I join the other commenters in applauding the House Republicans who voted against Trump, proving there is a line they refuse to cross. Unfortunately, their backbone on this issue makes it all the more appalling that they continue to ignore the fact that Trump solicited a foreign government to bring a bogus criminal investigation against a domestic political rival! Apparently selling out an ally, admittedly a serious issue, is more important to Republicans than the crime of inviting foreign interference into our democracy.
12
@Nathan
"Mother, May I"
"Yes, you may take one baby step."
And so the children's game continued to be played. But it was a nice day, so everyone was having fun.
2
This is why I fault the early WH enablers like Mattis, Tillerson, Haley, McMaster, Coates etc. who claimed to have served in order to temper this president.
Better for them to have stayed out of the administration and let trump be trump from the get-go. He would have pulled blunders like this Turkey fiasco and the GOP could have more easily disassociated from him in the beginning.
Instead trump has been in the WH for almost three years and has total control over the RNC and the flow of campaign money to every GOP candidate.
If trump is re-elected I blame not just the GOP, but also the well-meaning (but wrong) early Cabinet members who propped him up, giving him some sense of legitimacy.
53
@Ruth And who are still propping him up by refusing to comment on what they know about his obstruction and criminality. The career diplomats testifying this week have shown real courage. It’s time for former officials to show some courage and step up to the plate.
16
Where might we find how the Congressional representatives voted on this measure? I've googled numerous articles and none have a link to show how individual MoC voted.
Calling Matt Gaetz " libertarian-minded" is a stretch. In fact, any suggestion that this person has a mind at all is very misleading.
3
Stop, or I'll say stop again....
Maybe it's a start of cracks in the GOP.
Can we get the transcripts to the phone call with Erdogan??
Did he promise to investigate Biden?
People are talking about it... That's what they're saying....
1
Don’t worry Don captured ISIS in a month not two years like Mattis said. He will just round em up cowboy style. Yeehah!
1
Trump's not "livid" because of what's happening to those who fought with us, he's livid because he's been made to look foolish.
3
Another example of why this president and his supporters need to be voted out of office as soon as possible. The American people want and deserve capable political leadership with the intelligence, compassion and proven leadership skills to represent the will of the people. Deep division and daily displays of incredible incompetence need to be replaced by unity, foresightedness and resolve to do the right things in the right ways for our country and as a world leader that champions democracy and human rights. It’s up to each one of us now to see that happens.
2
I would never have expected in my life to feel grateful to Assad for doing the right thing. Only the human fraud who took over the White House could accomplish this.
2
I'd like to see a list of those 60 reps.
10
Who are the 60 gutless morons? Lying Nunez? traitor Gaetz and supremely stupid Cheney
13
What kind of proof can be provided that Trump actually sent the October ninth letter to President Erdogan, or that it was written on that date and not two or three days ago. I think it is Trump’s lame, confused, insensible effort to persuade us that he had tried to bully Mr. Erdogan to “ be a nice guy”. Trump thinks that letter relieves him of responsibility. Sent on the ninth, later, or never, Erdogan will smile with his friend. Fait accompli. Trump Towers, Turkey are well and waiting for him.
And I have long lost respect for anything this Congress has done to foil this President’s deplorable behavior. Their condemnation of his behavior in Syria echoes through a chamber that is supposed to be used to stop sordid machinations not acknowledge destruction after the fact.
9
@Wanda anything they've done to FOIL his behavior? I thought you also did not approve of his behavior.
@kenneth Kenneth I meant that Congress has done nothing to PREVENT Trump’s behavior
which is the definition of to foil. They refrained from speaking candidly for much too long, and have only recently begun to condemn him without reservation. Look the word up.
1
Trump is sacrificing the Kurds to create a diversion of headlines and attentions from the impeachment investigations, especially the testimonies of senior professionals in the administration. Apart from his current meltdown the man has always had an evil, devious mind. Over 7 decades of deviant behaviours cannot be corrected in his old age. What makes it worse was to be fraudulently sworn into the presidency. Now he is wrecking everything. Actually the House bipartisan vote against his abrupt, whimsical abandonment of the Kurds is a sign that the GOP may be secretly considering removing him from office.
7
@Levigor He doesn't mean to sacrifice them. He just doesn't know who they are. Some kind of foreigners with funny names.
5
A much better title would've been the house UNANIMOUSLY rebuked the president, aside from how impotent these rebukes are... they do serve to highlight who it is in Congress is beyond redemption post Trump I'd love to see a list of the politicians who couldn't even side against Trump causing the death of our allies and the resurgence of ISIS.
7
."kThank God someone of his ilk was not president at the beginning of World War II. Phillip Roth's The Plot Against America is relevant to today's King Donald madness. Why does Trump support authoritarian regimes over democracies? 11,000 Kurds died fighting Isis. His lack of empathy, need for constant adoration, solipsistic view towards global problems, lack of empathy and vilification of the others threaten world peace and stability. I am constantly reminded of the W.H.Auden line, "We must love one another or die." if only we had a president who would lift us up and who believed in helping others instead of only himself.
8
"These colors don't run"
That used to be a Republican tagline, until Trump.
2
It's obvious the President did not consider or understand the strategic ramifications of his impulsive decision to withdraw US troops and green light Turkey to go after the Kurds.
Little thought went into the agreement we had made with the Kurds, nor the plan for ISIS prisioners and radicalized family members in the aftermath. Little thought did he give to the US troops and bases and the logistics to get them to safety. Little thought did he have that his actions assisted Iran with the landbridge through Syria. Little did he consider concerns of our allies and America's reputation. One only can imagine what Russian interests he did understand as he made his decision.
What about the 50 nukes that the US was guarding in Turkey? What was the plan for those?
13
Trump's answer to the murdering of Kurdish citizens was apparently that the Kurds were not angels. of course, several years ago Trump said that about the USA. i guess we better all watch out. Maybe the NRA and its members are correct. we might all need firepower to defend ourselves.
4
so grateful both parties were able to work together on this murderous, disastrous deed!
3
There’s a Trump rally here in Dallas tomorrow and people are camping out tonight to see him! For the life of me, why are there no protesters in the streets?? How can his supporters cheer Trump on when this human garbage has nearly destroyed our country and has managed to alienate our allies? I just don’t get it—I’m living through a daily nightmare that just won’t go away!!
22
No more “endless wars”? That’s the Trump talking point? As he directs 1000s of American troops to support his murdering pals in Saudi Arabia as they prepare for war with Iran?
Is it coincidence that Pompeo and Pence and their evangelical cronies reportedly believe Jesus will return after Armageddon in the Middle East? These same cultists include people who believe Trump is chosen by God. Evidently, Trump entertains that delusion at times as well.
Mass slaughter in northern Syria might be just the beginning. Who ever would have thought these concerns would be within the realm of possibility?
17
@JB Ah, yes. Saudi Arabia.
But the situation in Saudi is different. MBS is paying for the use of US troops. The greatest fighting force on earth has been turned into a bunch of paid mercenaries fighting to support one of the most repressive regimes in the Middle East.
Who seriously believes that any of that money, ostensibly being paid in exchange for the US Army going to Saudi Arabia, will actually make its way to the US Treasury, rather than into the current occupant's offshore banking accounts?
I know I don't.
5
"In a rare break with a president they are normally unwilling to criticize, two-thirds of House Republicans, including all of the party’s elected leaders, joined Democrats in approving a resolution that opposed Mr. Trump’s acquiescence to the Turkish assault against the Kurds, who have been crucial American allies in the fight against the Islamic State. "
How about that. GOPeers actually denouncing traitor trump. Hmm. Let's see how long that lasts.
Graham has already done a little back-peddling.
There aren't enough words to say how I truly detest the Republicans with traitor trump right on top.
12
The bipartisan repudiation of Mr. Trump will do nothing to change the greatest foreign policy blunder since George W. Bush invaded Iraq. It’s too late Trump has trashed the Kurds, America’s reputation, and our Middle East foreign policy beyond repair. It too late. Nothing to do now but take the very consequential hit. Unable to change the past. We must look to the future. Impeachment as rapidly as possible as prophylaxis against even greater blunders that will follow. We all knew Trump would do something like this, yet no one intervened. Hope someone has at least explained to Trump that the red button in his office is not for room service. Not that he would listen!
15
And perhaps when all those Republicans wake up the next day and find they have lived through a vote against this President, they will summon up the courage to re-ignite their moral compasses and work towards his removal from office.
15
@Meg Moral compass? Surely you jest !
No worries, Jared Kushner will fix this foreseeable quagmire. He’s done so well with the rest of the Middle East that I’m shocked he hasn’t received the Nobel Peace prize. After tearing the U.S. apart, Trump is well on his way to—singlehandedly—upend the rest of the world! I feel that every day is a nightmare from which I cannot wake up! God help us all!
11
The Republicans are finally waking up from their long nap. I hope they don't doze off again.
4
I’m curious, how many of the 60 representatives that stood by the President’s actions ever served in the military?
Also, did Rand Paul really mean to say “ as a libertarian, I see no reason to honor our commitments”,... because that is certainly what I heard.
7
So for once some Republicans finally decided to stand up to what is only the latest in Trump's ongoing stream of outrageous behavior.
However, they "cooled their tone" after meeting with Trump. What did Trump do? Remind them what he does to people on the campaign trail who don't fall in line and dare to criticize or rebuke him in any way whatsoever?
Fear of God has been replaced by fear of Trump. Sad and pathetic what not only this administration, but this Congress, at least as far as the Republicans are concerned, has come to.
6
Graham and Waltz were played like fiddles. But then, they wanted to be.
I’m afraid the likes of Republicans like Senator John McCain, will never be seen again.
4
Rebuke is more symbolic, just waste of congress/people's time and resources.. A better option would be find a way to do something that pains the emperor - like some funding pinch or power/cable cut to interrupt the executive time for a day or two ?
3
A few questions from afar . . .
Just where is Jared Kushner in all of this?
Is this part of his “Peace to Prosperity” initiative?”
Is this what he meant when he said “imagine a new reality in the Middle East.”?
3
When you know nothing you think everything is simple. Where is Kushner ? He is making a hydrogen bomb in his home garage.
1
Those 60 R votes against the measure are the TeaParty/Freedom Caucus members.
This is the actual Trump base in the House and the de facto representatives of Russia and the white supremacists in America.
The nation has not been in this much danger since the Civil War.
9
Trump has handed Syria, the Kurds and ISIS prisoners to Russia. Was that his (and Putin's) end game along?
6
None of us are “angels,” but we don’t face genocide for being less than angelic.
6
The man is mentally ill. It is time for him to go.
13
To: Republican senators
From: The American People
You have an opportunity to save your souls and protect America. Pledge publicly to vote for Trump’s removal when you receive the impeachment from the House. We just need 20 of you, and this human stain will be gone.
If you act now, you will have Pence as president, appointimg the same fascist judges and issuing the same racist and cruel executive orders. Your constituents will love you.
9
Being a moderate Democrat I agree in principle to removing our troops from Turkey, I believe we should remove all our troops from the Middle East. The Middle East is the graveyard of empires, just ask Great Britain and France. We don’t need their oil and we needn’t be sticking our nose in their tribal differences’. That said, it’s all in the method in which it’s done. Trump is a bull in the china shop, it appears he lacks perspective and has no comprehension of the laws of cause and effect.
4
Trump is giving away our country and trashing any credibility that we have in the world. He is a traitor and should be tried as such and put in jail for the rest of his life. He has no idea what he is doing . Tweeting like a middle school kid and this guy is the president. I hope all those that voted for him know they have put a monster in the WH.
10
"Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the No. 3 Republican, wrote on Twitter that it is “Impossible to understand why @realDonaldTrump is leaving America’s allies to be slaughtered and enabling the return of ISIS.”"
She's kidding right? Putin told him to.
16
Neville Trump.... one of the many faces of the crooked grifter that currently occupies the White House.
5
The Manchurian candidate is alive and living in the White House.
13
The Trump, Just following Putin's orders.
MRGA
6
The House should definitely allow for a preliminary vote on approving impeachment proceedings. Republicans voting against it will than be firmly on record supporting this President whose really stupid actions such as giving Turkey the green light against the ISIS-fighting Kurds are sure to be repeated and/or exceeded by Trump prior to the 2020 election.
2
None of the House members have a hotel in Istanbul, nor an interest in building a hotel in Moscow.
4
Make Russia great again.
5
Waltz said the White House (aka Trump) was “livid” at Erdogan. Erdogan must be shaking in his boots right now.......please.
3
The Vietnam War draft dodger got a reality check! Finally! In your face. No doubts. no questions. No vagueness. Hard cold reality. Denigrating, maligning, and maligning Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the straw that broke the camel's back, "though" (to borrow from the draft dodger's July 25 conference call with Ukraine's president securing a quid pro quo). Pelosi outclasses the pedestrian novice to politics who only know racial and ethnic pandering, xenophobic fearmongering, and spewing incipient perpetual falsehoods. time to wake up. Incredulously, GOP minority leader Kevin McCarthy's disingenuous attack on Pelosi is especial hypocritical. This is the same McCarthy who on the eve of the Nov 2018 elections resorted to anti Semitic tropes that warrants reminding America what the GOP is all about: "We cannot allow Soros, Steyer, and Bloomberg to BUY this election. Get out and vote Republican November 6th! #MAGA." The tweet accompanied a video of McCarthy making the same remarks.McCarthy's tweet referred to George Soros, Tom Steyer and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg — three billionaires who donate heavily to liberal causes and have Jewish family backgrounds. Soros is a Hungarian American Holocaust survivor; Steyer has a Jewish father; and Bloomberg is Jewish and was named the first recipient of the Genesis Prize, dubbed as "the Jewish Nobel Prize." McCarthy should exercise caution. Attacking Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Steny Hoyer, just to attack, is just insane. Race matters.
3
Donnie is always right........according to Donnie.......and everyone else is to blame........
1
As his dominoes begin to tumble the wrong way for Trump, the urgency of immediate action increases.
As his destiny darkens, witnesses will come forward. The quicker they come forward, the less they can be accused of being timid in coming out to do this right thing, ultimately.
4
Speaker Pelosi, I beg to differ. In order to be co-equals, the president would have to improve a million times. I am being an optimist.
4
This past week alone has been a complete disaster for Mr. Trump and the credibility of our country, with the Ukraine fiasco and then the even worse Trump decision to go back on the word of the U.S. government and sacrifice the Kurds to the desires, dictates, and determination of Turkey's Erdogan to get rid of the Kurds (literally).
When it comes to presidential leadership, there is a clear pattern with Mr. Trump. He seeks no information or expert advice before making a decision, and he exhibits total unconcern for the consequences of his increasingly erratic, irresponsible, and destructive decisions.
I keep wondering how the military generals and soldiers feel about Trump's disastrous decision against the Kurds, especially the American soldiers who fought with the Kurds against ISIS. No remorse from Trump. All he is doing now is having his spinmeisters work overtime and in a state of exhaustion trying to shift blame and explain away Trump's horrifying decisions.
The bipartisan condemnation of Trump's decision is a step in the right direction, but will mean nothing to Trump. And that is the problem right there.
3
OK. I admit it: I’m naïve about a lot of the Body Politic, but…. I’m curious…. The Trump-created situation re: Turks, Kurds, Syria, Putin, et al over the past couple weeks?
Why has this particular event brought about such loud objections by Republicans when all The Other Despicable Stuff has barely raised an eyebrow?
Really… I don’t understand….
2
Wonder when Senate Republicans will realize Trump will be no more loyal to them than he was to the Kurds.
9
I am glad we are getting out of Syria. We never should have gotten involved in the Middle East. The war in Iraq was a huge mistake! I am sick and tired of the U.S. getting involved in every single dispute in the world. Wether or not a county is guilty of Human Rights abuse is not are problem . We are not the world's policeman and we need to stop acting as if we were.
For those who want to stop Turkey bombing the Kurds. The solution is simple -- the U.S. just needs to start bombing the Turkish troops. Thar will end Turkey bombing campaign. Of course there will be repercussions, but I have no doubt we can deal with it.
No one wants endless wars or have our soldiers killed in some foreign land. But recall George W. Bush's statement about fighting them (ISIS OR Al Queda) over there so we don't have to fight them here on our soil. Trump's after the fact rationale for his unilateral flippant decision cannot be justified. The Kurds may be no 'angels' but after having sacrificed some 11,000 of their lives to defeat the Calephet on our and their behalf, they did not deserve to be abandoned overnight. It was all done so hastily that we've not yet extricated all of our own forces or most of the high value terrorists that Kurds were holding at our request. All very stupid and reckless. We are today and tomorrow less safe as a result of Trump's actions.
4
Bravo! The first hint that Congress may find ways for both houses to stand together as one and stare down Trump.
Let him growl and snarl, they just may huff and puff and find a way to blow his house of arrogance down.
Republicans are doing this for the evangelical right. But it's just for show. If there were a possibility that Trump would suffer any real consequence, they'd fold fast enough. Suffering, dying "fellow Christians" abroad are one thing, but Trump is the master of their real religion. And it isn't about Jesus, that's for sure. Trump would hate every word in the Sermon on the Mount if he ever read it (Matthew 5, just FYI). If they love Trump, and they do, with his groping, adulteries, rages, threats, cruelties, vindictiveness, and bizarre ideation, they'll let the Kurds go under before they oppose him. They are willing to put little Catholic babes in cages and children in prisons here without Christian sympathy hindering them at all.
4
It's insane for Graham, McConnell, Cheney and others to express their shock at this latest disgraceful act by their president. What did they think was going to happen after they've given him carte blanche for the past two and a half years, not holding responsible for any of his self-serving actions - too numerous to include here. They got their judges, which seemed to be all the McConnell seemed to care about - that and his aluminum plant funded by the should-have-been sanctioned Deripaska. Graham saw nothing wrong with trump's dealings with the new Ukrainian president - huh? and Cheney (of all people) criticizing Biden and his son for nepotism and holding her tongue about the ENTIRE trump family treating our government like trump, inc.?
What did they THINK was going to happen?!?!?!?!?
Unfortunately we're going to see. Perhaps they can find notes of the phone call with Erdogan (the strong leader that their president admires so much) that inspired this unconscionable act of turning his back on our ally.
The Republican Congress is culpable for all of trump's bad acts. Expressing shock, disappointment and surprise now is beyond hypocritical.
2
There's a Nobel Prize in all this for Trump somewhere: that is, an Ig Nobel Peace Prize for Achieving Improbable Results--destabilizing the world, murdering allies, empowering enemies, tossing away everything America fought for and stood for, and making America less safe and secure--all done with a few words and hardly a minute's thought. Can't wait for his next move?
1
We need to DEMAND an end to selling weapons and other aid to Israel and Saudi Arabia as well! If we are “getting out,” it should be those as well! Sauce for the able-bodied geese as well as the gander! Let’s see how serious trump really is!
3
President Trump has driven a dagger through the heart of our post WW2 foreign policy. Now, he betrayed the one ally - the sole fighting force - that enabled US forces to take down ISIS.
Cui bono? Russia, populist dictators, Trump and his family, and those who would strip and plunder our national resources. Corrupt, anti-democrats, all.
All nations' must reconsider, and perhaps dismiss, the value of America's stated/written promises going forward. Even - after a failed Trump presidency, prudent leaders would be foolish to count on America's word in important matters.
It's so very hard to build democratic institutions, common trust, and nurture shared values. And so easy to vandalize them, as President Trump demonstrates daily.
If we're lucky we have a generation of work ahead to repair the horrific damage and address our existential problems of inequality, democratic inclusion, meaningfully address climate change, and create a vibrant 21st century economy that works for all of us.
First, we must remove President Trump from office. We must then elect Democrats with a mandate for structural change and hold them accountable.
16
45 said the Kurds "are no angels."
He is incapable of engaging ideas. He can only traffic in ad hominem.
10
Who cares about symbolic votes? Can Congress actually do something substantive? Is it not in charge of the Pentagon budget, for example? Now that "we won in Syria", one could make some substantive cuts. One could mistake the American Congress for the Russian Duma in its impotence.
3
What does that do to him exactly? Does he even know what ‘condemn’ means?
3
Oh my! A rebuke! Next thing you know they will be wagging their fingers.
The constitution provides many tools that can be implemented to stop malfeasance in the White House. It only works if the congress is made up of people who put country ahead of self interest. Unfortunately, we do not have that.
I don't think the president could do any more to help out the Russians. By their actions, or more correctly lack of action, the congress signals it's acquiescence and thus acceptance and agreement. One has to suspect that many in the house and senate also have allegiances to Russia.
A rebuke is meaningless. A sign of weakness really. Talk is cheap.
76
@Chris ‘We’re going to use a permanent occupation in the northeast to force Bashar al-Assad to cut his own head off,’ said Aaron Stein, director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
James F. Jeffrey, United States Ambassador to Iraq (2010–2012); United States Ambassador to Turkey (2008–2010); Deputy National Security Advisor (2007–2008 and the Trump administration’s special envoy for Syria, has described America’s presence as a bargaining chip to secure not just the Islamic State’s defeat but also political change in Syria and a rollback of Iranian influence.
quotes from NYT's low visibility, but very worthwhile, 10/15 article, "The US Turned Syria's North Into a Tinderbox. Then Trump Lit the Match". https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/world/middleeast/syria-trump-kurds-interpreter.html
a very informative read for understanding the present situation with the Kurds, Syria, Turkey and the US Obviously the US does not really care about the Kurds as people, but as tools/fighters... It is still all about putting the screws to Assad and not allowing the country of Syria to become whole, and to benefit from the rich agricultural lands and OIL in Syria's North. This is worse than what the US claims Russia is doing in Ukraine...
Clearly, despite what the Democratic candidates in the debate said, excepting Congresswoman Gabbard, the point of US military action, and funding of various armed factions in Syria was very clearly regime change.
1
@Chris if a ‘rebuke’ has legal meaning .. only then would it make sense. For example as a precursor to impeachment hearings. A rebuke is less meaningful that a London bobbie getting s shoplifter to stop by ‘threatening’ to ‘blow the whistle’ unless the bloke stops.
2
As a native Washingtonian of NYC parents, I'm hoping that the Nationals win is an omen of better things to come for DC. The Yankees have always been my team, too, thanks to my dear departed Dad. If the Yankees make it to the WS, no matter who wins, forget a parade.
Let's have millions of New Yorkers and Washingtonians take to the streets in DC, surround the Capitol and White House (Hong Kong) and demand the removal of the greatest threat to our country since the Civil War. Indeed, the greatest threat to the world since WWII. I faced off with the National Guard in the 60s and 70s, we must be willing to do it again. Perhaps, this time, they will join us for the sake of the country.
5
With bipartisan, widespread condemnation of this action, with military leaders united against it, it seems there should have been some cover to refuse to follow this order, even though it was from the Commander in Chief.
1
Think of the sixties and the kind of againstness towards U.S. military involvement that Trump is executing in Syria is being expressed in the streets and schools and left wing press by exactly the same people that are now denouncing Trump over his withdrawal decision.
This is a tough one for me. Lindsey Graham is on the other side of the issue. I have to assume Trump is half right.
Here's the perfect solution to the problem of betrayal and murder of the Kurds and the re-energizing of Isis created by Trump's latest genius decision: Trump goes back in a time machine and recreates reality such that Kurds haven't been betrayed and murdered, the escaped Isis prisoners never escaped and .are all safely locked up and guarded by the Kurds. Poof! Now, there's a reality you can believe in. If not for this, you might begin to question Trump's authority, sanity, stability, and genius.
2
Hmm. You know, if the majority of Republican Senators voted "yes" to boot this dude out of office, what would the base think? I'm guessing some senators might get sacked, but the ultimate result might be to pull the Republican party out of Putin's tar pit.
10
@Andrew they are also in the tar pit filed by Sheldon Adelson, Robert Mercer, the NRA, Linda McMahon and a slew of other moneyed miscreants. This is the tar pit created by Chief Justice Roberts and his GOP cohort.
5
But his business interests in Turkey are safe, and his buddy Vladimir is happy. The "art of the deal," you suckers. Money spotted with blood spends just the same. While Trump carries these immoral transactions out in broad daylight, his base continues to believe he is the victim of a "deep state." This country is the victim of a blind state of Trump enablers.
14
"Nothing to do with us?" Just because Syria is not on the US border, doesn't mean that what is happening has "nothing to do with us". Apparently he's too stupid to realize that he just handed Syria over to Russia, played right into Putin's hands and set the Kurds up to be slaughtered.
8
On every single level, Trump is a coward. And now he has turned the United States military into one that cuts and runs when the going gets tough.
He is afraid to release his tax documents, afraid to tell the truth about anything. Good Lord, when will this crying baby just go home to mom. What a national disgrace.
12
@John Tapley This is not new for the GOP. Ronnie Reagan cut and ran after the US Marine barracks in Lebanon were bombed. Nixon stopped the manned space exploration program after Apollo 13. Bullies are chickens!
1
"I have served with six Presidents. I have been in many, many, many meetings like this," he said, "never have I seen a president treat so disrespectfully a co-equal branch of the government of the United States."
per Hoyer after Trump's meltdown.
15
The House is not limited to one Impeachment. While establishing the formal charges in his shakedown of the Ukraine, the House may have to start an emergency Impeachment. Deranged "for profit" commands of the magnitude of his Syrian fiasco need to be stopped immediately by both Parties. The release of the ISIS prisoners is beyond Party bickering. Do it now.
12
What is this international stage?
Who is performing?
Why is this the one thing that unites Congress?
Is this the Congressional Military Industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about?
Funny how Congress can agree on this one thing; keep our military involved all over the world, keep that taxpayer money funneled to the Military and destroy anything or anyone in the way.
4
wow a nonbinding vote that means nothing after years and years of Congress giving up authority to the Executive Branch.
how about making a decision that means anything other than 5 minutes of good press
4
We are not responsible for Turkey's invasion of a foreign country.
Congress forgot it was Turkey's tanks and soldiers that crossed the border, invading another country.
Funny how we did the same thing under Obama and it was called 'leadership' and Congress cheered.
The only real culprit here is Ankara. They made the choice and sent their troops to invade a foreign land.
If you think that 1000 US soldiers were going to resolve a millennia conflict, you sure are in need of a history lesson. This war has been raging for ever, and we should never had gotten in the middle.
3
@AutumnLeaf wake up and smell the burning Constitution. Trump unilaterally, and without Stare Department or DOD notification, nor warning any allies, nor notifying anyone in his staff, told Erdogon that it was OK to invade northern Syria and kill the Kurds so he could relocate 3.5 million Syrian refugees there. The 50 US soldiers were enough to stop Erdogon for two years as killing them would bring the wrath of the US upon him. We can debate the utility of being there but leaving this way was senseless, traitorous, and seriously detrimental to the security interests of the USA and our allies. Period.
8
But it’s okay to throw our allies under the bus
1
From time to time leaders of great nations have no choice but to throw someone under the bus, but as a rule they possess enough self awareness to feel a little ashamed of themselves. Trump just threw a whole people under the bus for no good reason, and far from feeling any shame or the slightest regret over his murderous action, tossed in a string of vicious insults founded on outright lies for good measure.
7
We need to remember that Erdogan's goons beat up American citizens on their own soil when they were protesting Erdogan's visit to meet Trump in May 2017.
The US Justice department quietly dismissed the charges against those thugs in May 2018. The news barely registered with anyone.
Trump got suckered into same guy's manipulations this week.
American foreign policy is for sale to highest bidders provided they are autocrats.
7
"Make America Great Again"? Sounds like a job description for Trump's replacement.
10
Agreed. And the sooner the better
3
Trump is betraying American military troops and America's allies. Moscow Mitch and the GOP are abetting his treachery.
5
The Republicans got their hackles all up about the President's Sunday night Middle East massacre phone call. What will it take to provoke that level of ire about the disastrous performances by the President on the home front? Ceding California back to the Spanish?
2
“[Gaetz and Paul] have defended Mr. Trump’s decision as being consistent with the president’s campaign promise to end America’s intractable military conflicts.”
Please. Matt Gaetz and Rand Paul must believe in the stupidity of the American people. Or maybe that just applies to them.
Troops had to leave Syria and the Kurds because it was an “intractable conflict,” but with assistance from the U.S. Saudi Arabia’s Yemen “intervention” will be (to quote a world famous liar) “easy to win?”
Like Abraham Lincoln said, “You can’t please all of the people all of the time.” But Donald Trump has come pretty darn close to displeasing all of the people this time.
4
354 to sixty in favor
60 that thought abandoning allies in the field with no notice was acceptable. Sixty republicians
The four who voted present were also republicans.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll560.xml
5
CNN has just given airtime to Pelosi and Schumer who confirmed that Trump had another meltdown inside the White House.
I guess Giuliani has advised his client to start establishing the guilty but insane defense.
5
@Opinioned! It's already pretty solid, I'd say.
3
I just don't buy it. It seems like the white house is saying that they never anticipated Erdogan attack on our fighting partners we abandoned on the battlefield. Graham the trump enabler can believe all the fairy tales he wants. Question begged to be answered by this administration, are you so out of your depth that you couldn't see what everyone else could in knowing that once you remove our troops Erdogan will start a war to raise his poll numbers or are you flat out lying and knew exactly what the petty dictator of Turkey was going to do but like rand paul and the other republican cowards who just don't care about the death and destruction to our fighting partners by Erdogan because of our cowardly president who lacks empathy for others?
3
“If we can save one American soldier from losing their life or limbs in another senseless Middle Eastern war, it is worthwhile,” Mr. Paul wrote on Twitter. “@realDonaldTrump knows this.”
So, let's send our boys (and girls) to Saudi Arabia instead? My geography might be a bit rusty, but isn't Saudi Arabia in the Middle East ?
6
How is that statement consistent with Trump’s threat to rain fire and fury down upon North Korea and Rocket Man? How is that statement consistent with any of Trump’s empty bellicosity?
2
I would thank my representative, but Brian Mast of Florida 18 voted Nay. As a veteran, I would have imagined he'd understand the importance of standing with our allies. Apparently not, he is too much a Trump sycophant to do that.
Add Sen. Rubio, and Sen. Scott to the mix, I am unrepresented in our federal government.
27
@Joe Sabin What he understands is the importance of remaining in the House, even if it means putting up with all of its dirty laundry. The pay is good, and lunch is free.
4
And excellent healthcare!
4
Trump always reverts to character, or lack thereof. In order to divert attention away from his impending impeachment he has literally thrown the Kurds under the bus.
Add to that our armed forces in the area and the long standing reputation of the USA as an allied country you can depend on.
By his actions once again Trump has proved that he and his presidency are a clear and present danger to all people, not just Americans.
14
@Robert A. Flanders
"...thrown the Kurds under the bus. "
Forget the bus. He doesn't even know who the Kurds are.
This is not the first time that our country has let down countries or people who have helped us or requested our assistance. While I can understand the frustration of watching low level conflicts continue and remain unresolved what Trump did by withdrawing our soldiers from Syria was to open up a world of anguish for the Kurds and, quite possibly the rest of the Middle East.
With friends like us other countries don't need enemies. I thought that we were more than just fair weather friends.
5
@hen3ry What are we doing in the Middle East? Last time I checked it was far, far away from the USA. Did we get invited there? Or did we invite ourselves?
1
@DL that's a good question. I think it has a lot to do with oil.
Now, how does this correlate with the inevitable House impeachment vote? If you think Republicans are not ready yet, just a few days when they and millions more American citizens will be running for cover or just plain panicking.
2
@A Goldstein you may want to rework that last sentence so we can all understand what you were trying to say.
1
Finally, sensible bipartisan movement in a “ fully equal” branch of government, speaking out about Trump’s inept, “feels it in his gut” decision making.
10
@Jean Actually, what he feels i his gut is simply gas. That accounts for those loud popping noises he makes to the press every now and then.
1
I wish the GOP cared half as much about Trump's betrayal of America as they do about his betrayal of the Kurds.
16
"The resolution, which is largely symbolic..." You know what would NOT be merely symbolic? Removing this madman from power.
12
How many people does Trump have to kill; what damage must he do to our international relations before Republicans stand up and say enough?
7
@Anonymous , their big money donors need to give them permission, not the voters.
5
What I find most amazing at how “livid” the White House is towards Turkey as the papers and news programs stated that Turkey was planning an incursion into Syria against the Kurds to reclaim territory last Monday the day after PresidentTrump’s call with the Turkish President. And yet, nothing was done to stop this action.
7
@Betsy. Livid you say? Yes, he's so livid he invited End of an the barbarian to the White House! There are only two possibilities. Either he's really stupid, or he is a traitor to his Country doing the bidding of his bff Putin. What do you think?
2
Bipartisan. Hope.
1
Such a despicable move by this dunce of world history, geography, you name it.
Once someone clues Trump in on the fact we're talking about human beings here, not cottage cheese, they should also let him know the Kurds are instrumental in protecting Christians in the Middle East.
Christians are among the many groups that make up the Kurdish population.
Something that may be of interest to the Evangelical Trump supporters out there.
The world is watching.
5
@Scott Montgomery "
Once someone clues Trump in on the fact we're talking about human beings here"
He already knows that much. He also knows those human beings are not voting here in the U.S., so why would he care? "Let them eat cake !"
2
Nice words that do nothing for the dead and displaced.
3
Liz Cheney wrote that it’s “Impossible to understand why Donald Trump is leaving America’s allies to be slaughtered and enabling the return of ISIS.”
You know what’s even harder to understand? Why Republicans like Liz Cheney still support him.
23
@Eli Beckman its easy to understand. They do it so they can feed like pigs at a trough the money coming from Trumps corrupt donors: Sheldon Adelson, Robert Mercer, Linda McMahon, the NRA, Russia, etc...
1
A bloody chaos is only the beginning... I fear Trump really has no idea what he has done.
4
@Sten Moeller Of course he knows what he has done. He has pleased Mitch McConnell ....and a couple of million other good ol' boys from Alabama and environs.
Rebuke? Can’t they remove him?
3
Well... something useful from the President: uniting the House.
149
But what a cost!! Now the Senate!
14
@Sharon Christiansen The cost is never too great when you're out to make a name for yourself. Especially if others are paying the bill.
2
And how do our Senators stand?
4
The idea that the White House is surprised and "livid" about Turkey's actions is ridiculous, we literally moved American troops out of the way for them.
233
@Chris F: Yes all 28 of them that's it 28 special Forces. You prefer keeping the Kurds or the Turks as a ally?. Check out the War Powers Act of 1974 which forbade any military action past 60 days without Congressional approval. This war started as a 30 day adventure and that was 10 Years ago.
@Chris F Exactly. He didn't see this coming?
4
@Chris F
If the NYT gave you the facts of the situation, you might realize that Turkey TOLD Trump what Turkey was going to do.
Trump really had no choice than to get US troops out of the area or risk confrontation with a NATO ally where the US has a base that is very important to it.
There are also nuclear weapons at Incirlik.
A very complicated situation... but not sudden.
Turkey has been threatening this move since 2014, and getting more insistent on this move since the first of the year.
very good explanation/article:
"The US Turned Syria's North Into a Tinderbox. Then Trump Lit the Match". https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/world/middleeast/syria-trump-kurds-interpreter.html
Let's hope the Senate follow suit.
226
@123jojoba
Let's pray the suits in the Senate have hope.
2
The measure passed, 354-60, or 86% - 14% against the Oval Office occupant.
Donald Trump doesn't represent America.
He represents Turkey, Russia, Putin, Erdogan and Assad.
George Washington warned us about foreign relations malfeasance in his farewell address.
He was referring to Donald Trump.
475
@Socrates
You seem to be perhaps the biggest political junkie ever. It must consume your days and nights. Doesn't it all drive you crazy?
I can take only so much. I have to rest or divert my mind -- probably due to a short attention span.
I just wonder why and how you can focus on politics to such an extreme degree, or so it would seem.
But we all do enjoy your insights and viewpoint.
8
@Socrates
Welcome back!
14
@Socrates - Putin is collecting on his investment in Trump. Sadly, Erdogan will be a hero in Turkey by slaughtering the kurds, and this a win for Putin, Erdogan, Assad, & Iran.
33
The timing of Turkey's attack on the Khurds in Syria is very interesting -- just weeks after the Speaker announcing impeachment investigation. Turkey must be calculating that if it can get away with it, now is the time, because Trump won't be in office for a second term. As for the policy itself, well, I don't expect anything better from Trump or an American foreign policy establishment that, in the words of Professor Joshua Landis at U of Oklahoma (America's foremost expert on Syria), is disconnected from the issues that effect the majority of Americans. In other words, this is just one in an long series of missteps in the Middle East. It's almost like we can't avoid doing the wrong thing any more.
6
Sure, "overwhelming opposition."
That's easy when it's symbolic, which pretty much what defines the modern Democratic Party under Trump -- symbolic. Like all they have left is magic.
1
It's great to see bipartisan support of *something.* I wish it were support of our allies, our troops and our international reputation. But since it is largely symbolic, this won't protect Kurds and Americans in danger. Trump has decided the entire area doesn't matter unless it's attached to Saudi money, or maybe Saudi oil. We no longer have a foreign policy, only a foreign mess.
7
It seems apparent that, in order to avoid another Trump (and, after this precedent, another Trump will occur) the constitutional powers of the presidency need to be curbed so that it cannot act unilaterally in the mercurial whims of its incumbent. The role of Congress and Judiciary must be enhanced to afford more checks and balances against the Executive that even the Founding Fathers had not considered. Trump has rewritten the political history of America that can only invite future tyranny.
With respect, America has prospered because of delusions, Manifest Destiny, for example. The intrinsic benignity of such delusions has, undeniably, built a great nation by construing an innate self confidence. However, the inherent malignancy of greed, capriciousness, and dishonesty, the alter egos of American godly goodness, produces Trumps.
It takes a cynical man indeed to squander all that has made America great while ironically claiming to make America great again. When was that greatness lost until now?
10
I'm not inclined to give Trump any credit for strategic thinking, but perhaps this was the only way that he could follow through with his promise to withdraw.
It is possible that he found an adviser with brains enough to explain to him that the Syrian army, with Russian backing, would step in and reestablish the sovereignty over territory that the US had no business interfering with.
The SAA and Russia are perfectly capable of halting Turkey and dealing with the remnants of US-created ISIS if the US does not push NATO into starting a confrontation with Russia that could spark WWIII.
That's the only way that there might ever be stability in the region. Of course, then we still have to find a President willing to buck Congress and the foreign policy establishment by pressuring Israel to stop trying to reignite the regime change operation that they conspired with Turkey, the Gulf monarchies and the US and its NATO allies to create.
2
@Rick_Staggenborg MD, well, Dr. Staggenborg, I suggest that you read a history of the Middle East. The Kurds are the most civilized and decent culture in that area, and always have been. Turkey had Vienna surrounded in the 17th century, and had it not been for the timely arrival of the Polish king and his knights, Europe would be all-Muslim today.
This is the same Trump who called a retaliatory strike off against Iran at the last minute because he feared civilian casualties?
11
This man betrays everyone and every principle we hold dear. We knew that about this guy going in. The sad part is that he still got elected and still had overwhelming support in the Republican Party and its electorate. That’s the real threat to our country and will be the hardest to deal with.
8
Trump promised to bring the troops home but doing so by betraying the Kurds and then sending troops to Saudi Arabia was a slap in the face to his base AND the American people!Especially since the Saudis are making peace overtures to Iran because they now know how vulnerable their oil is to attacks. Does Trump really believe a pitiful small American presence will stop those? Even fighter jets and missile defenses will not negate low flying drones. The Saudis are rapidly approaching what Osama Bin Laden wanted all along. Extricating US presence from the region. What a shameful and expensive lesson we have been taught once again. One that didn't take long to wear off from the one we should have learned in Nam.
5
I think Erdogan has evidence against Mohammad bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, in the killing and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a year ago. Trump protects and helps Saudi Arabia—just this past week, by sending about 2,000 U.S. troops to a country with the third largest defense budget in the world—to get its support in his anti-Iranian and pro-Israeli gut-made blunders. So, Trump gives Erdogan a green light to invade Syria to get rid of his Kurd problem if he keeps secret all evidence against bin Salman.
The Kurds, deserted by the U.S., have no choice, if they hope to escape extermination by the Turks and their allies (who are doing the Turks’ fighting), but to align with al-Assad and his Russian masters and allow them entry into northern Syria.
Great U.S. foreign policy: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Russia win; Khashoggi and the Kurds lose. The U.S.? We lost big time.
14
We have killed thousands there in the last two years,we don't really know how many Isis and how many innocents. We bombed every city and town into rubble ,schools and hospitals included.This was the Presidents decision to begin with and he's had enough ,we have had enough and everybody should have had enough of this business by now ,it's over and done, thank God.
2
@Alan Einstoss
Want to bet?
It’s not over and done. In fact, more thousands will now die, including women and children, because of our military withdrawal from Syria.
@Alan Einstoss So your policy is "Kill em all; let God sort em out"; we're taking our toys and going home? Over and done? We got 10,000 of our allies killed; then; we don't need you anymore; we are tired of this; so See Ya.
President Donald J. Trump just had a meltdown over this over-whelming bipartisan House vote condemning his foreign policy blunder in Syria. The meeting was abruptly ended as the Democrat leaders walked out of the Oval Office after he reportedly called Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi a third rate politician. What? Lives are at stake and the president is having a hissy fit. Good lord!
14
A condemnation today, a rebuke tomorrow. And nothing happens. Trump has firmly grasped executive power and is using/abusing it for his own ends. Brace yourself America, there is much worse to come.
2
Yes, McConnell is sorry.
3
Trump is clearly deranged. Usually, the full scope of someone’s mental illness is mostly hidden from view. With Trump it’s on full display most every day.
Trump’s initial adult daycare providers mostly restrained him for his first 500 days. Mattis, Tillerson, McMaster, Priebus, and Kelly all knew he was nuts. (Read Bob Woodward’s ‘Fear’ for details.) Now we have Mulvaney and a cast of acting senior officials either too timid or too beholden to talk back to the lunatic running the asylum.
James Comey was only partly right. Trump does eat your soul one bite at a time. But he also eats whatever third or fourth rate brain that allows one to join his collection of unwitting conspirators.
And obviously we have a Congress mostly unwilling to medicate, let alone put four point restraints on an unfit president. Unless there are real consequences, a House condemnation vote will have about as much impact as parents saying how disappointed they are when the family car was borrowed, without asking, for the tenth time.
8
That the Republican Representative Waltz sounded "reassured" after his White House meeting, boggles the mind. So the president and Secretary Esper were "forceful" in haranguing Erdogan. Bid deal. If you don't stop the bloodshed but yell at the top of your lungs you are totally ineffective. The only result that would be reassuring is to stop the killing and stop the incursion that is now going deeper than promised into Syria. Putting on a show , at which Trump is expert based on his TV showmanship experience, is meaningless in diplomacy. The soft-spoken seasoned diplomat who in whispered sessions gets results would be preferable to the loud mouthed bully who is ignored.
There is nothing reassuring in this gut decision made by Trump without consulting military or staff. Giving this psychological misfit (is it a bad case of OCD?) the nuclear buttons is sheer stupidity.
3
The decision Trump made about means his time in the White House ha expired.
Trump needs to go back to Mar A LArgo with his golf clubs..,back to a make believe world made just for him and his kind. He just needs to go away from adult responsibility, especially the White House where decisions there can get people, namely our allies...ie...the Kurds killed.
Let one hope that the Republican Leadership takes note Of Trump’s grevious geopolitical error!
2
Pelosi/Schumer Visit Takeaway right now--Trump told them during meeting that many in ISIS were Communist and they might like that. Probably after he called Pelosi a Third Rate Politician....at least she's rated --he's way off the Politician Radar. Meltdown Again--Patty Melt on the Menu
4
Trump is either utterly incompetent or he is working for Russia. He is no patriot. He is no American. He is the most dangerous Commander in Chief in our history. We have to remove him before he blows up the whole world.
10
That most Republicans are now on the record of condemning President Trump for his reckless withdrawal of troops from Syria, betraying our former Kurdish allies, and stranding 1,000 American troops behind enemy lines should now be added to the impeachment inquiry. Like the Ukraine conspiracy, it smacks of an abuse of power, "dereliction of duty" by the Commander-in-Chief, and a potential "conflict of interest" that Trump is already on record in admitting concerning his significant properties in Turkey including a Trump Tower, Istanbul. Such an article of impeachment would then pose a difficult problem for Republicans, especially in the House where they're all up for re-election in November 2020.
22
Yes, this was for the benefit of Russia. Putin may even have directed Trump to do this.
17
So he is Putin's puppet!
Like John Dickerson said, there is a similarity with this and Ukraine, in that Trump took a call from a private leader and made a decision without consulting his advisors. Not to get all tin foil hat, but I really want to know what went on with that Turkey call. And regardless, this closed-door phone call diplomacy seems dangerous.
11
Congress can fix this rather easily - pass legislation to put us in Syria's civil war. Otherwise, this is just them abdicating their responsibility on this with nonsense resolutions.
2
It was only a matter of time before the erratic, inhumane, chaotic, and divisive behavior of President Trump unleashed forces that he - and we - will not be able to contain or control without significant damage to the stability of the world and enormous loss of life.
The President's machinations and manipulations - and the Republican "leadership'" enabling of him has destabilized this nation and our democracy; he may now go down in history as the world leader who lit the fuse that burned across the middle east...perhaps for years.
Anyone who is surprised by this turn of events - and our collective responsibility for it - has had their head in the sand for 3+ years.
We are Rome. And while we have been fiddling with our smart phones and our social media reality...Rome has been burning.
We too, are responsible for the enabling of this President's behavior....and now the fires may be spreading far beyond Rome.
16
@Kelly Grace Smith Trump is the new Caligula. We need some vertebrates in our Praetorian Guard.
Trump is mostly likely compromised by Russia, so he is doing favor to Putin. The US and Russia competed for influence in the region. Now, thanks to Trump, Russia is coming out as a winner after the US has paid so much sacrifice to contain Russia in the region. Why does Trump guard his association with Putin so secretly and be so obedient to Putin? Trump looked so timid and scared coming out of the meeting with Putin in Helsinki (in contrast to his usual bullish style). He didn’t want any of the national security advisors (or any other US official) to sit with him. What did Trump discuss in his private meeting with Putin? America's most powerful official could as well be under Russia's control. This is a serious matter that should be investigated by Congress!
8
Although I am disgusted with Trump's decision to abandon the Kurds, I am surprised at how we continually call them "Allies." They are mutual beneficiaries of a joint military venture, but they are not a sovereign state, and thus cannot be an ally with the US. Our only Ally in that region is actually Turkey, who defines the Kurds as a terrorist group.
What we should do is kick Turkey out of NATO and force a Kurdish state for them and then formally ally ourselves with this new Kurdistan. Turkey, under Ergodan, has proven to be more like the Ottoman empire and less like the country originally envisioned by the Young Turks. Turkey today is not the progressive state they once were.
8
@Paul P Any Kurd has thousands of times the moral fiber of Erdogan or Trump.
It makes me wonder if the impeachment inquiry with its ongoing revelations has made it possible for Republicans to condemn this action of Trump's
3
What's the "quid pro quo" between Erdogan and Trump that resulted in Trump inviting the Turks into Syria which is now nothing more than another surrogate for Russia? It's frightening to think this is payback to Putin for his help with Trump's election. If not that, what?
7
A far more explicit proof of total incompetence in foreign affairs. To hastily put our troops at risk and not clear on Turkey's full intentions which have created death and homelessness on civilians as well as the escape of Isis terrorists. ...What more devastating examples must be set forth for Congress to visit the 25th amendment to restore professional leadership to this office.
6
What has Trump wrought:
1. Killing of our allies the Kurds by Turkey
2. Vacuum which Russia will fill in along with Syria and 3. 3. Hezbollah funneling weapons to Lebanon (from Iran).
4. Our allies the Kurds being forced to ally with the man (Assad) who drops chemicals on his own people including non-fighters
Trump made some people happy
7
Trump has a luxury Hotel in Istanbul , the Kurds don't have squat. It was a no-brainer deal for a business genius like Trump. And he's sending more American soldiers to Saudi Arabia to protect our friends who were behind the 9/11 attack.
18
Every journey begins with the first step.
Maybe Republicans can redeem themselves. Maybe the country will give them amnesty. I'm not holding my breath. Impeachment has to move forward.
5
I cannot fathom the amateurish decision making process in this White House. I am sure if you decide to pull troops out you would have at least first secure all our nuclear weapons and other important assets before announcing withdrawal. It seems our nukes are stuck in Turkey. And we are telling Pakistan that their nukes are not safe.
That itself is an impeachable offense.
9
The reason for the "Foreign Emoluments Clause" becomes clearer every day.
5
It's not enough, Republicans, to flap your gums and wave your hands and say (as Moscow Mitch did today), "I'm sorry that we are where we are.
We are where we are because YOU, Republicans, have allowed this president to get away with -- literally -- murder. If all of you were really so worked up and if all of you really disapproved of the carnage that Trump has deliberately unleased on our longtime allies, the Kurds, you'd be doing more than passing bipartisan rebukes to this administration.
If you were truly patriots, you'd be taking the Democrat - led
impeachment inquiry seriously and you'd be lending your collective strength to the move to hold Trump accountable for his deeds. Well more than one half of our nation is tired of being led by a madman who conducts foreign policy either by whim or by the direction of outside foreign powers. More than one half our citizens supports this impeachment inquiry.
What don't you understand about these figures?
When will you Republicans come to your senses? Donald Trump has got to go. Wake up!
10
With Trump at the helm, America will be bankrupt and friendless by the end of his first term. God help us if he gets elected, again. We'll be little more than a 3rd world banana republic...
8
“The president’s team has a plan...”
Since when?!?
No one, other than Erdogan and trump, even knew that trump was spontaneously going to “follow his gut” and yank American forces out. I’m sure there’s been scrambling going on in the trump careening clown car of an administration after the fact. The signs are all there: contradictory statements being uttered, urgent meetings at all levels, officials resigning or being fired, top level “yes men” rushing to the scene, threats of sanctions (tariffs no doubt) being thrown around, and enemies of the USA gleefully rubbing their hands and taking action to fill the void left by yet another idiotic blunder by trump.
trump’s Keystone Kops certainly have a plan. They’ve thrown it together hastily to throw up a facade of putting out the fires trump has once again set, without any regard to long term results. Let’s all hope we survive it.
4
Again, Congress is late to the game. What in heavens name is wrong with you and where are your heads when this should have been stopped in its tracks? Congress lives on another planet.
4
“If we can save one American soldier from losing their life or limbs in another senseless Middle Eastern war, it is worthwhile,” Mr. Paul wrote on Twitter. “@realDonaldTrump knows this.””
One wonders how we got into this mess in the first place. Could it be that U.S. intervention (how many decades ago?) got this particularly ugly ball rolling? Rand Paul might show some compassion for all the lives and limbs wasted.
1
The world knows of Trump's ignorance of foreign policy and his arrogance of relying on some crazy inner voice that bolsters his "great wisdom and stable genius". But the recent show of desperation of Trump's backpedaling by his foolish threat of pitiful economic sanctions and sending Pence the paper puppet to the region is so embarrassing and ludicrous, has just weakened America! I ask all of you Trump loyalists, "What say you?!"
2
I heard the US were 'no angels' during WW II.
1
As usual, Rand Paul shows how short sighted he is. Of course we want out troops home and out of harms way but we will be paying for this decision on the international stage for a very long time.
212
@RB
Paul is almost as erratic as trump (OK, maybe half as erratic). He's all over the place depending on what day it is.
12
@RB
Absolutely and Donald Tweet decided too send another 3000 troops to Saudi Arabia last week. So what is it going to be, the troops coming home from “endless wars” or being sent out to fight endless wars? There’s in reality no plan and no direction, only ad hoc justifications.
13
@RB
The US and the world will be paying for GWBush's Iraq War based on lies a very, very long time
The US and the world will be paying for Obama's stupidities in doing regime change in Libya, and attempted regime change in Syria...
This disaster was set up for Trump by Obama. Read NYT's low visibility, but very worthwhile, 10/15 article, "The US Turned Syria's North Into a Tinderbox. Then Trump Lit the Match". https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/world/middleeast/syria-trump-kurds-interpreter.html
1
I am livid with anger at Trump for his foreign policy. Senator Graham says Trump and team have plan. Trump has no plan for anything.
122
@Janye, If he does have a plan he will change it capriciously depending on what the next person he talks to says. Sad!
8
A plan for reelection ...then to profit as President Trump for the balance of his life.
10
@Janye
Except on how to cheat and add money to his already overflowing bank accountg.
5
“Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the No. 3 Republican, wrote on Twitter that it is “Impossible to understand why @realDonaldTrump is leaving America’s allies to be slaughtered and enabling the return of ISIS.”
Not so difficult Liz. @realDonaldTrump is asked by his friend Vlad to finally deliver. He has a little over 1 year left to pay back Vlad for his help with the 2016 elections. Congress will not let Trump cancel sanctions on Russia, so he has to offer something else. Can’t wait until the transcripts of the calls with Vlad come out of the super secret server!
67
And also the transcript of the call with Erdogan.
9
@Dirck Smits Van Oyen
Trump doesn't pay back anything willingly. He doesn't pay his debts. He counter-attacks when attacked, but I would not call that repayment.
Therefore, I can only imagine that it is Trump being afraid that Putin will foreclose if he doesn't keep doing more favors. Putin's polonium and Novichok distribution network easily reaches anyone in the Trump posse, and Putin's not afraid to release his kompromat either.
9
@Dirck Smits Van Oyen
Those calls are likely on trumps unsecured cell phone
No security risk?
Ha
The whole GOP is bought and paid for by putin
2
Whatever happened to wonder boy Jared Kushner whose job it was to bring peace to the Middle East ? Perhaps he is too busy with bringing the Palestinians and Israelis to everlasting peace and love. Or maybe he's too busy renting out office space at 666 Fifth Ave.
75
Trump is either completely unhinged or is diabolically driven by nothing but pure self-interest, the rest of America be damned. Either way, he is clearly unable to discharge his duties (was he ever?) and is utterly unwilling to uphold his sacred oath of office. Trump has not ever, for one single nanosecond, wanted to be a public servant, which the job of president demands. Trumps does nothing if not in service of himself. The time to invoke the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is NOW! Because if not now, when?
33
There is a very high correlation between Russian national interests and United States foreign policy. We have a "Russian
Candidate" for a president. He works for them, not us. Why is that?
76
Sorry to be cynical about this... I believe the troop withdrawal was concocted in collaboration with Mitch McConnell, so Republican Senators will have a defense for not convicting him in the impeachment trial in the Senate. I believe Trump is encouraging Republican leaders to show a united, forceful opposition to the Syrian withdrawal. Soon, when they are again united, this time that his transgression with Ukraine does does not rise to an impeachable offense, they will quickly clear him in the Senate and they will claim that they do oppose him when they think he behaves badly, but this is not one of those times.
7
@David Wolff
Trump has got what he wanted which is another piece of red meat to throw to the 2020 election rally mobs.
4
What's more interesting is how do 60, supposedly intelligent, supposedly qualified-to-lead representatives NOT see what's right in front of their faces? This isn't about how Trump survives politically ... this is about how America survives the next decade. That there are ANY that can't see past their partisan cowardice is telling. There is no "Republican party" any more.
19
Of the bipartisan condemnation of Trump's decision to withdraw American forces, 32% of the Republicans voted against this resolution.
Not great news, but somewhat encouraging that at least 68% of the Republicans even FELT condemnation to vote for that resolution.
So, at least for today, we know that the coward meter reading for Republicans who won't go against Trump is 32%. Perhaps there is finally a crack in their facade.
9
Will Messrs. Pence and Pompeo bring home the nuclear weapons we hurriedly left behind, or is this another Trump gift to Erdogan or Putin? And exiting Open Skies treaty will leave us blind to military antics of Turkey and further Russian incursions into Ukraine, for which Trump impaired delivery of U.S.-paid defensive weapons. Why would any of our remaining EU allies trust us with intel?
I understand why Putin wanted to keep MIC-friendly HRC out of the White House, and undermine our perpetual wars. I understand why left-behind Americans wanted a "change" agent. I had no idea we were electing Putin's "change" agent. Nor did I expect GOP acceptance of Trump's vile behavior, budgetary and border bedlam, crew of crooks, and accelerating climate damage. I still believe most Americans are good people, but as responsible citizens, we must offer potential legislators the chance to represent us, not their dependence upon entities "born" in administration offices for the purpose of doing business. If it is not too late, here is a gratis. draft proposal: www.thefairelectionsfund.com.
1
Whiie very grateful for this move by the House, I remain concerned that a narrative is developing that the President "just followed his gut" into this incredible disaster. It is possible that the truth is far more more venal and despicable: Trump's moves seemed tailored to help Syria, a Russian client state, as a quid pro quo for the long-time role of Russian money in propping up the Trump family businesses: https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/12/21/how-russian-money-helped-save-trumps-business/ This possibility provides a horrendous but rational explanation for a policy move that otherwise seems nonsensical from a national security point of view. It develops from asking the ancient question "qui bono" and the ancient detective technique of "following the money." It warrants and needs careful investigation in the current impeachment inquiry.
16
He keeps his gut in his wallet
1
@JSBNoWI -- That makes it a pigskin wallet!
I'm sure as the Kurdish fighters have now turned to Russia for support just to survive this have the value of a hill of beans to them.
3
This is only one logical explanation for the decision and actions by Trump and his White House sycophants: the decision was made in accordance with the wishes of V. Putin.
18
List the names of those opposed. Link to the list. Name them.
21
@Wendy why ?
trump is toast if a service member located in this conflict zone is killed. the gop will desert him; his base will suddenly lose its voice.
7
@Phil Hurwitz Are you kidding? He'll swear Hillary went over there and did it just to make him look bad.
Not to overlook the obvious -- perhaps in their phone call Erdogen threatened Trump's hotels in Istanbul.
23
I can hear it now, from one mob boss style autocrat to another: "We sure wouldn't want anything to happen to those nice properties you have in Turkey!"
2
@SDG
Maybe Erdogan used a page from Trump’s Ukraine playbook...”Don, I need you to do us a favor, get your people out so I can do what I want to do”, leaving unsaid the “unfortunate accidents” that might befall the hotels.
3
A more appropriate title would have been WAR mongering bipartisan majority in the pockets of the military industrial complex condemns Trump for withdrawal of troops from Syria to get them out of a danger zone.
It is it not a quid pro quo in the withdrawal of troops to safer places where Turkey would attack Syria no matter whether the US troops were withdrawn or not. Trump warned the Turks one way or the other not to attack Syria.
Thank you very much genius President Trump for bold and courageous leadership in removing US troops out of Syria and paving the way for Kurds to have an independent KURDISTAN with the diplomatic and military help of Syria, Russia, UN, EU. Iran. Turkey has made a big blunder in invading Syria. If Turkey does not withdraw from Syria within 48 hours it will be Turkey's Vietnam.
4
Wow. It’s like this Mideast situation started last week and the U.S. had no previous connection. We have no business there? You know all this started over oil, way back, and the U.S. somehow believes Mideast oil is its business. We strong armed ourselves into that multi-national/ethnic complicated, convoluted, and none-of-our-business situation, and now—having ignited the kindling—we think we should leave. It’s the American (U.S., anyway) way.
@JSBNoWI But then they compounded the felony of financial independence by not appreciating DT's demands for a percentage.
Nice that House Republicans joined Democrats to condemn Trump's dishonorable betrayal of comrades on the battlefield. But don't confuse their condemnation of his betrayal as condemnation of Trump.
Republicans are trying to position themselves as patriotic Americans, but they are our worst enemy. They are traitors to our democracy. Never forget that Trump trashes the Constitution because Republicans permit him to do so. Without Republican support, Trump would never have reached the Oval Office.
41
@JABarry " Without Republican support, Trump would never have reached the Oval Office."
Support?
Who do you think PUT him there?
Trump's gut got totally outplayed by veterans at the game.
This has been the worst foreign policy in 6 decades of payin' attention to it, which includes military service.
Upon reflection it reminds me of the exit from then S. Viet Nam. Who will be on the last flight out and how much equipment will be left behind?
3
@Satyaban
Methinks this is more heinous than Trump's gut. This is more likely Trump's heinous corrupt capitulation to Putin.
3
And the Silent Sycophants in the Senate?
We need our government to protect us from the maniac in the White House.
One wouldn't put a 4-year old behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler without expecting tragedy and chaos. But we have put a man with toddler-level self control and even less knowledge in charge of our security, our world view, our military, our nuclear weapons and a multitude of other valuables. So the "we" of 60,000,000 and the 53 in the Senate better wake up and do it soon. WE ALL are about to fall off a cliff.
21
The bipartisan House's Resolution condemning President Trump today for withdrawing American troops from inside Syria's border-- throwing the Middle East for a loop and onslaught of the Kurds by our NATO ally, Turkey -- was just a ceremonial rebuke. Time to hasten forward with the same bipartisan House majority to impeach and remove our president from office.
President Trump's demented foreign and domestic policies are chaotic beyond disastrous. The president carelessly avowed just now in his meeting with the Italian President, that Turkey's slaughter of the Kurds is "not our problem". Isn't this straw enough to break America's back? Can't we rid our cancerous presidency of Donald Trump, his enablers and sychophantic apologists?
8
@Nan Socolow
The senate has not condemned his actions & they won't.
Clearly the 60 Republicans who opposed this motion and supported trump's decision must share his "great and unmatched wisdom".
This again reminds me of the proverb: "He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, he is a fool." Barely a day goes by in this presidency that I am not reminded of that proverb!
7
Stable genius in the WH: "The PKK, which is a part of the Kurds, as you know, is probably, worse at terror and more of a terrorist threat in my ways than ISIS.
“So it’s a very, semi-complicated — not too complicated if you’re smart — but it’s a semi-complicated problem. I think it is a problem that we have very nicely under control.”
2
YES...YES...YES...
Someone has to tell him that the world is not his playground... and he is not the bully on thus platground. He has to understand him and his family have to be removed from the White House...NOW.
6
And all because Trump wants to build a hotel in Istanbul...
3
@hdtvpete I think there is already a Trump hotel in Turkey. It is called Trump Towers.
Hmmm. No conflict interest, right?
2
Anyone who didn't vote for this is a traitor. I want a list of names.
4
Unfortunately sheer stupidity doesn't seem to be a constitutional basis for impeachment. But Trump's actions reveal another reason why he should be removed from office.
2
For those of you who are interested in republicans who support the slaughter of the Kurds in Syria, here is a link to today's vote:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll560.xml
5
Why did they not vote to declare war. That is where Congress power lays. Force Trump to fight in Syria. An added benefit would be easy impeachment if he did not prosecute the war declared.
2
I recall candidate Trump when asked about conflicts in the Middle East he responded, "Don't worry about the Middle East. I know more about defeating ISIS than the generals". Such arrogance was on full display these past couple of days.
5
Hey members of the GOP who voted to approve a resolution opposing Trump's assault against the Kurds - don't play with us.
You cannot have it both ways.
Continue to stand up, be counted, and help defend this country against Trump.
Anything less will only lead to more destructive actions by the guy you put in the Oval Office.
It is time for him to go.
3
Dear President Trump,
When the inevitable ISIS attacks on European soil happens I presume, based on your recent comments, you will see no relationship to those horrors and your off the cuff withdrawal from Syria.
And then when the attacks happen on US soil whom will you find to blame? Perhaps the Democrats or the Kurds who weren’t at Normandy?
I completely agree with you that we never should have gone to war in Middle East after 9/11. George Bush did irredeemable harm to much of the globe by pushing for military action. Perhaps you aren’t aware that the people who carried out the 3 attacks were Saudi nationals.
And I am positive you know nothing about the fraught relationship be SA and the US. A s very simplistic summary of this relationship is “What’s our oil doing under their ground?”
Reputation seems all to you. You will be derided and cursed by those who will read the whirlwind.
1
I can’t imagine what 45’s second term would be like.
A weak, disrespected and untrustworthy US.
Impeachment is a political tool to be used, irrespective of a presidential election, in removing a president while maintaining our democracy and the rule of law, where no one is above the law.
4
For Liz Cheney, Lindsey Graham and all those who continue to wonder what Trump’s motivation is for this complete reversal of U.S. policy, strategy and our moral compass, all will be revealed once you allow that Putin is running our country now.
10
Would Trump have made the same decision on letting Turkey invade Northern Syria if he didn't have the Trump Towers in Istanbul? How much more can personal interests corrupt the interests of the United States?
6
Just a bunch of words, exactly as meaningful as Trump’s tweets. Trump’s empty threats have not scared Erdogan, nor have they helped the Kurds in any concrete way. The House’s symbolic words have exactly the same effect.
3
Let's face it. This #POTUS45 foreign policy or lack thereof has been a total disaster. And history will record him leaving office with blood on his hands and making the world a far more dangerous place. His abandonment of the Kurds, the same Kurdish forces who played a central role in aiding the United States in fighting the Islamic State is simply maddening. The chaos and lost of life that has ensued will be remembered and taint the U.S. for decades to come. Would you trust us?
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/trump-betrayed-kurds-whos-next/600004/
2
President Trump will continue to utter outrageous excuses for his willful ignorance even with blood on his hands. Still, his party supports him and gives him a pass. Witness Senators Lindsey Graham & Marsha Blackburn, who after meeting with Trump, act as if this latest debacle can ever be excused. Instead, his party should join with the Democrats and begin Impeachment proceedings. Kick him out of the White House now!
2
Now, if we could only get a bipartisan conviction in the Senate to remove this President, Vice President and their henchmen.
3
Trump is serving his own real estate interests in Turkey and promoting the interests of Russia and Putin while ignoring the geopolitical chaos that results. His actions promote the slaughter of our allies the Kurds and allow thousands of ISIS prisoners to go free. Thus, our allies are dying and ISIS is being reborn because of Trump's interest in promoting his real estate empire.
Pompeo is a Trump stooge and says and does nothing.
Can the Congress do nothing? Soon ISIS will be capturing and beheading Americans again. Thanks Trump.
2
It's a "Ready! Fire! Aim" decision-making process by this mostly crooked businessman pretending to be presidential. Mr. Trump has chosen to think outside the box yet again. While creativity is often admired, a complete lack of discipline and dedication to remaining ignorant of facts is not.
Our nation is awestruck at Mr. Trump's ineptitude and purposeful destruction of our democracy, our liberties, and our place in the world by this man with an ego the size of Mt. Everest.
Shame on Republicans for propping up this pisspoor excuse for a leader. May the mistakes in Syria bring them to their senses and rid us of this peril.
1
So will the impeachment investigation look into this as well? This overwhelmingly indicates bipartisan support for a boneheaded move by an ignorant, obtuse president who doesn't understand foreign policy.
1
I wonder, why do Americans agitate so much for the independence of the Kurds, but they do not agitate for the independence of Donetsk? Is that hypocrisy I smell?
Take heart, Kurds in Syria, "the White House" is "livid" with Erdogan.
(If those Kurds were U.S.-vernacular 'literate,' they might say …"Oh … those turkeys are angry with Turkey.")
Republicans, as usual, are back-peddling on their condemnation. Their words are worthless lies.
8
Our eunichoid invertebrate Senate/Senators continues its/their humiliating negligence.
Moments like this is what we needed to lay out some common ground; essential for the impeachment to make it pass Congress. Hopefully this breaks the all for one mentality consuming the Republican party.
24
I enthusiastically applaud the bipartisan condemnation of Trump's decision to withdraw American forces by a vote of 354-60.
However, such a resolution is "largely symbolic".
The real consequences of Trump's actions must come in the form of removing him from office for his clearly is not acting in the best interest of this country.
Unless the Republicans are willing to meet the pedal to the metal, then their resolution is practically meaningless.
Trump will continue to rule as president with no regard for anyone other than himself.
36
Do any Republicans in Congress see the parallels between Trump’s disastrous decision to abandon the Kurds and he, Giuliani and their stooges attempt to coerce other countries to help Trump’s campaign? In both cases he ignores advice from experts, takes actions that might benefit him personally but does nothing for the U.S. or international community, and attempts to blame others. And do the Republicans consider that in their refusal to remove him from
office he will be emboldened?
25
“The president’s team has a plan and I intend to support them as strongly as possible, and to give them reasonable time and space to achieve our mutual goals,” Mr. Graham said.
Poor Senator Graham.
It must be so very difficult to stand for anything when you do not have a spine. Luckily with this last capitulation, Senator Graham stands for absolutely nothing. With nothing left he believes in, there is no reason to ever listen to another word.
74
@LT
I wish Graham would take some time and remember the REAL maverick, John McCain, who treated him with respect and gave him unconditional love. He must be rolling over in his grave. There is a time to put party politics aside, and when your beloved Republic is in peril of vanishing, bring out the banner of honesty, honor, respect and your oath of office rather than stand behind a party that has allowed these travesties to continue.
6
I thought Erdogan said Pence and Pompeo would meet only with their counterparts, not with him. Did we throw a fit about that shocking rebuke and get that concession?
1
I hope to see a similar vote, or even less "nos" when the House votes to impeach Trump.
25
@Nick Metrowsky We can hope, but it ain't going to happen. I'd settle for 20 Republicans who understand that Trump asking a foreign head of state to investigate his political rival is a de-facto impeachable offense.
2
@jonhite
Well, that political rival, after last night's debates, I expect him drop out, sooner than later. The one thing about Joe Biden is that he puts family, and country, above everything else. I do not like to see that happen, and it will be a shame. But, Mr. Biden is getting nailed by his own party, and Warren supporters; let alone the Trump Scandal.
Mr. Booker was right last night chastising the candidates for tearing each other apart. Because each time that happens, it makes them weaker and Trump/GOP even stronger. You can blame the media for pitting so many people against each other. It may have gotten ratings, and sold newspapers, but the "debates" resembled more of a war zone than a constructive debate. That is, it was more of determining weaknesses, as opposed to strengths.
1
The naivete of the Congress and the media on what the President is doing in Syria is appalling. If one tries to understand that our President may be taking orders from Putin, wouldn't his actions make complete sense?
29
354-60, which means a LOT of Republicans joined in on this vote to condemn Trump for the Syria withdrawal that has destabilized Syria....
How did you Congress rep vote? Now for the SENATE to vote on the same resolution.
4
I have a picture among those I took while I was in Vietnam from April 1969 until June 1970. In the photo is one of the Viet Cong defectors who, with several other "Cheu Hois" as we called them, helped my infantry company on missions. Who knows how many of our lives they saved teaching us our foe's tactics. When ambushes broke they didn't flinch and they didn't cut and run.
But when we left Vietnam we left men like that behind us. We left Montgnards and we left Laotians and we left South Vietnamese villagers and civilians and military personnel who had served with us without reservations.
We've been doing it since then, in Somalia, in Afghanistan, in Iraq. We've abandoned the Kurds after they gave up over 11,000 lives to fight in our war against terrorist extremism.
Maybe if this President had served in Vietnam instead of indulging himself in the dangerous nightlife-sex risk war in Manhattan's after hours clubs and party scene he'd have learned what most soldiers know: you don't abandon friends.
I think about those VC who I got to know 50 years ago. Over the years I've thought of them a lot. I'll bet you a six-pack of beer that there are a lot of American soldiers who fought with the Kurds who will be more than happy to tell you in no uncertain terms what they think of this President's "off-the-cuff," "gut made" decision to cut-and-run on the Kurds.
127
@John F McBride Thank you for sharing your story!
13
May they say it at the ballot box in November 2020.
2
@John F McBride Somebody gets it. Glad you brought up the Vietnam years and how we cut and run leaving many who helped us behind. I still think about that. So very wrong then and now.
3
We HAVE TO find out what was said in the phone conversation with Erdogan hours before the precipitous decision to withdraw.
28
Mercurial? Trump is calculating. He is acting on behalf of Putin and Erdogan personally so that he can benefit from having done this for them. He has many properties in Turkey and he wants towers in Moscow. Putin and his oligarchs have funded Trump properties. He may be beholding to Putin in other ways and feels he needs to do this to keep his conman-empire afloat. Trump acts for Trump in transactional deals with his autocratic cronies.
11
Some Republicans actually voted against Trump? What is the world coming to? They are going to get some nasty tweets.
And Pence and Pompeo are going to save the day. Whew, what a relief. I guess we can all breathe easier now.
Too bad our credibility is now at zero and ISIS is probably already planning their next terrorist attack, but Pence and Pompeo are going to save the day, kind of like Mighty Mouse which we are slowly becoming.
6
Pretty much everything that Trump does has Putin written all over; his election, Ukraine, now Syria...
What does Putin have on Trump? When will the GOP finally see that Trump is a liability beyond repair and they must dump him quickly?!
18
Now we need a bipartisan effort to get Trump out of the White House.
276
How about a list of the 60 spineless house members that voted against the bill?
364
@Mark Here's a link to today's vote: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll560.xml
24
@Mark
That's what I'm looking for too, and it would have been good if the Times had included an embedded weblink to the list of yeas and nays.
15
@Mark The usual list of suspects: Jordan, Gaetz and Gohmert among them.
15
Senator Paul voted against the bipartisan resolution saying “If we can save one American soldier from losing their life or limbs in another senseless Middle Eastern war, it is worthwhile,”
Wasn't he in the Senate when thousands of our soldiers died and tens of thousands were wounded fighting al qaeda and Isis in Iraq, Pakistan and Syria?
By supporting removal of our forces and undermining Kurdish fighters, Rand Paul just threw our blood, sweat, tears and treasure away and is enabling Isis to regroup in Syria. He should be censored by Congress.
126
B, Rand Paul, like his father, has been consistently anti-war from the beginning, including Operation Desert Storm (Iraq War 2). He doesn't think we should be spilling our blood in that horrid desert, and I agree with him.
2
plus look up his cutting record, he has never been too concerned about American soldiers limbs before
3
@Starman535 America's isolationism leading up to WWII worked out really well, didn't it? It's incredibly naive to think we can just take our ball and go home. You do remember 9/11, yes?
6
“Erdogan’s attack on our Kurdish partners has served to liberate ISIS prisoners, bolster the Assad regime, and strengthen Russia,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee. “His invitation to the White House should be revoked.”
Along with Trump's.
141
Republicans here is your change to get out from under Trumps control. Think of the next generation not your next election.
94
@Dan hopefully their constituents won't be thinking of them in the next election. They've had their chance.
@Dan - Maybe you've noticed that Trump is not the only narcissist in politics, just the most flagrant. Those folks will stick with Trump as long as it seems in their best interests, and then drop him like he's abandoned the Kurds, once they sense the wind blowing in a different direction.
I offer a ponderable question:
If a current POTUS had in mind to become the dictator of the US, how would that POTUS go about it?
Encourage other dictatorships?
Dismiss former allies?
Cause chaos for allies and support actions by other dictatorships?
hmmmm....
84
It is about time that there is some kind of show of unity against Trump for his actions. I hope those 60 "representative", who voted "no" are driven from office. People like that that have blind faith, in a dictator, have no place in the House of Representatives.
Please, New York Times, publish the list of people who voted "no", so we know who put Trump ahead of this country and support genocide.
212
@Nick Metrowsky
I'm willing to bet that the 60 who voted no are firmly embedded in Trump's voter base. While this was a symbolic vote - without teeth - remember that much of his base doesn't care about what he does unless and until it strikes them so hard personally (economically) that they have no choice but to abandon him. ANd even then many of them will blame others.
7
@Nick Metrowsky
And their bank accounts too
showing the deposits by Russia into their accounts.
4
@Nick Metrowsky Here ya go: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll560.xml
1
Rand Paul is a more dangerous wacko than I had ever realized.
May he enter retirement soon with the help of his constituents.
173
@S Fraser Frankewicz
Yes, what happened to him? It's a great mystery. Apparently, no one knows, not even him. Are we all capable of flipping out like that?
4
That’s what a leader does. He decides. He doesn’t take a poll first and then do nothing like Obama whose indecisiveness caused this situation to go on and on. Now the Democrats are filled with all kinds of wisdom about what they would do. They took a poll, so you get Buttigieg last night slicing it down the middle with his fine words.
@Edward Leaders decide after carefully considering the evidence, opinions, and analysis of the teams supporting them. Trump is no such leader -- he's a clown who makes poorly thought out, rash, and ill-advised decisions that he then has to immediately walk back on after the horse is out of the barn. That's incompetence, not leadership.
26
@Edward Yes, a leader decides. But any other leader would have decided to stay at the border to protect our ally Kurds and NOT allow the slaughter of innocent people and the release of ISIS militants. And any other leader would have NOT done this without following the expert advice from his military leaders. This president acts blindly without considering the repercussions of his idiotic, impulsive decisions.
@Edward No, a leader leads (like Erodgan and Putin have done with our "president").
Glad the condemnation of Trump's cowardly, irresponsible decision on Syria was bipartisan in the House.
Will McConnell, Graham and the rest of the Republicans in the Senate finally grow a spine?!
Trump has just explicitly threatened Sen. Graham over this issue. Let's see whether Sen. Graham is a coward or a patriot. His decision on this matter and that of the Senate Republicans are a bellwether for the impeachment and removal of our lawless American dictator.
53
@NY Times Fan my guess is that Graham is a coward.
1
Get Donald Trump ousted! One way or another. He’s a world menace!
38
@MIMA Yep!
1
I guess they don't agree with Donald Trump that his decision (made with unmatched wisdom no doubt) to pull out troops created a "strategically brilliant" outcome.
20
Congressman Engel states: "Today we make clear that the Congress is a coequal branch of government and we want nothing to do with this disastrous policy." Please. Congress has made it abundantly clear that it does not want any responsibility for anything of this magnitude. It is perfectly happy to allow the executive complete sway over international policy while retaining only the right to carp about its decisions.
1
@SinNombre You're right. It's all the fault of the House. Including climate change. But the president can always take credit for the Nationals being in the World Series.
1
It is more than symbolic. Republicans will be explaining to their constituents about what's going on from their more credible eye-witness position, as opposed to what the "state run" media shows are telling them. Voters will scratch their heads and say, "Hey, if the guy I voted for is seeing things this way now, maybe I should pay attention to what they're telling me by this vote."
Nobody feels they make a mistake when they vote: it's done on the best available information they have at the time. When the information changes, the opinions change along with it. The change in information has caused Republicans to change how they work in the House. Constituents will meet them halfway for no voter believes he could have been wrong when he casts the ballot.
2
Donny finally found bipartisanship,
it was in condemnation of Trump
It was by a Veto proof number
8
The Joint Chiefs of Staff and head of the intelligence agencies need to have a secret meeting with Pelosi, McConnell and the other leaders of Congress and tell them this a national security emergency and an immediate impeachment and conviction is required or the military and intelligence leaders will go before the public and state that we are in a national crisis. The House should vote to impeach in the morning and the Senate convict that afternoon. At that point, perhaps, McConnell can go the guy in the White House and tell him the jig is up and he needs to resign for "medical" reasons.
90
@Philip Tymon Impeachment has to be in total compliance with The Constitution's dictates, anything less could be a cabal.
Why did Nixon resign, because the GOP leaders told him he had no support.
2
It will never happen but it would make a good movie.
7
@Satyaban
I don't see anything I have said that is unconstitutional. The House has the power to vote a bill of impeachment. The Senate has the power to convict. The Constitution says nothing further about how that is to be done--- it is completely up to the House and Senate. In a national emergency, with an unstable leader giving crazy orders, I see no reason why it can't be done immediately.
Perhaps I was unclear in explaining the sequence of events--- I intended it to be something like what happened to Nixon. After the military and intelligence leaders make their emergency appeal to Congress, and it is now clear that Congress will be forced to remove the President, McConnell goes to him and tells him he has lost support in the Senate and will be removed that day if he doesn't resign. To save face, he is allowed to resign for medical reasons (which is true--- he's nuts). Probably just my fantasy--- but if I were one of the military or intelligence leaders in the US right now, I would be very worried and wondering what I can and should do.
4
It seems clear to me that this withdraw was a "thank you" to Putin for helping Trump's election effort in 2016. We have a rogue President willing to sacrifice this country's efforts for his own personal gain.
66
@sbanicki Yes to your point and possibly a down payment for Putin's support in 2020.
Will Jared Kushner come to the rescue? I wish there were WH Press Briefings so that we could follow and possibly understand how policy is being shaped in this Administration.
7
Liz Cheney knows very well it's not impossible to understand why. It's that she fears what the answers may be.
12
Good for the House, but look what it takes for the two parties to speak as one. Now the onus is upon the Senate. Will Mitch McConnell, Graham, and their colleagues have enough spine and courage to stand up to their inept president? We will find out soon. It was bad enough how we treated a group of refugees which shares with us the name “America.” But to blatantly give the green light to obliterating an entire culture of people is not only a violation of human rights but also should be considered and rendered a war crime.
39
Great. Next they should pass a law that requires every congress persons children to be in the military and mandatory war zone deployment on the front lines.
Every one of these politicians must also be required to spend six months with the troops on the front lines.
You can bet the firm there would be no troops there.
How many of these politicians have their children and grandchildren there.
The US has to stop trying to be the police of the world.
It all sounds nice but it has not, and will not work.
The people of the Middle East have been fighting since Moses wore short pants.
Spend the money at home repairing and rebuilding rail, airports and their access, subways and helping the youth get a quality college education without being saddled with massive student loans.
7
What do you war mongers want Trump to do? Start a war against Turkey, a NATO country? Trump is blamed no matter what he does or doesn't do. He knew Turkey was going to move on that area come what may, so withdrawing those few men in the region was perfectly reasonable. We can still support the Kurds if necessary, but remember, the Kurds and Turks have been fighting for decades already. We don't need to be in the middle.
1
@Starman535 Gosh, maybe they just could have kept the largely symbolic number of troops in place and have avoided the entire fiasco in the first place, just had been the case for many, many years before? As usual, Trump starts a fire, watches the forest burn down, dumps water on the ashes, and then claims to be the hero who saved the day. And his useful idiots all just nod in agreement. Wake up and stop listening to the conman.
6
So Rand Paul places less value on the life of a Kurd as compared to an American?
So much for the 'pro life' party.
91
Symbolic or not, it's reassuring to see the House standing up to our feckless president. It would be great if the Senate would do the same, but don't hold your breath.
12
It couldn't happen to a nicer guy, but I'm afraid it may turn out to have been the only way to extract ourselves.
2
so, if it's symbolic, why are they wasting time doing it?
@Freak
I imagine that, at least for Republicans, it gives them an "out" to insulate themselves from the inevitable fallout from this and from any future bad ideas tweeted into reality by the head of their party.
Back in 2013, a poll showed that 62% of Americans were opposed to intervention in Syria. The American people were right, but the government went in anyway, for reasons and goals that have never been made clear. Although US abandonment of an ally is bad, staying in a never-ending quagmire where our interests are unclear would be worse.
1
I don’t think the reason was unknown - besides fighting ISIL, Syria and Russia were bombing and gassing the innocent citizens of Syria. Since tiny hands Donald withdrew, ISIL has become emboldened again and already claimed ownership of at least two bombings.
If it seemed to be “unknown” to the public it’s from their own ignorance and lack of research.
6
The U.S. lost a whopping 8 dutiful soldiers (not civilians) in Syria, to the Kurds 11,000. In exchange for those lives and many more wounded, ISIS was almost wiped out. Sometimes the people in power are smarter than the electorate. Not so today. Many U.S. civilians and more U.S. soldiers will likely lose their lives in the future as a result of our current president's stupid gut. Our ancestors will look back on this as Trump's legacy, not the Supreme Court.
3
@MG Uh, U.S. abandonment of an ally is about to put us in an even worse quagmire that will last for generations.
1
The Rands and Libertarians in general - walking dinosaurs. Time for them to go the same way, so the rest of socirty can keep moving forward.
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@Susan B. A. Agree. Libertarianism has always been a hollow political philosophy of basically saying, “the world is complicated, the best solution is to do nothing.” Rand Paul wants to dismantle our central bank - but then what? Nothing. Rand Paul wants to end our military presence - but then what? Nothing. It’s head-in-sand policymaking - complaining about the tough circumstances of the world but offering no reasonable solutions - other than to do nothing.
2
Convinced yet, GOP?!!
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