If Turkey attacks the Kurds, economic sanctions will not stop Turkey until it threatens their ability to function well. A lot of Kurds would die before Turkey might feel the pinch.
Trump is all over the lot. God helps us if he stumbles his way into WW III.
Trump is making threats to a lot of countries...including NATO allies ! Turkey is a strategic country that Russia is courting in its move in Syria and the M.-E..It maybe the last nail in the coffin for the USA in the area.Great job tovarich Trump
If I were Turkey, who is our NATO ally, and a Neo Con like Bolton wanted to “inform me” of his bad ideas and that I can’t defend my country from terrorist attacks from ISIL or the PKK and that the U.S. would protect the PKK terrorist and give them a defacto state on my border, I would have barred Bolton from even entering MY country.
Turkey feels it must defeat the U.S’ Kurdish allies, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a terrorist organization, and ISIL. Though Foreign Affairs.com overlooked the failed military coup attempt in 2014 they stated correctly that “no other country faced as potent a threat from the Islamic State as Turkey does. The country suffered some of that group’s deadliest attacks, and more than any western nations combined, targeting opposition rallies, as well as Istanbul’s tourist hot spots, its international airport, and one of its most popular nightclubs. These attacks not only hurt the economy—reducing tourism revenues by more than one-third—but they also broke Turkey’s fragile peace, halting the ongoing talks with the PKK....” Is it more economic terrorism that Trump wants for Turkey?
Statists even show that over 30,000 have died as a result of PKK attacks. We all know by now that Trump & his gang have no idea, or intentions of doing serious diplomacy but many others do. US has such a simplistic view of Turkey, it’s dangerous! It’s time for all of NATO to meet & find a peaceful resolve.
1
And if you believe this, Mr. Trump has a fantastic deal for you on a bridge in Brooklyn.
@Voter
I sure hope the international community will just roll their eyes and ignore the tweets.
Threaten Turkey, they leave NATO and Russia has a major hold in the Middle East. Trump obviously fails to understand the concept of ‘the sphere of influence”.
@Gordon Davidson
Trump obviously fails to understand the concept of ‘the sphere of influence”.
I think he understands it well enough.
His problem, and ours, is that he thinks the sphere revolves around him....
@Gordon Davidson
He hardly understood a circle let alone a sphere. Sphere of influence? You got the wrong guy.
1
If Donald Trump wants Americans to continue questioning his fitness to serve in the capacity of President of the United States, he need only to keep tweeting out foreign policy. Something that might appeal to Joe Dirt at the local bakery, may be considered a national security risk by people whose jobs are to protect our country. Ignorance is not having the opportunity to learn. Stupidity is having every chance to learn and choosing to do otherwise
1
It seems NYT commentator animosity to Trump causes some sort of derangement, even if he says or does something right, it must be wrong. Please be more discriminating, there is plenty of bad Trump to more than offset the occasional good Trump.
@Dactta
Announcing (and threatening) policy, in knee-jerk fashion, by tweet, is wrong. So, no, he hasn't done something "right" here.
And the beat goes on...Trump - the clueless, incompetent, lying, it's my way or the highway thug is incapable of changing so this behavior will continue for the rest of his presidency or unless he's removed - which isn't likely.
1
Or is it all about Turkey nailing mohammed bin salman's vicious ISIS-like murder of a journalist? Do they also have donny on a lease?
Standing up to this ugly autocrat, Erdogan is the right thing to do. Erdogan's number one enemy are the longsuffering Kurds. Turkey is NO friend of the US, nor of the European Union.
Erdogan is the master of playing Russia against the US, and he still denies the Armenian genocide perpetrators by his kin, the Ottoman Turks.
However, it is totally unbecoming of a US president to take such a strong diplomatic position using twits, impulsively.
So what is new. He makes his most important negative declarations on twits...with little serious deliberation... just like a 7 yr old immature child who has just lost his marbles.
Trump didn't mean it. Bluffing. Same as every untrue word he utters. But what will others make of it. Is it disrespect? Such can cause unexpected and unwanted outcomes.
I thought devastating USA was Mr Trump's full time job. How will he find time to devastate Turkey ?
1
@IdoltrousInfidel This means that being in business relation with the USA is implying to follow the Trump's insane doing or risk destruction...I see!
This is another unforced error by Trump, and another gift to the Russians. What more could Vladimir Putin want than two NATO allies - one of them on his doorstep - who are hurling threats and insults at each other? It is sickening to watch Trump make a shambles of everything, and even risk an armed conflict, so that he can indulge his temper tantrums. It is past time to remove him from office.
1
Bravo Trump, Turks have been operating against Western and NATO interests under Erdogan’s Islamist regime. It’s about time they be suspended from NATO.
@Dactta IMHO the USA is following a new path, directly to join Russia against China,NATO and who knows who...
In typical US foreign policy fashion, these actions put the parties involved in a bad situation regardless of their actions. If Turkey chooses to comply, it makes itself vulnerable to the militant Kurdish elements that are hostile toward it, destabilizing its southeastern region that desperately needs stabilization and infrastructure investments. If Turkey chooses to ignore Trump's threats and engages militarily with the Kurds, it finds itself at significant odds with the US, most likely also suffering economic consequences when its economy is already unstable. The Kurds, in the meantime, find out, as many other factions and countries did in the past, that the US can never be trusted as a long-term ally in this region because it only acts on self-interest. The likely outcome? A further push of the region toward Russia and China, which of course will justify internally in the US the push toward further militarization, allowing further transfer of wealth toward weapons manufacturers.
Kurds need to fight for their own turf or live in peace as citizens of Syria or Turkey. Their decision not ours and not our fight. Th e middle east is a tinder box with plenty of fuel. We should not add any fodder other then diplomacy and economic assistance and economic equality for all those that live their. Their choice of government type is their call not ours.
I'm sure it is a great relief to our allies the Kurds to know President Trump has their backs. I mean why wouldn't they be heartened given his long history of veracity, steadfastness and honorable commitment to people who have trusted him.
There can be no doubt Trump is committed 100% to his proclamation (via tweet - which is how we make policy now) that he will protect the Kurds from the Turks - that is until Putin, Erdogan or someone else whispers in his ear he should throw them to the wolves.
4
ENOUGH!
2
And now this. Turkey is our only NATO ally that actually has an army. The European members disarmed long ago except for a few hundred soldiers in each and plenty of generals and bands.
The Turks do not have to put up with this. In response to Trump's threats they might very well close Incirliik Air Force base and kick us out of their country.
2
So we are assuring ISIS there are unarmed American troops in Syria. And still wondering whether trump is acting in good faith. LOL.
1
So... if Turkey goes against our president's wishes, our president declares he will smite it? I wouldn't believe that threat even from God.
Trump's probably getting a head start in front of the Mueller report that will be coming out soon. He wants a "win" of some kind and if he can't get the money for the border wall what better way to do it than to bring troops home from a war zone. It'll make himself look good. It doesn't matter to Trump if ISIS reemerges or if the Kurds are killed by the Turks. He knows his poll numbers are going south and he needs to divert his supporters' attention to something else.
1
He's prepared to devastate the US economically, so why not Turkey?
4
Was President Tweet’s missive pre-approved by Putin?
3
"Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey" is a foreign policy "there are good people on all sides."
1
Careful Kurds, Trumps support is hinged directly on whether they vocally support Trump. Send MAGA hats to the Kurds now, while there are still some left.
Oh! I thought they were BFFs like a month ago?
What happened?
I’m guessing that the majority of the commenters to NYT articles spend at least a little time writing and rewriting their comments, searching for the words and syntax to best convey their thoughts, and fact-checking their info before ever pressing “submit.”
Well, we now have a president dealing with the most sensitive and perilous global situations who feels it is appropriate to conduct international diplomacy by tweeting “from the hip” -slagging off allies, threatening foes, boasting shamelessly about his non-accomplishments and basically spewing ungrammatical, misspelled nonsense 24/7. It is stupid, it is embarrassing, it is
irresponsible and it is incredibly dangerous.
72
@Susan
Thank you for mentioning a little-acknowledged fact: than many of us in the commentariat are also interested in writing and using words. We are first and foremost a disorganized writers' group. As to proofing, sometimes not, as this venue is permissive about that!
As to the rest, I am grateful to whoever picked your valuable comment. Thank you!
7
aargh! case in point: first line should end in "that" not "than" ... wouldn't drop back in except I did mention our louche ways wrt proofing.
3
@Susan Anderson - I was brought up in a family of voracious readers and taught from the earliest age that when speaking or writing “words matter.” It is always heartening to read the thoughtful, incisive, informed and witty /hilarious comments in the NYT from readers around the country. It gives me hope in these parlous times. Keep writing!
2
I'm actually quite curious how the US would do this, punish Turkey? Turkey could easily retaliate, by prohibiting the US Air Force from using the Incirlik and Izmir facilities. Or by allowing the Russian Fleet free passage through the Bosporus Strait.
It is quite a falling off of the masks. We're used to the US being rather more subtle in its application of pressure.
7
@Rudy Flameng You're making the rash assumption that Trump has thought this through one iota.
3
Fascinating times.
We elect a President with zero experience - we jump him straight from reality TV to the Commander In Chief of the United States' Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines -
And watch him wing it, watch him shoot his mouth off like the total amatuer he is.
Wow. Just wow.
Every day is a wow.
19
Unlike say Ronald Reagan, the great communicator, b-grade actor, with cognitive disabilities. He was one for simplistic solutions too.
Trump's saber-rattling, bullying, and chest-thumping via his schoolyard-level tweets may bring out the jingoism in his base.
But, for the rest of us, (and contrary to that old put-down) Trump keeps proving he doesn't need brains to be dangerous.
10
The sociopathic "stable genius" hurls his threats and insults again, and is dumb enough to think that works as "diplomacy".
6
Does Trumps' plan include pushing Turkey into Putin's loving embrace. A Turkey out of NATO and more friendly to Putin would be a Russian Mission Accomplish.
6
I guess somebody forgot to tell trump that Turkey supplies key parts for the F-35 fighter. He never reads either, so that is why he is ignorant.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-05/lockheed-s-f-35-has-a-turkey-problem
https://www.dailysabah.com/defense/2018/08/16/turkeys-ayesas-sole-supplier-of-2-key-f-35-components
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/19/f35_fighter_engines_turkey_overhaul/
2
Threats by tweet? Oh gee, I'm totally scared! Even Trump supporters won't buy this nonsense.
1
Turkey better fall into line or thief going to see a situation they won't soon come back from.
@There
Huh?
Neither here nor there I guess!
1
Don’t complain of russian interference, if you are meddling in other countries. Us government has been meddling last 100 years. So do not complain, unless you stop interfering. Chickens coming home to roast. Trump wanted to pull all usa soldiers which is a good thing families, who are poor, low middle class. But ohh no, both consevatives and liberals want more war, more intererence in other business. Neocons want constant war, Bolton belongs to that group of neocons and they fool people again, bolton is not the president of the usa, trump is. Bolton and others are hijacking Trump foreign policy which for once trump was correct in that usa cannot be the police of the world. Neocons are for warm division of middle east so it benefits israel, how is that benefiting usa interests? Saudi arabia, a terrorrist country being supported bu usa elites so they can make money, is fine with people, but ohh lets protect kurds. Ypg does not represent all the kurds. They are admited terrorist orga. And pkk has killed women and children in the past, google it. Stop being naive and research. Usa foreign policy hawks want constant war, so they use media to hipe these false propagandas. Cheers
2
the problem is usa, cia interfere, meddle in middle east and still want to continue this. Neocons supports saudis while they pretend to care or protect kurds. First of all, Ypg does not represent all the kurds, they are part of pkk which EU and usa declared, uk included, a terrorist organization, unless they “pretended” to declare this, then accept it. There are 5-8 million kurds in istanbul alone, so erdogan iis not out to get kurds, half of his voter base is kurdish, see the election results(even though it was not fair) almost all supposedly kurdish majority cities , his party akp got the most votes, so you cannot explain this as he wants to destroy kurds. Trump wants to get out of syria, why be against it? So you can meddle in other counties while you get upset at russia doing the same albeit a lighter version :)
2
"Mr. Trump’s tweets marked the first public threat toward Turkey, a NATO ally, over the Kurds and seemed to offer a blanket of protection for the group, a band of American-backed militias that the Turkish government sees as terrorists."
This is exceptionally misleading writing. The Kurds are an ethnic group, not a band of American-backed militias. The vast majority of the Kurdish people, numbering in the millions, are non-combatants. Your article suggests otherwise and ought to be corrected.
2
@Will Hogan
Impeach this man before he gets everyone into deep trouble.
We voted (I didn’t but the idiotic electoral college allowed the minority of Americans to laureate him) for him. The rest of the world didn’t. The Kurds, the Turks, the Syrians, the Copts, the Palestinians, none voted for him but they have to bear the consequences of our failure to elect a decent man as President.
So, let’s cut our losses and everyone else’s except the Russians and Saudi’s, let impeach this Monster.
6
Autocrats chum up to each other, only to eventually “chew up” each other, so history tells us.
1
Many Turks of all political stripes, not only Erdogan, view the Kurdish YPG as part of the PKK. The PKK is designated as terrorist organization by the US. They view the Kurds like many in Israel view the PLO. Thus, Erdogan makes a similar case as Bibi- we are defending our territory and cannot allow a "terrorist" sanctuary on our border. Like Bibi, Erdogan can use "security" to justify any military action.
As for the efficacy of Trump's tweet "threats" see North Korea and the dear leader. Trump threatens fire and destruction. Shortly thereafter Kim launches new Hwasong-15 ICBM capable of reaching US. Trump summits with dear leader with no preconditions. After, Trump states the Korean peninsula will be denuclearized.
The only certainty that I can glean from Trump's foreign policy by tweet is uncertainty and chaos among Nato allies. The clear winner, once again is Putin.
2
And here we are. Trump's tweet is [being reported as] an official declaration. Is this actual American foreign policy? Will Bolton clarify with the opposite message later today? This is a heavy duty tweet, so I understand why it got coverage, and yet, it's a tweet. What weight does it carry? No one knows. It may mean absolutely nothing.
But even if it is an official presidential declaration, Trump gave Erdogan a dire warning and an out in the same breathe.
“Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds...”
but...
“Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey.”
Erdogan can now attack the moment the US is out of the way, claim he was provoked by the "terrorist" group and must protect his people, land, interests, etc, which he's been claiming all along, and Trump will back off and tweet something like, "Good people on both sides. Turkey has a right to protect itself. Blah Blah."
1
Trump makes a hollow threat against Turkey after handing the region to the despotic Erdogan, who is nothing but a proxy of the despotic Putin. It is a joke. Trump will never take any real actions against Erdogan, as Putin won't allow it.
Erdogan has never cared about fighting ISIS, he only cares about controlling the region and killing Kurds. There are only a few possible motivations for Trump's actions. One: Trump thinks it makes him looks like a tough guy to sell out our loyal Kurdish allies and then pretend to protect them, while further destabilizing NATO, as Putin desires. Two: Trump thinks it makes him look like a tough guy, but has no idea what he's doing or saying, he's just doing and saying what Putin told him to do and say.
Erdogan has never had any interest in going after ISIS. It's why he allowed ISIS fighters to freely pass through Turkey, but blocked Kurdish fighters. Erdogan's only real interest has been in killing the Kurds and taking control of the region from Syria.
In 2014, The Times Editorial Board in "Mr. Erdogan’s Dangerous Game, Turkey’s Refusal to Fight ISIS Hurts the Kurds," detailed how Erdogan ordered Turkish troops not to fight ISIS "while Islamic extremists are besieging the town of Kobani and its Kurdish population. This is an indictment of Mr. Erdogan and his cynical political calculations."
Finally, this further confirms that America under Trump is becoming an autocracy, because Trump uses threats to "Devastate" exactly as autocrats do.
2
I'm not sure about Thomas Gibbons-Neff's motivation, with his statement to the effect that the Kurds "helped" US forces in their fight against ISIS. I am unaware that significant US ground formations directly engaged ISIS in Syria. It is my understanding that the Kurds and Syrian rebel units accounted for the great majority of the direct combat. Correct me if I'm mistaken but I understand that US personnel were most directly involved in providing air & artillery support & the forward observers needed to direct those stikes. US troops also provide drone strikes, logistic & training support.
Honest & accurate reporting would acknowledge that overwhelmingly, the Kurds & Syrians bore the unavoidable burden of casualties, both KIA and wounded. The accurate characterization would have been that US forces helped the Kurds & Syrians fight ISIS! Not the other way around.
3
I believe many would agree that it is time to suspend Mr. Trumps twitter account. Two years would be good. What tweet you Mr. Dorsey?
Also, asking Republicans to confront Mr. Trump is akin to asking an arsonist to put out a fire.
Finally, Turkey is about as much of an ally as Pakistan is.
What a mess.
3
Trump, Pompeo and Bolton never say the same thing. Total chaos within and without.
2
Trump did NOT say that the U.S. would “devastate Turkey economically”.
His tweet could mean that the U.S. would, or simply mean that “it” (i.e. the world) would. The meaning is ambiguous.
Based on the many meetings in the past weeks, I’m sure the exact meaning is well understood between the U.S. and Turkey. Turkey’s response suggests that there is a mutual understanding that Trump is simply saying that the world would react negatively, including imposing sanctions, if Turkey is repressive with the Kurds.
There isn't a reason in the world to think Turkey will move in to attack ISIS; it has a large share in the responsibility for its growth in Syria in the first place. What it will do is attack the Kurds.
For once, Trump is on the right track. He needs to get Congress to go along with a firm commitment to protect the Kurds. Turkey cannot be trusted
2
@Christine
Let me add that Congress needs to make the American commitment to the security of the Kurds because Trump can't be trusted either.
1
Having TRump in charge of foreign policy is a danger to our country and the world as we still wonder if Putin has leverage over him and if Jared's two billion$ funding for his family biz give MSB control over him. The world is at the mercy of Trump's personal financial interests which he values more than America's interests.
4
Only Trump would threaten an ancient country with a relatively weak modern infrastructure with economic sanctions. It’s like cutting of the credit at an expensive luxury goods shop of a subsistence farmer in a mostly rural foreign country. It will slow somethings down but it will not deter.
Trump still doesn't understand-- no, he will never understand, much less contemplate the concept into his so-called "strategy"-- the truth that to some, money means NOTHING. He just cannot fathom it.
Trump tweets are useless particularly with complicated matter such what the Kurds facing now. Instead he should develop and implement a policy where all his adviser speak with consistently and without creation of chaos. He can speak with Erdogan and make it crystal clear that USA will protect the Kurds or he could speak with Putin and create a safe haven for the Kurds similar to what President WH Bush did. It was that safe haven that lead to relatively stable relationship between the Kurds and Iraqi government in Iraq and has been instrumental in acceptable democratic condition in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Donald Trump's presidency has been disastrous for American foreign policy. Trump does not read, disdains any kind of expertise, and believes that he alone can fix it. Meanwhile, Stephen Miller is whispering in his ear, promoting isolationism. Foreign policy is done the lazy, juvenile way: via tweet.
1
Trump's philosophy seems to be:
"I think, therefore I tweet."
Donald,
- Not every brain dropping need be committed to Twitter.
- Foreign (and for that matter, domestic) policy cannot and should not be communicated in 280 or fewer characters.
- Threats and bluster do not make the man. Intelligence, rationality, patience, nuance, and willingness to do the hard work when easy answers are elusive do.
Trump is "defective" personified.
3
Trump evidently ants to end up bringing all troops home and closing down our bases all around the world. First he causes trouble for Qatar where we have our huge Middle East naval base, and now he is threatening Turkey where we have a huge NATO Air Force base at Incirlyk. Does he really think our planes and pilots will be safe with threats against that country? Does he think at all? Or is this government by guts and threats, the way he ran his businesses?
1
Obama initially called ISIS the JV team. Soon they controlled large swaths of Syria and Iraq.
Trumps polices against ISIS was obviously very successful. Not much is being said about that.
Almost like you're deflecting and citing old news without consideration of the consequences.
1
@Lane - ISIS was being reduced during the Obama Administration - you didn't say much about that. Here's news from before the 2016 election.
"IHS found that ISIS' so-called "caliphate" shrunk 16% in the first nine months of 2016 and 14% in 2015."
"In Iraq, ISIS' territory has shrunk from 40% of the country at its peak to roughly 10% now."
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-territory-has-isis-lost-2016-10
Trump has said lots of things. Most of them prove to be lies. He claimed he'd take a strong stance on Russia and then he claimed he'd go after Saudi Arabia if it turned out they killed the journalist - what did he actually do? Nothing, turned a blind eye when our intelligence knows what happened.
Trump claiming he'd be so strong and will devastate Turkey - yeah, that's not a threat, unless he's running for office there.
1
So Putin and Trump, the worlds all too real Tweedledee and Tweedledum, decided Turkey is the true enemy, and they need to be united in their fight against NATO?
Where in the world is the rest of the GOP leadership?
Enough already!
Geez, even when trump has a reasonable thought (a generous assessment), the way he goes about doing things is just so antipodal to presidential. I really don't understand how anyone, no matter how right wing, can support this disgrace to humanity.
If our incompetent Presiden had not pulled out of Syria on a whim after a phone call with this man who then refused to meet Bolton, he would not now have to threaten Turkey, making the Middle East quagmire much more dangerous than it was since he took office, thanks to his shooting form the hip as usual.
21
@JHM Elected Presidens of democratic countries like Turkey would not meet with low level advisors like Bolton. Bolton met with his counterpart which is the norm.
2
We have the exchanges with Kim Jong Un as a perfect example of how Trump's threats work.
Bluster, shift, bankrupt; lather, rinse, repeat.
The abominable hostage-taker in the white house doesn't have a clue. Osama Bin Laden is laughing from his grave.
2
In 1969, American used cars were in use in the Western cities of Turkey, as in border towns of Mexico at the time. There were NATO bases around the country. One could see camel caravans traveling along the roads. The exchange rate for the Turkish lira was pretty free. You could exchange dollars for liras at one rate within the country but had to show proof of another rate to purchase transportation tickets out of the country. It was partially modern and partially ancient. That kind of diverse economy is not particularly vulnerable to economic sanctions unless those sanctions can affect a strategic necessity like modern weapons of war.
Everyone is absolutely right:
1. Threats do not work as well as negotiations
2. Social media is not the proper format for diplomacy.
I bet Trump voters are aware of these two facts. Do Trump voters realize that the US gets less when Trump uses crude and bullying negotiation methods?
19
Trump is Peter Pan from hell and conducts international relations via childish threats.
This reminds me of my older brother threatening "I'll kill you" if I messed with his toys. Some children never grow up.
20
Trump is a bull in a china shop, blundering, fumbling and destroying everything he touches.
The only question worth asking is why do republicans refuse to put a stop to his incompetence and questionable loyalty to the American people?
19
Putin must be thrilled by the tweets by ddt (disloyal donald t). Attempting to economically undermine a NATO ally is a dream come true. ddt's policies expressed in the tweets are going to bring Russia and Turkey closer together. Without a military presence in Syria, ddt's America will not be able to do anything to protect the Kurds, while Russia will provide diplomatic and military cover to the Turks as it attempts to do what it plans to do. Putin's small financial payment in getting ddt elected (though he lost to Hillary by 3,000,000 votes) was from his standpoint the best investment he ever made. And where are the Republicans? Protecting and enabling ddt rather than protecting America.
30
@Michael Several
Threatening. He's not attempting, yet.
@Michael Several - After this latest outburst if anyone doesn’t think ‘The New Yorker’ is working for the Russians then thery’re deft, dumb and blind. Every word spoken about Syria by the ‘New Yorker’ only serves Russian interests. This level of incompetence isn’t plausibly. It can only be part of a grander design to undermine American allies’ confidence in America.
The two biggest gainers from the latest outburst are Russia and China. Russia because the Turks will be forced further into their Middle East camp. And the Chinese because Turkey will look for more reliable trading partners not hung up on sudo humanitarian consequences of a Turkish incursion into Syria to clear its borders of terrorists.
In the long run it will be America that looses. First allied confidence in America. Followed by increased economic migration toward China by Americ’s trading partners who look for stability in relationships. Concluding with spectacularly high costs to America, once the ‘New Yorker’ is removed from office, to rebuild relationships and allaiances destroyed by the ‘New Yorker’ in his quest to serve Russia and it oligarchs.
Declarations of war by tweet. That's just what we need.
We're now provoking Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. What could possibly go wrong?
30
Make no mistake this president is neither caring nor compassionate toward the plight of the Kurds. He is owned and controlled by Putin, and Mother Russia is an ally of a heinous dictator, Assad. The leadership of Turkey is not incapable of ruthlessness. That we are certain of. But if Trump wants to threaten economic sanctions to cripple another nation, it need be Russia...and for that matter Saudi Arabia. As is customary, Trump threatens the wrong nations. He will never comprehend that the Middle East is not a region with which to play games. Its complexity is beyond his ability to think further than his self-serving ambitions. Daily through his mercurial psyche and impulsive actions Trump threatens in one form or another our national security.
27
Trump tweets lunacy. If I were a Kurd, I'd be gravely worried for the survival of my people. If I were a Turk, I would cleave tighter to Erdogan, and disregard Trump's threats.
For those who apologize for Trump, look closely at his latest tweet: he threatens the whole Turkish nation with ruin. Is that in the best interest of either the US or NATO? No, it is profoundly damaging to our relations with other countries. It may not have substance so far as the GNP of Turkey is concerned. Turkey will prevail. But these threats of callous cruelty to a mighty nation (and -tentative- friend) do terrible harm. You may not like Erdogan (I don't), but his dictatorial rule will come to an end some day. New leaders will emerge in Turkey. Will they forget (or forgive) this unhinged tweet to "ruin the economy" of their whole nation?
16
Aren't we all just so tired of these hysterical diversions Trump keeps dreaming up to divert attention from the soon to be released Mueller report?
Meanwhile Trump adds 17 more lawyers to his legal defense team...
12
Leave it to Trump to create an international incident in an already unstable area, lose his top advisers (Mattis and McGurk) in said area due to that incident, and then backtrack back to the status quo. And then have the incompetence to dig himself further in the hole with public attacks, over twitter nonetheless. True to form.
9
Shakespeare was observant to put a fair number of wise statements in the mouths of fools. If Clinton had said substantially what Trump just said she would have been praised by liberals for speaking truth and advising restraint to two allies, both with very mixed records. But when Trump urges two parties not to attack each other, many liberals, with as much froth at the mouth as Erdogan when he is denying the Armenian genocide, only look for and see the faults.
@Eric S.
Why mention liberals? I’m a conservative, maybe more so than you, yet I don’t consider our president to be one. He is a populist who panders to the crowd, and an impulsive and irresponsible firebrand who creates confusion instead of providing leadership, and regularly undermines his own country.
2
@Eric S - HIllary Clinton would have transmitted any message through appropriate and discrete diplomatic channels, not through social media like a child.
@Eric S: It is not that he advised 2 parties not to attack each other, it is the way he did it. How would a normal person have done it?
I'd have thought it was better to keep our forces in, supporting the Kurds who have fought alongside us in numerous conflicts, than to withdraw our troops--creating a power vacuum-- and then loudly and publicly threaten a fellow NATO ally not to harm the Kurds.
Silly me. Shows what I know about foreign policy.
Glad the grownups are in charge.
As long as Bolton can grow a thicker mustache than Erdogan, we'll remain on top, right?
10
Memo to the Kurds: Keep your friends closer and your enemies closer.
1
"Trump threatens..."
At this point, who even pays attention to what follows those words? It's pointless to heed these statements. First, Trump lies so constantly and casually that believing anything he says is just foolish. Secondly, Trump has exactly one tactic - he threatens. Maybe it worked for decades on individuals he was doing "business" with, but issuing empty threats from the president's office, over and over again, makes you look like a pathetic joke. Who does he think he's fooling?
6
Making America great again? Not! This president is systematically destroying whatever influence we had/have among would-be allies. If he does move for 'devastating' sanctions he will only force Turkey to look elsewhere, say, China for support or maybe even the E.U. which, to me, appears on the brink of just telling us/Trump to take a walk.
7
If you were Erdogen how do you think you would respond to such a tweet?
Trump is off his rocker. His tweets are getting crazier and crazier. His daily calendar is virtually empty. What does he do all day besides tweet, threaten people and watch TV?
He is wrecking our country and may well do the same to the rest of the world. How can Republicans stand by and do nothing? They got their tax cut and SCOTUS justices. What else do they want?
16
This is what government by a two year old looks like.
9
trump, the world's bully thinks he can destroy any country he wants to. Instead of stupidly pulling out with no notice, there should be a structure guaranteeing the Kurds protection. But that requires thinking and planning something this administration doesn't do.
4
The United States would be well advised to get its nuclear weapons out of Turkey as soon as possible before they are confiscated by the Turks.
Don't make threats Trump. You're far too stupid to be dealing with this.
5
@Doremus Jessup I don't think we have any nukes in Turkey. We used to but we decommissioned the missiles a long time ago, shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis. Whay evidence do you have?
1
@Jack Toner
U.S. tactical nuclear missiles have been based and are still based at Incirlik Air base, located in southern Turkey. But the wisdom of maintaining them there has been debated intensely during the last 2 years, especially given deteriorating relations between Turkey and other NATO members such as the U.S. and Germany. However, as long as Turkey is a full NATO member, difficult to see how such a decision would be taken unless both Erdogan and Trump's own bilateral relationship continues to deteriorate But when one of them tweets that he would consider destroying the economy of another sovereign state...
1
Trump is going to either get the Kurds killed or American troops. The only thing he cares about is his tweeter and hair. Rome burns as Nero played his harp. The soul of America is burning as Trump plays with his phone.
3
When was the last time the United States threatened a NATO ally? Under No. 45, the American bar (no pun intended) is being lowered every day. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Donald Trump made that threat to Bibi if Israel crossed him. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
4
#45's irrational behavior on Syria is just another notch in the this man is a CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER category - not only to the USA but to the world.
I hope the Kurds have been keeping up to date. His tweets are just that stupid tweets.. distractions causing chaos.
4
Trump's approach to diplomacy is to swing a sledge hammer. Teamed-up with John Bolton, lots could go wrong.
6
Not quiet a whole new level of stupid, with this man you can be sure it's gonna be consistently stupid.
Actually, consistency is a major pro for any president, too bad there aren't much of the other more or less needed personal traits to be found at this time
1
Oh goody, the Trumpster's gonna twitter them into submission.
6
Has Trump ever threatened to "devastate" Russia economically? Just askin'.
7
Yeah, and "Mexico will pay for the wall!"
5
I think a Trump needs to give Erdogan a nickname, like he gave the Rocket Man. Maybe then he will listen.
3
@SLeslie
Erdogan already beat him to that.
It is the title of a Dostoyevsky novel.
Weren't we keeping our soldiers in Syria just a week ago according to I'm Not The President But Lindsey Graham and John Bolton?
Hey whateva. Pull 'em out and don't botha me about no allies. I warned the guy on Twitter!
3
The key elements appear to center around Kurds. Are they a terrorist group? Or just a separate ethnic group who wants some autonomy? Are Syrian Kurds allied with terrorists? In the swirling fluidity of enemies and alliances in the Middle East what is true? Trump takes up defense of Syrian Kurds. Just a momentary whim? Or getting further stuck on the mideast tarbaby?
3
The Kurdish militia are terrorists. Backing them against the Syrian government was a highly unethical and cynical move by the US, which has managed to destroy the stability and territorial integrity of Iraq and, if it wasn't for the Russians, might have done the same to Syria. But it's a standard play by the Americans, who seemed to learn nothing from backing terrorists against the Afghan government in order to make trouble for the Russians, giving birth to al Qaeda and the Taliban. Turkey pleaded with the US not to provide arms, training and money to the Kurds in Iraq and Syria because of the longstanding cross-border insurgency. Despite Turkey being a NATO ally, and international recognition that the Kurdish militias are terrorists, the US went ahead, and now, with the war in Syria lost, is double-crossing the Kurds and threatening the Turks. Unbelievable cynicism and duplicity.
2
“Life is a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. William Shakespeare
5
Trump is sounding more and more like Michael Cohen in his "fixer" days. That is, a two bit criminal with a few lizard-brain smarts.
3
Two years ago, I got a haircut in Oslo, Norway from a barber who was a Kurdish refugee. This experience makes me way more qualified to formulate policy in this situation than our Prevaricator-in-Chief. In terms of foreign policy, at this point I'm just hoping that any inertia of good will we've accumulated as a nation will carry us through the next two years until a return to sane leadership from either party. One saving grace is that the current occupant of the White House has such a limited knowledge of world geography, there are many places and people he won't be able to insult, offend, or antagonize because he doesn't know they exist. So at the end of this, at least maybe the Finns and Frisian Islanders will still regard us with some modicum of respect. Oh wait, I forgot about his comments regarding Finns raking their forests.
6
We seem to be in, "I am not a Russian spy mode now." First, the shutdown only makes sense if it was ordered by Putin, so trivially based otherwise that one suspects a $1 bet. Settle it immediately: With Democrats, offer them a choice of an immediate budget with no deficit or a shutdown of the whole government. To do this cancel all the tax cuts, especially the real estate pass-through with carried interest to boot. Someone needs to do something reasonable. An up or down vote on DACA.
Serious diplomacy with the Kurds and Turks. American allies that trade with each other and get along with each other is the road to peace and prosperity. Make them listen to "The farmers and the Ranchers Should be Friends", until they get the point.
Stand up to Russia by rejoining the Paris Accords with $5 billion (taken from the military budget) spent immediately through the Corp of Engineers to make TVA a zero emissions grid. Show how easily this can be done with investment and incentives for feed in tariff. Encourage GM, Nissan, and Toyota, all of whom have plants in the region, to make low cost hybrids/electric vehicles, sold directly from the factory with dealer maintenance and government financing. Get the ball rolling in a big way and then export the plan to the world. Ban coal; get China to go along by buying cheap Chinese solar. Climate change is the real emergency. Low cost is $15,000 standard sedan or pick-up truck, minimum 50 mpg.
Necessary is not wishful thinking.
2
Thanks to voters in WI, MI, and PA for Jill Stein and Gary "What is Aleppo?" Johnson.
4
Bottom line: he has to go and he has to go now, even if we need the assistance of the military. Most of us have been watching this big baby and his cronies ruin our country. If he stays 2 more years he will finish the job all the while making a fortune out of the office.
1
Just one more nail in NATO's coffin thanks to the Putin / Trump axis.
2
Here is the course of events fairly supported by history: 1) trade to bring economic prosperity, 2) trade as a form of economic competition, 3) trade as a form of war. 4) war. It seems the President is at step three in many instances. Pray step four isn't next.
1
And he is the hidden message for Erdogan“ Kurds not provoking turkey “. The Turkish leader is exactly like other authoritarians like Putin or Netanyahu, he will use whatever reason to say he was provoked and had to invade northern Syria, like russia as done with Georgia and Ukraine or Israel stalling peace negotiations for whatever excuses so they can continue settlements on Palestinian land .
If European and US troops leave the Kurds , it will be years of instability in that region, will reinforce Iran and hezbollah and eventually will bring Israel into the mix .
We can definitely let all those players deal with each other but the result might not be pretty .
4
Conducting diplomacy vis Twitter is the mark of this administration. Instead of carefully discussing matters with individuals fully appraised of any given situation, we will now hold a threat-fest on a broad public forum with no serious plan.
5
I think, more telling comment in Trump's tweets this morning is this one: "Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies." Is keeping ISIS alive in Syria a part of a strategy to contain Iran as Bolton and Pompeo's trips to Middle East this week seem to reinforce?
1
If there any rational and wise Republican Party leaders remaining in DC, they need to confront Trump privately and insist there be no further Tweeting on policy. It's both a socially unacceptable and politically hazardous method of diplomacy.
Should Trump refuse to comply, then the Congress should publicly censure him on this matter.
72
@Sunny
Censure?
He's incompetent and destroying our nation and destabilizing the world. Were there any rational or wise Republican party leaders with any interests other than getting as much money as possible, they'd have long ago removed him from office - via Impeachment or the 25th Amendment, which was written precisely for him.
9
It wasn't that long ago that Trump tweeted out dire threats to North Korea. Then, in his own words, he "fell in love" with Kim Jong-Un. We all know that the newly-infatuated are loath to find fault with their sweethearts, and Trump remained blissfully silent as Kim Jong-Un played Trump like fiddle. I doubt Erdogan cares about Trump's tweets, which are increasingly erratic, contradictory, and demented. Tweets have no diplomatic or legal standing, and Trump himself forgets them instantly. Why should Erdogan-or the Kurds-- believe a man who said Mexico was going to pay for a "wall" 212 times, and then suddenly pronounced he never made such a claim? Erdogan is probably already planning a candle light dinner to flatter and manipulate Trump. It's a plan that has worked for every other dictator. The Kurds should be very, very worried.
5
You miss a crucial point.
Any view of our relationship with Turkey must involve our relationship with Russia. The two are centuries-long rivals. Any country allying itself with one automatically becomes an enemy of the other. We became allies of Turkey when we were feeling threatened by the Soviet Union.
Is Trump antagonizing Turkey to please Putin?
7
Devastating a country economically is the one thing Trump knows how to do.
4
"Trump threatens..."
... Turkey, Iran, North Korea, China, as well as most of the USA's (former) friends and allies (Canada, Mexico, European democracies), but gives a free pass to the likes of Russia and Saudi Arabia (both of whom have all sorts of covert "business" ties to Trump's businesses, profiting him greatly)?
Any wonder why he himself is generally regarded as the most dangerous threat to world peace and stability in the last 60 years?
6
As much as I disagree with this vulgar bully in the Oval Office, holding Erdogan's abusive stance (and justification to keep incarcerating his own people for even constructive crticism, to justify his imperial ambitions) is the right thing to do. But this may not come to pass if there is no presence of the U.S. to dissuade a despot that we are serious about defending the best friendly fighters we have in the Middle East, the Kurds. However much we want to brag for beating ISIS, the credit must go to them.
2
Is this what our diplomacy has come to, a Twitter threat, in public, to coerce an ally? Insane does not begin to describe this lesson in how not to interact or get behavior from a sovereign nation. our government is being run by a not so bright child.
5
Trump's bark doesn't have the strong
bite. By now every body knows he is a
bully and flip flops. Threat of economic
sanctions used frequently will eventually
dilute its power. The efforts are underway in many countries to replace dollar as the currency of trade and reserve. It has been weaponized. Trump is accelerating it. Power used judicially carries more weight. Trump needs to be mindful of that, otherwise it will be lost. Dollar power is based on its acceptance by other countries. If they veer away it
will be lost.
2
This man is careening from guardrail to guardrail. First he offers to pull back from Syria so fast Erdogan begs him to stay long enough to keep his border stable, and next he’s threatening Turkey with economic ruin. This is no way to run the United States.
4
They only way this guy knows how to devastate a country's economy is by becoming its president.
6
Thanks Trump. You have now given Turkey a great reason to side with Russia.
Your plan all along, no doubt.
7
It confounds the imagination that geopolitical decisions with far-reaching consequences are pronounced to the the world in a string of characters by a simple-minded charlatan without any in-depth knowledge of the repercussions of his juvenile tweets. Our allies and adversaries mock these embarrassing chirps of a little man who constantly reveals his ineptitude to act on the world stage hiding instead behind-the-scenes with the false bravado of his tweets.
73
It is even more frightening that his advisors cannot or will not control his erratic impulses which he issues in the early hours of the morning without their expert briefings and in-depth knowledge of the region
8
Chest-thumping is no substitute for a comprehensive foreign policy implemented through informed diplomats.
Foreign policy will be a much bigger issue in the 2020 election than usual because there is so much wreckage to clear away.
7
While civilian oversight is vital, it is often useful to have the opinion of those military experts who are involved on the ground, and to sometimes listen to them.
Meanwhile, the word "diplomacy" does not exist in our President's vocabulary.
5
The International Mafia 0.01% Robber Baron/Radical religion Good Old Boys are going after each other. Like sharks they eat their own.
WE THE PEOPLE - average people across America and around the world - are the ones who will suffer from their demented power wars.
WE THE PEOPLE are the only ones who can/will stop them and NOW is the time.
9
Trump-Pence-GOP, the master negotiators using threats of "devastation' instead of using diplomatic discussions to resolve decades old disputes.
In just under 2 years of Trump's regime our nation has transformed itself into an autocracy with overtones of theocracy.
67
"GOP"?
These Republicans aren't my idea of a grand old anything. Why are they yours?
1
In the eyes of trump , trump is the best negotiator ever and him alone can fix everything when he gets everything he wants . That is how he thinks the art of the deal is and how a great negotiation goes .
2
This President show little respect for our constitution and our form of government. The leadership of the Republican party needs to inform President Trump that we are a Democracy not an Autocracy. Trump feels isolated and out of control not because we are a democracy but because we are.
12
I think this is the beginning of the end of the alliance between US and Turkey. Ever since President Johnson’s letter to Turkey, threathening to withdraw US guarantees over the Cyprus conflict in mid 1960s, Turkey has been suspicious of US as an ally. This threat by Trump further erodes the remaining support among Turks for US. Putin must be rejoicing, as another of his attempts to pull Turkey into its orbit becomes more likely.
11
Why does no one hold Trump accountable for the erratic and ludicrous things he says? Didn't he just say "We won in Syria."?
So OK, we really don't want to be fighting with boots on the ground in Syria, and agree a withdrawal is an acceptable end goal. But Trump wants to do it in a way that no one but Putin is comfortable with. Now here Trump is, threatening a NATO ally with sanctions. I'm sure Putin is smiling at that also. He's going to end up painting himself into anther corner (something he has a definite aptitude for) and bring us to the brink of a shooting war with an ally. He can say all he wants that he isn't an agent working for Russia, but his actions speak volumes to the contrary. This man is definitely an agent of chaos.
22
The latest from Mr. Bluster. Abandoning an ally on the battlefield who was central to the defeat of ISIS is immoral. That's why Jim Mattis resigned. You have to remember that not only were the Kurds our "boots on the ground," but they are citizens of Syria where they're the largest ethnic minority. You don't ever allow or encourage ethnic cleansing as Trump did in his phone conversation with Turkish President Erdogan. That is a "crime against humanity" where others have been tried and convicted by the International Criminal Court. Talk is cheap; keep our troops in Syria to protect the Kurds.
13
@Paul Wortman So we should stay in Syria to protect the Kurds? But not actually continue to fight ISIS? This is occupation, not military.
1
It's scary that trump thinks threats are the same as diplomacy.
27
@AzTraveler Trump better be careful. The Ottoman Empire might make a comeback and "devastate" the U.S. economy.
1
@AzTraveler
Trump Doctrine: Threaten first, negotiate later if we still existence.
1
What Trump said:
"Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone. ... "
"Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey."
What Trump meant:
"Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone. ..."
"Unless Ann Coulter yells at me. Or Putin tells me the Kurds are terrorists. Or if Chuck and Nancy don't give me my wall. Or if Turkey starts buying condos and renting hotel rooms like my Saudi friends . Or ..."
10
(Google translate) Your Mr. Trump sits on a stump betraying the kurds in ways that do not make sense. Our country will take the lead giving Erdogan all he need.
5
Don't worry Mikey, the stable genius is helping you!
(3 laughing cats here!)
3
Was this disruption of Turkey/NATO discussed at the meeting with Putin, the translator's notes of which were seized by Trump?
6
If you can't trust what a man says, then what is he?
4
@Blair Right now, president.
1
The real question isn’t if the village idiot starts a war, it’s when and where.
6
Diplomacy by tweet? What kind of madness are you putting up with. America?
6
Trump made the problem by yanking us out of Syria. Now; he will attack Turkey. Get Trump out or we will be at war shortly. Ray Sipe
4
Trump the Terrible is such a gifted diplomat!
4
Is this really how Middle America wants foreign policy done? Idiotic uniformed tweets on a Sunday? One day he is the lap dog of turkey. The next he is threatening them. With each move America is further alienated and weakened. There is no unifying idea or plan. It just reflects whatever President Brain Dump saw on TV in the last five minutes. Is that what people want? Seriously? Even if you don’t share my opinion that Trump is a disgusting person - at least we should all agree this clown show isn’t how any country should be run. It isn’t even how a high school basketball team should be run.
8
@Baldwin Middle America doesn't think about foreign policy. They think about beer and football. It's the playoffs!
3
Maybe he can call them Pocahontas.
1
Mr. Trump did not bother to get any knowledge from experts before he flapped his mouth.....Now, people who actually are aware of the situation are doing remedial work to help our fellow fighters in Syria, the Kurds.
I am sick of watching this clown destroy lives by his ignorance and his arrogance.
He shames those brave fighters around the world who risk their lives to do the right thing. He shames those of us who must hang our heads in shame for the proud legacy of this nation that is gasping for breath these days.
5
This may be the first time I agree with President Trump. Erdogan barely conceals his genocidal intentions regarding the Kurds.
3
@Matthew Doyle
You really think a 5 time draft dodging con man would do anything.....hahahahahaha. He'll be lucky to be in straight jacket and behind bars
1
President Erdogan: " Yeah, Donald, whatever you say."
2
In other words: " Pay me. Will send my bagman, Pompeo, over ASAP. ".
There, fixed it for you.
5
And the master diplomat strikes again...
3
You wouldn’t hire a plumber to perform open heart surgery. But Americans voted on for an ignorant to be the head politician. It’s the price to pay.
6
A lot of good that'll do them (the Kurds). A tweeted statement by Trump has a shorter half-life than all but the most unstable radioactive elements. Remember when he called Kim Jong-Un "Rocket Man"? How long did it take him to speak and tweet highly of the North Korean dictator? Going by Trump's usual modus when dealing with strongmen, his current posture will change quickly. And Erdogan knows that. I feel sorry for the Kurds, who are once again getting shafted by an outside power - this time, us.
5
The Kurds have done most of the work in beating back ISIS and have helped save the region from an ISIS caliphate. The US should not turn our back on these allies. Trump, for once, is right about this. ALso Erdogan, as much as I admire Turkey or used to, is playing political games with the USA right now.
7
And who, pray tell, would provide the 20-mile safe zone? Trump tough on an autocratic dictator? I'll believe it when I see it!
17
So it's possible now that the President understands that he was played by President Ergodan over the Syrian withdrawal, it's even possible that he understands how.
5
Anyone who knows social media knows that subtlety and tone are easily lost in communication. By conducting foreign policy by tweet, this president endangers the world.
70
@walt
And Republicans in the House and Senate don't care ...they're too busy counting their money
5
Diplomacy by tweet, undercutting ongoing negotiations after rash and thoughtless announcements, on the cusp of betraying a key ally, the Kurds, in the effort to eliminate ISIS as a threat to US. Trump sows discord and confusion.
14
Wait a minute...Trump is going to keep forces around in case ISIS causes more problems? Did he not say, when announcing his hare-brained decision to pull out of Syria,that ISIS was defeated? It's getting to the point where I don't blame Trump as much as I do his "base" and the GOP for their constant, willful ignorance, silence, and refusal to call out Trump's double-speak.
29
If Trump's word meant anything this would be reassuring to the Kurds.
Meanwhile, we seem to forget that a few years back, Turkey tried really hard to get into the EU. Maybe being rebuffed radicalized them enough to elect Erdogan.
4
If Trump actually cared, he would have used diplomatic channels to convey this. Using Tweets, he has put Erdogan in a spot where he has no choice but to strike back! As a lifetime bully, Trump knows better than to attack another bully. Therefore, it seems logical to conclude that this saber rattling is for the benefit of his base, and he will ignore Turkish attacks on Kurds.
19
If Trump wants to address Turkey why he is tweeting to his rural base? Is this another sad attempt to appear macho to his 36% ? Proper protocol dictates that either he or a diplomat contact Turkish authorities in a mature and direct fashion.
7
Thank you to the New York Times for reporting today's policy towards Turkey and Syria. Excellent reporting.
Readers: Make sure you get tomorrow's New York Times to learn what our policy will be then.
7
The blood of the Kurds is on Trump's hands. The scenario will be the same as always, an alleged attack by the Kurds and Turkish retaliation. Trump will then say the Turkish action is justified.
4
While no fan of Trump, getting out of Syria (and Afghanistan for that matter) is the right thing to do and long over due. Twitter is not the appropriate medium for diplomacy but we should protect the Kurds. These nasty and complicated entanglements are what happens when the US pokes its nose into where does not belong. Sadly, Bolton seems blind to any of these lessons from the past 17 years. 2 years after Trump is elected as Commander and Chief and still no significant withdraw from the Middle East.
3
He may as well have said "It looks like Erdogan's face is bleeding from a facelift" because it's the exact same level of childish viciousness tweeted in a morning hangover from whatever substance he's hooked on.
3
@Tom J, absinthe?
Actually, I believe Trump when he says he doesn't drink or take illicit drugs.
And obviously Trump's word is worth zero. Turning on the Kurds is in Putin's favor so his Trumped up stooge has to stab the Kurds in the back to make Putin happy and not turn on Trump with whatever he has on Trump.
3
Wow. hostilities between two NATO members. Has that ever happened before? Who gets to adjudicate or do just we throw NATO (est. 1949) in the trash?
Still, it could turn nasty and look.... there's another war for the USA to fight. Plus, Turkey has a '1st World' military so that's much more fun than fighting insubstantial ISIS yahoos. Put all that expensive military tech to the use it was intended for. Show the world how all those dollar trillions got spent.....
1
Actually to tell you the truth I am kind of glad what Trump is doing. At some point,hopefully soon,Republican teenagers will realize this is going too far and they need to get rid of Daddy
3
This man cannot work a computer. He cannot read anything beyond bullet points on one sheet of paper. He zones out after listening to someone for more than 15 seconds. He's threatening to "devastate" another country's economy via tweet. How do you like your president, Republicans?
18
Well let’s hope Erdogan was on twitter reading the latest memes. How do Trumpists think policy by tweet is okay?
4
Regretfully, there is no way to impress upon Trump, his enablers and his 95% (ers that this is not a reality TV show nor a TV series. Making teenage bully threats against the global community and other Americans is dangerous, reckless behavior and not entertaining as Trump's 95% (ers) seem to think as they drool every time Trump acts up. The consequences of having Donald J. Trump, the most ignorant man on the planet, as America's Divider in Chief will be far reaching even for his loyalists.
4
This is insane! If the Turks want to hurt the Kurds, they should be able to!
It’s OUR job to separate the bad scary ISIS types from the good scary non-ISIS freedom fighters, all while making sure there’s peace in Yemen, and democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan! That’s OUR job!
What the Turks do with the Kurds is THEIR business, not OURS!
1
This fool, trump, is threatening Turkey, pronouncing (not conducting) foreign policy by tweet - by tweet.
Turkey's dictator Erdogan refuses to meet with Yosemite Sam (Bolton), who's threatening Iran to strike Iran.
Pompeo is all over the map, literally.
Our government is shut down, agencies created to serve and protect us are being deconstructed.
Thousands of women, men and children are locked up in overflowing holding pens at the Mexican border.
Russia apparently controls the fool and what's referred to as the republican party, in joint ownership with the Koch's.
Scottie - beam me up. I can't take this anymore.
10
The Trump statesman-diplomat bot comes factory installed with two settings, fawning and belligerent. It also has a rudimentary artificial intelligence feature allowing it to develop its own simple policy positions; it is programmed to ask itself, “What did Obama do?”
6
I guess this is how Trump is going to make America great Again!
3
Really? On Twitter?
3
I honestly don't know how threatening devastation to an entire country doesn't violate Twitter's community standards as Abusive Behavior.
Please shut down his account, Twitter. Congress won't act, but private companies can still help our country defend against a lunatic.
75
President Erdoğan said that the terrorist group Hamas is not a terrorist group. Hamas suicide bombers have gone to Sbarro family restaurants in Jerusalem where they killed Americans as well as Israelis.
Particularly after 9/11, it is insulting to even suggest that America would align itself with terrorist groups. The Kurds are not terrorists and Hamas clearly is a terrorist group.
It is disgraceful that a NATO ally doesn’t know that Hamas is a terrorist group and that America does not work with terrorist groups.
Instead of being critical of the way and method Trump suggests for protecting Kurdish troops from Turkish troops after American troops pull out of Syria, perhaps this newspaper could be constructive and suggest a better way than what Trump has suggested. I am genuinely interested in better ideas of protecting Kurds after American troop pullouts of Syria.
Hamas is not a terrorist group: President Erdoğan
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hamas-is-not-a-terrorist-group-president-erdogan-131933
Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sbarro_restaurant_suicide_bombing
6
And just a short while ago trump took a meet with Erdogan, doubtless about the new Trump Istanbul, or something. Perhaps it was delayed.
2
So Trump first holds a call with Erdogan and without consulting with relevant senior staff whereby he tells Erdogan that the US will unilaterally disengage from Syria. Turkey being a long and steadfast NATO member also has taken the decision to buy US Patriot missile defense systems.
Anyone who follows the Middle East and Turkey since Erdogan came to power knows that Erdogan's intentions have always been to take on the Kurds in Syria. So the outcome of all amateurish behavior by Trump is that he now reverses position and threatens Turkey with economic devastation.
How can Trump, this "truculent child President" (as John Kerry so aptly stated last November) still command 37% approval rating in a CNN poll conducted last week? Maybe time for some more of the US citizenry who do not support him to start demonstrating and engaging more vocally and actively against him, his behavior and what he stands for.
97
Sounds like a reasonably idea.
2
“Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey.”
This sounds like another Trump attempt to not take a stand, a variation on the "fine people on both sides" argument.
34
Individual-1 must of gotten new orders from his boss, President Putin. Threatening Turkey is a clever way to disrupt a NATO ally and start the unraveling of that organization.
120
Yes, this is such the way to influence Erdogan to act in our interest. Diplomacy and International relations via tv-infested tweet will start a war. We just do not yet know where...
5
Take away his phone and Twitter account. This has got to stop.
52
President Clinton, arguably in violation of international law, launched a missile attack against a sovereign nation (Iraq) when Iraq threatened the Kurds. No big deal.
4
The Republicans better wake up fast Trump is putting our country in peril everyday he is President.
108
@Dave
Yes, but tax cuts for the rich.
7
First of all, who can believe Donald Trump? Regardless of the empty threat, Putin's agenda of hollowing American power has taken another step forward.
71
Sounds positive but wouldn't it be more appropriate and forceful through diplomatic channels?
Tweets are so egocentric and subject to change!
6
There are 40 million Kurds spread across Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, and while other ethnic groups have vocal champions for their right to a homeland, Turkey and other regional powers have made sure that the Kurds’ national aspirations have been thwarted. Indeed, Turkish war planes have struck Kurdish forced in Iraq without any condemnation. Meanwhile, Europe has remained silent on the rights of Kurds. It is long past due that the United States support the Kurds given their steadfast support of US military objectives in Iraq and Syria.
33
@JEG
Even if the correct figure is 35 million Kurds, I would just like to point out that's about the population of Canada. Kurdistan exists.
3
Trumps bullying is to much daily. I am tired of it . We had a peaceful 8 years with President Obama and he was in parades in Europe. There will never be a GOP President in a retirement parade in Europe because they are bullies and my way or the high way does not work any where in the world.
5
Trump's amateurism in foreign affairs is just awful. I never really appreciated conventional behavior until experiencing Trump's unconventional behavior over the past 2 years.
35
Does Trump really care about the Kurds, or is this his way of setting up a scenario where Putin can step in and strengthen his relationship with Erdogan and, thereby, weaken the NATO alliance?
7
As the only place even pretending to be a secular democratic area in the ME the Kurds have shown themselves to be stalwart allies and defenders of women's and minority rights in a place that looks more like 11th century theocracies than modern states. DJT clearly has no diplomatic skills but he's right on this issue. The Kurds deserve a homeland and u.s. protection.
14
Do I understand this correctly? President Trump has threatened harsh economic sanctions against Turkey if it does virtually the same thing as Trump himself has just done--increase ten-fold the likelihood that our Kurdish allies in Syria will meet with death and destruction.
10
Trump impulses are steps backward on foreign policy. Creating caveats as a blundering afterthought, confuse not only lawmakers here at home but NATO allies as well. Trump is disrupting US policy by his own hand, is proof enough, Russia is gaining an ally in trump.
4
To paraphrase Trump: Nobody knew that retreating from Syria could be so complicated.
39
Issuing threats? Finally, someone who understands what “superpower” means. How refreshing. Let’s hope this new sheriff has bullets in his six-shooter.
2
Those aren't threats. Those are teases. He tweets like a mean girl, and the fanboys go for it every time.
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@John Doe
Superpower == bully?
Did 63 million people REALLY want the Electoral College to chose someone to the lead the most powerful military and economic country in the world through Tweets?
At least we know the troops withdrawn from Syria can help militarize our southern border. You know, like between North and South Korea, or what the Berlin Wall used to be known for.
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And this is why economic globalization is so important. I am aware of the difficulties it brings to American workers, but economic interdependence is the most effective international peacekeeper there is...in my opinion.
In the best of worlds, trump could have learned that his cavalier exercise of personal power to abandon an ally in Syria was a grave error, and made a meaningful correction.
But in this world trump cares nothing about an ally of this country.
trump does care that his base in and out of Congress are questioning his genius.
His response? a toothless " look at me" economic threat against Turkey.
Further potential disruption of world markets.
On the bright side, he is likely to give Erdogan a bit of a chuckle.
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How can any leader, friend or foe believe a word. promise, or threat given by our president?
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Somebody should tell Trump we actually have a trade surplus with Turkey.
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More of the same thing. He will never do such a thing. As he did not do anything alike against North Korea.
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We all know how this story will end for the Kurds. Turkey will accuse the Kurds of provoking them and then attack them. And, Trump will blame the Kurds for provoking Turkey, washing his hands of the whole thing.
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More empty threats (cannot support a 20-mile safe zone without forces), more ignorance, more posturing while taking orders from Russia's Putin.
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Yet again Trump is working at the pleasure of Putin. By threatening Turkey with economic retaliation, he is giving Russia an inroad to better relations with Turkey. Does Trump even know that the U.S. has a large and strategically important air base in Turkey? Does he care? I suspect both to be true. Our European allies must be quaking in their boots.
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he should also threaten to get Turkey suspended from NATO if they mess w/ the Kurds outside Turkey itself.
The formula for this situation is: (Eg - Em) + (Eg - Em) = D
Where Eg = Ego and Em = Empathy, and D = Disaster.
In other words, a recipe for Disaster
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Turkey should be allowed to kill all the Kurds they want. How dare Trump speak so harshly to one of our NATO allies.
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@Mkm. Not sure if you're being ironic or not, but turkey is only in the EU because of their location. They are not democratic and do not adhere to European secular values most of the time. Like much of the ME they continue to slip backwards under the influence of Islam.
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@Mkm Oh, don't worry; he doesn't mean it. he's just trying to look tough on them right now, but it doesn't mean a thing. you know when he opens his mouth a lie comes out, right?
@Al - Turkey is not in the EU.
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Somebody really has to take Trump’s phone away before he starts a war. The man has no concept of diplomacy and even less of decorum. Where are the adults in the White House?
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@D. Knight
No serious politician should be conducting sensitive diplomacy via Twitter, and nothing good can come of it.
The internet is no substitute for a well attended and intentioned situation room.
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@D. Knight Who were/are the "adults" who put this group of fools in the White House and are continuing to keep them there???
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@D. Knight The adults all quit or got fired.
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Trump must have read Dale Carnegie's book "How to win friends and influence people."
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@Paul Ruszczyk It's been widely reported that Trump doesn't read anything as long as a book.
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Trump reads?
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The Kurds have always stood behind us in fighting ISIS and other terrorist entities. They have been the only common denominator in a messy situation .
They do indeed need to be protected. But if you read the NY times article it clearly just want to paint Trump in a bad light instead of being honest.
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@Ari The idea of not opposing Trump at every turn sickens me. But even a broken clock is right twice a day.
I stand with the Kurds 100% and Erdogan can pound sand for all I care. The Kurds deserve protection.
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@Ari Doing foreign policy by tweet should be presented in a bad light. It's a child playing with a toy.
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@Ari I think the Kurds deserve more than protection by tweet. I'm sure you've noticed that those tweets don't count for much over time.
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