations to resolve.
14
@William Case -- That was one of many instances.
HW Bush denied them a state in 1991 as he finished with Saddam, and W Bush denied them again in 2003 after he again defeated Saddam.
They were denied in 1946 when the US and Britain drove the Soviets out of northern Iran, and safeguarded their oil holdings over all of Kurdish lands.
We could find a long list of negatives when they were not provided for.
4
@William Case - And for the same reason, the U.S. should completely stay out of the Israeli/Palestinan conflict which has been going on for millenia. And we should completely stay out of any Saudi Arabia conflicts in the area.
4
@William Case
Begging your pardon but your version of history , treaties and NATO seems to be riddled with more holes than a colander .
1) The Treaty of Lausanne never so much as mentioned the Kurds ( and in fact the authors from the west had no clue the Kurds even existed ) was for all intensive purposes an illegal agreement who's sole purpose was to expand the French territories and British empire ...
2) It was GWB who chose to designate the Kurds as a terrorist organization in order to appease the Turks .. all while once again ignoring Turkey's role in the Armenian genocide etc etc - et al - ad nauseam
3) Turkey over the last twenty years has barley been what one can consider to be an ally . Their sole role over the past two decades has been allowing us to use their military bases ( after we begged and bribed them to do so . costing the US tax payers a bloody fortune in the process ) all while not one solitary Turkish soldier participated in the field of battle
4) The Kurds ( with our assistance ) are who defeated ISIS ... not us ... and especially not the Turks
5) The US State Dept etc along with a fair amount of the American public has been advocating for a Kurdish state for over a decade .
So to assert that what Trump has done is in any way shape or form justifiable is ludicrous at best going way beyond any reasonable definitions of absurdity
Facts good sir ... facts ... just the facts .
4
The United States created the outcome by fleeing the fight. I suppose that's one way to put it. Retreating or surrendering are two other ways.
10
@jeff -- The outcome was not from ending the fight, but from starting a fight that could have no better end. It was a fool's project. That is true even if finally it is ended by a fool with no more care than it was started.
4
If Trump hadn't been so distracted by trying to pressure Ukraine, couldn't his administration have tried to broker a peace settlement in Northern Syria, granting the Kurds an area where they could have some autonomy after they had moved away from the border, working out an arrangement with all the parties involved, including the Russians, to secure the Turkish-Syrian border? However, this would require thorough knowledge of the situation and a lot of hard work, both of which Trump is too lazy to undertake. Instead, we saw him making incomprehensible statements about the situation and doing whatever Erdogan told him to do. In the meantime, Putin displays a firm grasp of the strategic essentials and what he will and won't allow, and a few hours of negotiations later, Erdogan is obediently doing what Putin wants. Putin, Erdogan, and other rival world leaders have realized that Trump's ignorance and vanity make him very easy to manipulate. The rest of the world knows that Trump's bloviation does not change reality and fools only himself and his supporters.
8
Trump is right. I'm old enough to remember when liberals and progressives were anti-war. Now with Trump in the White House they have become militant interventionists.
8
@CJ
Opposing a debacle of this magnitude in foreign policy make someone a warmonger.
Northern Syria was stable until Trump gave Erdogan the "green light" to invade. He should have stood firm then rather than write a "tough guy" letter 3 days later. As a direct result of that acquiescence, hundreds of Kurds were killed, hundreds of thousands of Kurds displaced and thousands of former ISIS fighters and supporters are at large. The entire situation was handled without consultation or warning, against the advice of the Pentagon, State and local commanders.
It was shameful and cowardly.
3
Now let’s bring them home from Saudi Arabia
3
A perfect example of the difficulty of Having Your Cake and Eating it Too. Trump's simplistic attempts to fulfill his campaign pledges (drain the swamp, etc.?) by pulling out of Syria totally contradicts his simplistic plans to make America safe again by also opening the door for ISIS resurgence, and Al-Queda in Afghanistan and other areas, pushing Iran into defending themselves at the expense to Middle East peace, etc. A man who's impulsive actions have resulted in numerous bankruptcies, failed marriages, alienation of allies, is doing it to the country as the USA's chief financial officer and CEO who doesn't realize that this isn't a corporation and he can't have his lawyers claim bankruptcy for another failed adventure with our safety and way of life. Actions have consequences not matter how much his uninformed, Fox News zealots who mimic his thought (or lack thereof ) processes cheer at his pep rallies.
6
You can be sure that someone is not Trump. In Syria or anywhere. One thing is clear: active duty servicemen who have risked their lives for their country is not his kind of hero. Unfit for many reasons; what's wrong with those Republicans?
5
I really thought that Orwell's "night is day, black is white, up is down" was an exaggeration, but here we see it from the President of the United States, supported by his VP and Secretary of State. Unbelievable. Imagine how they would have reacted if Obama had done this.
9
@tanstaafl Actually you do not need to "imagine". Obama participated in the assassination, AKA lynching of Muammar Gaddafi. The result was that Libya descended into chaos from which it has not yet recovered. More than half of the refugees drowning in the Mediterranean were from Libya.
But Obama had two advantages over Trump. The first is far better manners. And the second is that the press was on Obama's side and never called him to account for Libya.
So there is your answer to "Imagine how they would have reacted if Obama had done this". He DID and no one reacted.
Do take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Muammar_Gaddafi
2
@Ludwig. Obama's foreign policy was a disaster. Republican's never let him forget. Even today Trump blamed Obama.
So, why do you want Trump to emulate Obama?
1
@tanstaafl I never said that I want Trump to emulate Obama.
Lovely :( Taking credit for resolving something he caused in the first place.
8
@Ron McCrary - Its his pattern.
1
Nancy is right- with Mr. Trump, all roads lead to Putin.
16
The speech was rambling, incoherent, and egomaniacal to the core. The one thing I don't understand, and can't figure out whether the Press is fact checking for us, was the ludicrous assertion that the President had had a phone call with the head of the SDF, General Mazloum, and claimed the general was very grateful to Donald Trump and was very happy with what Trump has done. Is this a call like the talk Trump had with Mitch McConnell? Is it another extorted statement like the ones Trump was preparing to get from Zelensky?
I don't trust this man at all anymore, except that I do trust him to stand there rambling and claiming that he is good, he is perfect, and nobody could do things as well as he can. A combo of a two year old and a total narcissist.
10
"...The president cast the announcement as a triumph of diplomacy..."
Only someone steeped in the art of comic books and other sources of infantile delusion will agree with the president on this. "The Art of the De(ni)al"... again, unfortunately. God help us all.
6
This is the same person who stiffed contractors and sued those who didn't give up immediately. "Allies" is a foreign term for the Orange One.
6
There wouldn't have been any fire to cease if Trump had left the noncombatant US troops in place.
13
Not surprising. Trump claims credit for the sun rising in the morning.
11
Turkey is an "ally" in NATO, while the US supports an enemy of Turkey ?
American entanglements in the middle east are nothing more than profit generators for the military industrial complex.
12
@Dan M
If Turkey were such an "ally", they wouldn't have just bought a Russian surface-to-air missile system that can easily knock any NATO aircraft out of the sky.
7
@N. Smith if you dont sell your allies patriot system to defend itself than your ally has a right to buy another system. First you have to ask your self why you dont sell your nato ally a defencive system ???
1
Trump would claim credit for the sun rising in the morning--and some of his claque would believe him. What we know from three years of the Trump, um, presidency is that no public statement the White House issues can be believed. Same goes for this latest desperate straw-grasping effort to appear legitimate and on top of a situation. Stay tuned--the attempts to save face will get even more threadbare.
18
this might be a good thing. Trump is taking a new approach. No more endless wars -- first line of defense is economic sanctions, which have power.
11
@tbs
A global power stops being the world's policeman through global alliances with peaceful democratic nations, not by trashing alliances and ceding the world stage to murderous authoritarian kleptocrats. Trump has betrayed America and the peoples of the world.
8
@tbs
Well guess what?
Trump just dropped all sanctions against Turkey and he'll be giving Mr. Erdogan the full treatment at the White House next month -- and soon thereafter Trump Tower will be opening in Istanbul.
16
@tbs
Doesn't he usually retract them?
Oh, except for Iran and then "pile them on!"
The Tariffs and Sanctions President.
OK Trump, be consistent at least. How about if we let Saudi Arabia and Iran fight their own battles - without huge infusion of military assistance, let alone recent troop deployment. And even more so in Saudi Arabia's attacks on Yemen - let them fight with their own weapons rather than our military hardware. Why should we care about this bit of sand?
22
This sort of reminds me of Bush's "Mission Accomplished". How did that declaration work out?
22
ISIS emerged from the bungled aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the US with the reckless disbandment of the entire Iraq military only to have it regroup and re-emerge as ISIS. Obama inherited this situation in 2008, long after it had festered under Bush to become a world-wide terrorist force. He also inherited an economy in absolute free-fall, leaving in its wake a record deficit of $1.3 trillion after more than doubling the national debt, and racking up trillions more in un-budgeted costs for two wars. trump has absolutely no idea what he's talking about.
17
Trump has no credibility or conscience. To imply that the Kurdish Commander thanked him for initiating this debacle made me want to throw up.
29
The Kurdish commander issued a public statement thanking President Trump for the peaceful outcome. That is a fact.
4
@Dan He HAD to issue the statement, it was Trump’s typical mafioso ‘shakedown’ in action.
Taking credit for a cease-fire that was necessary only because he pulled U.S. troops from the region? Classic Trump.
18
@David Kind of reminds me of the time he threatened to totally destroy North Korea with fire and fury... and then took credit for saving us from nuclear war.
2
Trump seems to be conflating, purposefully or otherwise, the civil war in Syria, the battle against ISIS and the conflict between the Turks and the Kurds.
2
“Let someone else fight over the bloodstained sand,” says Trump. The Syrian Kurds lost 11,000 soldiers fighting ISIS, while America only lost a few of our soldiers, I think less than a dozen. (Does anyone know the exact figure?). Does Trump assume none of us read?
10
@Kay
Just a dozen ? You might want to check military records.
Some 4,000 US servicemen were killed in the 8 years of the Iraqi Wars.
3
@Marcus Aurelius
The business of replying to other people’s comments works best if you carefully read the comment and clearly understand the commenter’s intention BEFORE you compose you reply.
What 11,000 dead U.S. troops has to do with Kay’s comment is a mystery. And I’m betting, not just to me.
2
Shouldn't he be somewhere secure, under professional care, medicated, where he can't hurt himself or others.
21
Everyone who expresses outrage at our withdrawal, and Russia and Turkey's new presence in Syria: Find Syria, Turkey, and Russia on a map. Now find the USA.
Why should we be over there?
10
I am not sure that Trump supporters will be able to locate this countries on a map (except for the USA).
No exaggeration here, I remember perfectly before the US invasion of Iraq how its supporters talked with pomposity how it would bring democracy there but without being able to place it on a map. It said a lot about their ability to talk with certainty about things they had a total lack of knowledge.
3
Trump recently deployed troops to Saudi Arabia and moved troops to Iraq from Syria. Trump has not left the Middle East - he’s just serving foreign interests and his own.
The Russians, Saudis and Turks - the geopolitical winners of Trump’s recent actions - have money, business ties and/or election interference to offer Trump. The Kurds have outlived their usefulness to him, literally.
It’s always about Trump and his personal interests. Once again, Putin seems to be his main resource.
ISIS also has a new lease on life, but the perils of this are too far in the future to concern Trump. As always, others will be paying the price.
4
Because the world is a much smaller place than you think. Do you recall 9/11?
1
trump continues to try to gaslight his constituents.
I don't know how much more we can take.
36
Being the most powerful nation in the world allowed us the luxury of focusing on moral issues, ideals and goals, human rights.
When you are uncertain of who your allies are, security is gone.
8
Yes, the United States contributed to the horribly complex problems in the Middle East, but Mr. Trump's own contribution has made things even worse.
It's unbelievable that his administration and GOP defenders have enabled Mr. Trump to believe that he could clear up decades of bloodshed and tragedy with a couple of casual calls, orders, and tweets.
25
I believe that the sanctions against Turkey were imposed as part of a plan made with Erdogan to give Trump cover for abandoning the Kurds. As soon as Erdogan achieved what he wanted, Trump would take credit for the ceasefire and the sanctions would be removed before they even took effect. Win/win except for the Kurds.
27
@RY oh please. Even if that were the case; a career official testified today that Turkey would have invaded regardless though would have possibly halted if we told our soldiers to “hold their ground”. Is that what you would have wanted? For years Turkey has told us that their issue is with the growing number of Kurds near their border and the threat that presented. May not agree but it’s a fair concern from their perspective. So let’s step back a second and look at where we are at, if this holds; Kurds (not really our responsibility anyway) are now “safe” either way, violence has halted and less US soldiers are in Syria. That’s ok with me. I know some are going to say “but we let our friends down” let’s remember the Kurds were being enslaved by ISIS so in reality we helped them in significant ways. Helping them with ISIS is one thing but that doesn’t automatically mean we are in it for a fight with Turkey (also a partner of the US)
7
@RY The leader of the Kurds just thanked the President. I think it’s safe to say this is a win for America and it’s families with members serving overseas.
8
@Jonathan Twaddle do you SERIOUSLY believe that this is true? That the leader of the Kurds thanked Trump? Or is this more Trumpian story telling?
2
Let's not forget that notwithstanding the withdrawal, we are leaving troops to secure the oil fields. As ever, it's about the oil. Follow the money.
26
It was beyond odd that he declared an important victory speech and didn't take questions afterward. Does this sound more like propaganda than a sea change in longstanding foreign policy?
29
Love the way he’s framing this rather than what it really is....giving this Kurdish held and defended land to Putin and Erdogan. This has caused a major power shift in the world and there’s no going back. As Pelosi said, ‘All roads to Russia lead to trump’.
36
Another disastrous decision, Trump lifted sanctions on Turkey for invading and attacking Kurdish settlements in North Syria. What he's telling everyone is "I can be intimidated and pushed around" without any serious response. I know it's repetitious and tiresome, but again, it seems that Trump gets his marching orders from the Kremlin..
21
Somehow Trump believes we have elected him master of the universe. He seems unaware of the Constitution. He's in for a nasty surprise.
19
@Dan Barthel let’s see! Bet this isn’t the first time you’ve said that...
Why are US troops protecting Syrian oil fields? From whom? Shouldn't they be back home protecting the valuable Kentucky coal mines?
27
@Guy P from terrorists. Without money, terrorism is much easier to combat. Seems like a simple task for a great return of security.
2
And for whom?
"This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else. No other nation. Very simple". Seems only fitting since "This was an outrage created by us, the United States, and nobody else. No other nation. Very simple. "
6
It is doubtful that ceasefire is permanent. If it is permanent, it is coming at the cost of surrounding the influence in Middle East to Russians. Not a desirable outcome.
7
President Trump's entire business career was predicated on lavish spending and letting someone else pick up the tab, from his six bankruptcies, the defrauded students of "Trump University," and the thousands of contractors he stiffed.
So too will we all pay a price for Mr. Trump's disastrous Syrian and Kurdish policy, his severing ties with longtime allies, the strengthened dictators in the region, a resurgent Russian empire with new air and naval bases, the strong possibility that ISIS will now regroup, and on and on. That doesn't even address the profligate tax cut that lined the pockets of the wealthiest among us, the corrosion of Mr. Trump's language and policies on the rule of law and democratic norms, as well as the accelerating degradation of our rapidly deteriorating climate.
If you support Mr. Trump, party on while it lasts. If you think he's making America great again, you will soon learn the truth, because like the financial collapse of 2008, we will all suffer the consequences of these disastrous Republican policies, no matter who occupies the White House.
132
@jrinsc
“the strong possibility that ISIS will now regroup,”
Say what?
Why would you think that?
Who’s been training, arming, and funding ISIS?
It wasn’t the Syrian government, and it wasn’t Russia.
Timber Sycamore ring a bell?
1
As much as I absolutely loathe Trump, the fool does have a point. U.S. interference has done nothing but delay the inevitable reconquest of Syria by Assad. And, unless the U.S. or some other power is willing to invest far more than they already have in protecting Syrians from that outcome (not bloody likely), the best of a number of really bad outcomes for Syria is the reestablishment of a strong central government that can keep the country's various tribal groups from slaughtering each other. The survivors will be miserable, but at least they will be constrained from trying to wipe each other out. Maybe Syrians will even find it in their hearts to build a better life for their children instead of continuing to seek revenge for centuries old wrongs committed against their ancestors. Who knows?
16
"Mr. Erdogan has said he was creating a buffer zone to prevent Syrian Kurdish fighters from threatening Turkey’s territory. He has also said that he wants to create a “safe zone” in which Turkey can resettle some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees who poured into Turkey as a result of Syria’s bloody civil war."
But the guy also wants to have nuclear weapons . . .
Where is the "safe zone" in that and for whom?
23
The spin words will never change what this was and is, a shameful betrayal of a people that believed in the promise of America and our ideas about freedom. After WWII the world created a Jewish homeland, why can't they use force of good to create one for the Kurdish people? Instead we ran away like our faux-President did during the Vietnam War. The shaming of America continues.
58
@Marcus Aurelius
People throw out this idea without giving any thought to how they would go about it.
The same people scream that Trump never has a plan, I’m sure.
2
@Chris
How about part of Germany?
@John E.
Thank you for making my point about thoughtlessness.
“This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else,” he [Trump] said. “No other nation. Very simple.”
If the "us" in that sentence is form of the royal we, then the statement actually makes sense. Trump created the mess by giving Turkey the green light for an invasion. He added to the mess by ordering US troops to withdraw while leaving all of their bases in tact so that Russia could easily move in. Trump personally ordered American soldiers to abandon allies on the battle field and turn the backs as the Kurds who had saved them during bad times were slaughtered. Neither Russia nor Turkey forced this move. It was a voluntary capitulation.
Yes, Trump did it all and bears sole responsibility.
57
A triumph of diplomacy indeed. Putin’s.
47
@Ran
I agree. Credit where credit is due.
Well done, Vlad.
And with the minimum amount of bloodshed as possible.
3
@Chris
Look out your window- it’s a Russian tank!
2
@John E.
Look out your window- it’s the tooth fairy!
I'm more worried about US aggression abroad and authoritarianism at home than Russian aggression, especially now that the Democrats are the CIA pawn party.
1
For anyone who doesn't see a link between Trump's betrayal against our allies the Kurds and Ukraine, there's a huge one at dead center. And it's Russia, which benefits massively in both cases.
In the words of Speaker Nancy Pelosi when talking about Turkey, "All roads lead to Putin" with this president.
184
@Peggy Rogers ,
I agree with you. Once Russia starts getting all that treasure and technology from Syria their economy will boom. They will over-take the US and China economically and technologically.
Syria is the country of the future- that is why so many people are trying to emigrate there.
Russia had a military base in Syria before the US/Saudi/Turkish backed terrorist invasion. After this? I wouldn't be surprised if Russia got a second- or even a THIRD!- military base there.
We're toast.
The sad thing is we could have prevented all of this just by stationing a couple hundred thousands troops there for a couple of decades. China would have probably lent us the money- if not we could have just delayed funding education or healthcare.
3
@Peggy Rogers
Both Ukraine and Syria were illegal regime change coups by Obama/Biden/Hillary.
There’s ample evidence for both crimes, yet nobody got impeached over either.
1
The president should have one of his competent staff members do some research. Diplomacy and militarism: “From a historical perspective, how long do PERMANENT cease-fires generally last?”
Mr. Trump, before you’re removed from office, it would be to your credit if just ONCE you bothered to gather some facts before making one of your imperial pronouncements.
13
I never thought that I'd be watching an American President awarding himself a Nobel Prize for Peace. The venality of this man knows no limits. Sad ...
28
Trump used the wrong verb, it should have been "Let someone else TAKE OVER this long bloodstained sand", that will be your good old friend, Russian Vladimir Putin, Mr. President. There'll be little fighting, mostly killing, by the Turkish, and dying, by the Kurds..
14
Having betrayed the Kurds, crated an unnecessary Kurdish carnage, and given the Kurdish territory tomPutin and Erdogan, Trump is now looking for the Nobel Peace Prize?
20
“Let someone else fight over this long bloodstained sand.”
I don't think my Thesaurus has enough words to help me here.
The man doesn't have enough intelligence nor compassion nor grasp of irony to fit in a thimble.
He needs to go.
36
@Scott Montgomery - I can think of all kinds of words but none of them are printable.
6
Trump said “Let someone else fight over the blood stained sand!”
What if FDR had said “Let someone else fight on Europe’s soil!”
Donald Trump, the American embarrassment and the American downfall.
186
The extreme right wing tried to keep the US out of the WW2 - Charles Lindbergh was very active.
Not much has changed since then - well, apart from the fact, that the right now is in possession of the White House.
17
@MIMA
What a ridiculous comparison and you know it. At least you should.
We were the aggressors in Syria (a war crime btw).
We were/are in Syria illegally.
Against both international law (UN mandate) and US law (authorization by Congress).
3
Donald Trump destroyed trust in America by pulling out of Syria. 10000 Kurd allies died helping us fight ISIS. Now Trump lifts all sanctions on Turkey. Withdrawl from Syria gives Russia; Turkey and ISIS a big win. Why would any power in the World trust America again? Wrong on so many levels. Ray Sipe
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@Ray Sipe
The building and banking world already learned long ago not to trust Trump with paying the bill. He was always a cheapskate and a coward. My question is, How can he claim credit for solving a crisis when he both created the crisis and has not solved it?
The president has ceded both influence (that could go to good) and sand - and remember that from this sand often comes oil - by granting both to Russia, which is just another kind of terrorist. It invaded and attacked our Internet forums in a guerrilla war on our elections and it's engaging in the same right now.
12
@Ray Sipe,
Russia and Syria fought, and will continue to fight, against ISIS.
Turkey supported ISIS. Saudi Arabia is the main backer of ISIS. The US allowed ISIS to thrive- because that is what Saudi Arabia wanted and because ISIS was fighting Assad and the Russians.
We didn't support an independent Kurdistan in Iraq. The Kurds always recognized that we were / are faithless allies.
2
What unmitigated gall. When Republicans let him get away with this, it should cost them the election.
Shameful, disgraceful and utterly self-centered. I'm disgusted.
116
@Suzanne Moniz
Did you think it was “Shameful, disgraceful and utterly self-centered.” when Hillary started this illegal regime change war on the heels of her destruction of Libya ?
We’re you “disgusted” at the death toll inflicted on the Syrian people because Obama/Biden/Hillary decided to overthrow the elected, internationally recognized government of Syria by arming radical Islamic terrorists including al-Qaeda, al-Nusra, and ISIS?
Did you think it was “unmitigated gall” that Democrats let Obama?Biden/Hillary etc. “get away with this”?
If not, I call hypocrisy.
1
@Suzanne Moniz,
Trump is self-centered.
But can there be any doubt that there are families who will not have to mourn the loss of a son or daughter because we pulled out of Syria?
An American kid won't die in Syria fighting one group of religious lunatics on behalf of another? Shameful, disgraceful.
2
@Suzanne Moniz I could not have said it any better myself, thank you Suzanne.
3
“Others have come out to help and we welcomed them to do so; other countries have stepped forward,” Mr. Trump said.
When you deliver an important victory speech about the Middle East and never mention Russia by name, it’s because Russia isn't a concern of yours.
24
Trump: "Today's announcement validates our course of action with Turkey that only a couple of weeks ago was scorned and now people are saying, 'wow, what a great outcome, congratulations'.
Anyone wonder who those appreciative people might be?
1) Our main geopolitical adversary Russia and Trump's BFF Putin.
2) Syrian dictator and war criminal Assad.
3) Turkish dictator and recent war criminal Erdogan.
4) Over 100 Islamic State terrorists who were allowed to escape and resume their campaign of terror.
Thank you Mr. President! Job well done!
102
@Gene
Many people are also saying that djt is a delusional narcissist that is doing Putin’s bidding.
5
@Gene "resume their campaign of terror" in the US.
1
@Gene
Seeing the dour faces on Mitch and Lindsey today, you could almost read their minds. “Wow, Trump really is a Putin puppet. Gosh darn, Hillary was right!”
3
This is not rocket science. Easy to explain everything about D T and Middle East. He is being blackmailed.
78
@S. Gregory
Everything is easily explained with a conspiracy theory. Duh.
Or do you have ANY evidence to support this outrageous accusation?
Or is this what Hillary Clinton fans do now, throw around unhinged conspiracy theories?
1
"This was an outcome created by us...Very simple." Yes, capitulating and kowtowing to Turkey really was easy.
27
The conflagration he started is still burning, the tires to the fire trucks have all been slashed, both the knife and matches are still in his hands and he wants a parade for all his hard work at fire prevention. Trump continues to treat his followers like fools and they keep obliging him.
32
Sounds great, Mr. President but I have just a couple of questions...if you're going to let someone else fight over this blood-stained land, what are we doing with American troops in Saudi Arabia? Why are those troops assisting the Saudis in their fight against Yemen? In other words, is some blood-stained sand worth it while another piece is not? And lastly, how much are the Saudis paying us to assist them in their fight over blood-stained land?
I'm just trying to get a handle on what your price per troop is.
Thanks
241
@Tom Q
Yes the Saudi sands are worth more, Jared Kushner has been a busy boy there making business arrangements for the trump family. Follow the money.
34
@Tom Q
The price is measured in lives per gallon of oil.
8
@Tom Q - My guess is that the Saudis are paying the Trump Organization, not the USA.
4
“This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else. No other nation. Very simple.”
Wow, Trump actually told the truth today. He is directly responsible for the Kurdish bloodshed, expulsion and foreseen genocide.
74
“Let someone else fight over this long bloodstained sand,”
No one could have said it better.
4
Of course! He started the fire so by definition he has something to do when it ceases!
What a joke.
8
While Trump announced that the "brokered permanent cease-fire in northeast Syria" was "a triumph of diplomacy" many leading Republicans "have decried the American retreat from Syria is a foreign policy debacle."
And yet Trump continues to claim that there is solidarity in the GOP.
Such delusional behavior and mindset.
How in the world are any Republicans still believing in this guy and supporting him?
41
The gops understand which side their bread is buttered on and that’s all they care about.
1
@Marge Keller
The fact of the matter is that Trump doesn't care what opinions "many leading Republicans" have. It's all about the Liar in Chief.
3
This has got to be a tough one for Democrats like Warren, because there is a wing of the party that agrees with the core of this argument. Historians have long pinpointed the "accident" of WWII in which the U.S. was left with the strongest economy and military. That morphed into the global policeman role we have played (and paid for) for decades. What Trump may not be understanding is how deep the military-industrial complex is and how much it depends of this global role, and thus justifies massive Defense Dept spending. Does Trump really want to reshape that? But, he is right. The U.S. cannot and should stop trying to solve these long standing and far away conflicts with the blood of our children. For what exactly?
13
@G. Harris We do not want to make the isolationist mistakes we made after WW1 and in the 1930s.
20
@G. Harris Uhm, it's so we don't have another 9/11.
21
@G. Harris
The problem with going isolationist in this conflict is that the Kurds have already paid for defending us with their blood. Otherwise, there'd be a lot more of our blood staining that patch of sand. How can we now back out when the much easier part comes due - that of defending those gains against an imprisoned ISIS?
Then again, Trump has long been known for stiffing his contractors, laborers, lawyers and accountants after the work is done and the bill comes due. He's been bragging in recent days about how his military has defeated "100 percent" of ISIS fighters. I'm sorry but you don't get bragging rights for winning a war when it's mostly other people who do the dying.
18