Trump defends his Syria pullout against Republican criticism

[webfact]

Trump defends his Syria pullout against Republican criticism

By Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump responds to questions about the U.S. House impeachment investigation during a formal signing ceremony for the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement at the White House in Washington, October 7, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected criticism from fellow Republicans over his decision to pull U.S. troops out of northern Syria, and dismissed worries that captured Islamic State fighters might escape in the chaos of a Turkish attack.

 

Trump's abrupt move on Sunday to remove 50 U.S. troops out of northern Syria, which has allowed Turkey to attack America's Kurdish allies unimpeded, has drawn sharp fire from many Republican lawmakers who are normally his strong supporters.

 

As Turkey launched an attack on Kurdish militia positions on Wednesday, Trump aligned himself with anti-war voices in the Republican Party like Senator Rand Paul, saying the United States should have never been involved in conflicts in the Middle East in the first place.

 

Pressed on the situation by reporters during a White House event, Trump said he was open to imposing sanctions on Turkey if the Turks do not treat the Kurds humanely.

 

Asked what he would do if Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan were to wipe out the Kurds, Trump said: “I will wipe out his economy if he does that."

 

The Trump pullout has prompted bipartisan concerns that some of the thousands of Islamic State fighters held by Kurdish-led forces might escape in the chaos surrounding the Turkish incursion.

 

Trump said many of these fighters are of European origin and that he had given European nations four chances to take responsibility for them.

 

Asked if he had any concerns that some of these ISIS fighters could escape and pose a threat elsewhere, Trump adopted a dismissive tone.

 

"Well, they're going to be escaping to Europe. That's where they want to go," he said.

 

Reaction to Trump's move has enraged many Republicans and Democrats.

U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, a national security hawk and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, said in a statement that Trump's decision would have "sickening and predictable consequences."

 

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended himself against fierce criticism from Republicans and Democrats over his decision to clear U.S. troops out of northern Syria, which has allowed Turkey to attack America's Kurdish allies unimpeded. Colette Luke has more.

 

"The U.S. is abandoning our ally the Kurds, who fought ISIS on the ground and helped protect the U.S. homeland. This decision aids America’s adversaries, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and paves the way for a resurgence of ISIS. This action imperils American security and that of our allies. Congress must and will act to limit the catastrophic impact of this decision," she said.

 

Trump cast his decision as in line with his long-held belief that the United States cannot be the world's policeman and must bring some troops home.

 

But it comes as he needs as much Republican support as possible to fight an impeachment inquiry launched by Democrats who control the U.S. House of Representatives based on his attempt to get Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden.

 

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is one of Trump's closest confidants in Congress and a frequent golf partner, has angrily split with Trump over Syria.

 

"This is the pre-9/11 mentality that paved the way for 9/11: 'What’s happening in Afghanistan is no concern to us.' So if he follows through with this, it’d be the biggest mistake of his presidency," Graham told Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends."

 

Graham said on Twitter that he would lead an effort in Congress "to make Erdogan pay a heavy price" for the incursion.

 

Trump on Monday had threatened to "totally destroy and obliterate" the Turkish economy if Turkey took any action he considered "off-limits" following his decision.

 

(Additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Makini Brice; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-10

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[Tug]

How can you defend throwing allies to the wolves?no you mr trump have the blood of our allies on your hands you sir are unfit and a disgrace to the office and the country 

[ezzra]

"As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!),” the president wrote.

 

Well Mr. president, Turkey has just invaded Syria bombing, strifing and killing people indicrimintly. what does your unmatched wisdom tells you now? Mr. president...

[Sujo]

In an interview he says that the Kurds didnt help the US in ww2 or at Normandy.

 

Heres a tip, the Kurds are not in europe you imbecile.

[mtls2005]

Bloody Kurds, they're getting what they deserve for not helping with the invasion at Normandy...

 

Mark Meadows thinking, "Oh <deleted>, we're screwed."

 

 

[samran]

9 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Bloody Kurds, they're getting what they deserve for not helping with the invasion at Normandy...

 

Mark Meadows thinking, "Oh <deleted>, we're screwed."

 

 

All easily fixable if a trump tower got put up in norther Iraq somewhere. Then you’d definitely need US boots on ground to protect such strategic assets...

[Becker]

"Asked if he had any concerns that some of these ISIS fighters could escape and pose a threat elsewhere, Trump adopted a dismissive tone.

"Well, they're going to be escaping to Europe. That's where they want to go," he said."

 

Europeans might ask themselves 'with friends like this who needs enemies'. But they don't have a friend in the WH anymore, do they.

Putin's got a friend there, as do North Korea's dictator. But America's natural allies? Not so much.

[Saint Nick]

A quick pull out...something Melania hopes for, every single time!

 

Sarcasm aside: what an idiot!

[J Town]

When you hear Lyndsey Graham and Marco Rubio turning on Trump's decision, it demonstrates there IS a small sliver of hope.

[Jingthing]

Yes. But not enough yet.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[rabas]

Prediction.  This will turn out to be Trump's fatal mistake. The Kurds, like Israel, have been staunch allies in the region. 

 

[Jingthing]

14 minutes ago, rabas said:

Prediction.  This will turn out to be Trump's fatal mistake. The Kurds, like Israel, have been staunch allies in the region. 

 

It's definitely an opening for the majority of republican senators that are horrified of a second term for 45 but haven't seen any other option but to put on a worship act towards him. This is such an incredibly unique and perilous time in American history that I think makes predicting things kind of silly. But I did predict (because it's obvious) that Nikki Haley is now positioning herself to replace him as the republican 2020 nominee if he does flame out quickly enough. 

[animalmagic]

4 hours ago, Sujo said:

In an interview he says that the Kurds didnt help the US in ww2 or at Normandy.

 

Heres a tip, the Kurds are not in europe you imbecile.

Better than a tip - 

From Wikipedia

By 1942, the Iraq Levies consisted of a Headquarters, a Depot, Specialist Assyrian companies, 40 service companies and the 1st Parachute Company, which consisted of 75% Assyrian and 25% Kurd. The new Iraq Levies Disciplinary Code was based largely on the Indian Army Act.

By 1943 the Iraq Levies strength stood at 166 British officers controlling 44 companies; 22 Assyrian, five Mixed Assyrian/Yizidi, ten Kurdish, four Marsh Arabs, and three Baluchi. Eleven Assyrian companies served in Palestine and another four served in Cyprus. The Parachute Company was attached to the Royal Marine Commando and were active in Albania, Italy and Greece. In 1943/1944 the Iraq Levies were renamed the Royal Air Force Levies.

[samran]

3 hours ago, rabas said:

Prediction.  This will turn out to be Trump's fatal mistake. The Kurds, like Israel, have been staunch allies in the region. 

 

Expect a quickly organised brown nosing trip to the US by Bibi...

[Sticky Wicket]

USA created an illegal situation in Syria via its illegal presence, in contravention of UN charter which USA signed. The US must withdraw from Syria's territory, which obviously includes northern & north east Syria. Syrian Kurds must join up with the Syrian govt & Syrian govt forces.

 

Why didn't the Syrian Kurds join with the Syrian govt? Syrian govt has a responsibility over the whole territory of Syria. Kurds, by creating an enclave & firing at own govt forces created an awful situation for themselves.

[Emdog]

"Kurds weren't at Normandy." I am not going to ask "how stupid can you get?" as it is akin to asking "how big is infinity?"

To match him at his level, the Russians weren't at Normandy either... but very cozy with them.

[johnnybangkok]

You know it's not good when the usual Trump apologists on ThaiV are not even trying to defend this one.

The silence is deafening.

[Opl]

Did Erdogan promise to find dirt on Bidens ? 

[joecoolfrog]

Can somebody in the White House inform the moron in charge that there also weren't any Turks at the Normandy landings , perhaps because they had signed a friendship agreement with Hitler !

Seriously Trump should be muzzled , he embarasses the entire nation.

[joecoolfrog]

7 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

You know it's not good when the usual Trump apologists on ThaiV are not even trying to defend this one.

The silence is deafening.

Oh they gave up attempting rebuttal long ago , just post sad emojis , they can just about manage that 

[Sujo]

3 minutes ago, joecoolfrog said:

Can somebody in the White House inform the moron in charge that there also weren't any Turks at the Normandy landings , perhaps because they had signed a friendship agreement with Hitler !

Seriously Trump should be muzzled , he embarasses the entire nation.

Not only that. Germany was not exactly best friends with US in ww2. But are now on more friendly terms than the kurds who have been doing the fighting on behalf of the US against ISIS.

[J Town]

21 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

You know it's not good when the usual Trump apologists on ThaiV are not even trying to defend this one.

The silence is deafening.

It's even worse when you're called out by Lyndsey Graham and Marco Rubio, two of Trump's most loyal sycophants. They've BOTH publicly and vehemently said what a bad decision this has been. Naturally the Turks moved right in, started attacking the Kurds, and now Trump has THEIR blood on his hands. Is THIS what he meant by "winning?"

[Sujo]

Now waiting for trump to bigly with the best words destroy the turkish economy.

[candide]

3 hours ago, Sticky Wicket said:

USA created an illegal situation in Syria via its illegal presence, in contravention of UN charter which USA signed. The US must withdraw from Syria's territory, which obviously includes northern & north east Syria. Syrian Kurds must join up with the Syrian govt & Syrian govt forces.

 

Why didn't the Syrian Kurds join with the Syrian govt? Syrian govt has a responsibility over the whole territory of Syria. Kurds, by creating an enclave & firing at own govt forces created an awful situation for themselves.

Actually there was a tacit agreement between the Kurds and the Syrian government to avoid fighting each other, and sometimes they de facto cooperate. So it would not be surprising that they would start to collaborate more officially.

[soalbundy]

9 hours ago, Tug said:

How can you defend throwing allies to the wolves?no you mr trump have the blood of our allies on your hands you sir are unfit and a disgrace to the office and the country 

He was that from day one, blame the voters for voting for this blustering idiot.

[soalbundy]

He hasn't got one warm enemy left, time for a rally with the mentally impaired again

[kingdong]

9 hours ago, Becker said:

"Asked if he had any concerns that some of these ISIS fighters could escape and pose a threat elsewhere, Trump adopted a dismissive tone.

"Well, they're going to be escaping to Europe. That's where they want to go," he said."

 

Europeans might ask themselves 'with friends like this who needs enemies'. But they don't have a friend in the WH anymore, do they.

Putin's got a friend there, as do North Korea's dictator. But America's natural allies? Not so much.

Lucky the uk is getting out of the eu,we,'ve got enough problems of our own without taking a lot more on.

[kingdong]

3 hours ago, Sujo said:

Not only that. Germany was not exactly best friends with US in ww2. But are now on more friendly terms than the kurds who have been doing the fighting on behalf of the US against ISIS.

Didn,t the British try to get the Kurds to have an uprising in Iraq just after they invaded kuwait? Saddam then bombed the kak iout of them which led to the introduction of  no fly zones.

[samran]

3 hours ago, joecoolfrog said:

Oh they gave up attempting rebuttal long ago , just post sad emojis , they can just about manage that 

The trumpenistas can manage is a confused emoji sometimes. They simply can’t bring themselves to criticise their Dear Leader.

 

 

[Becker]

22 minutes ago, kingdong said:

Lucky the uk is getting out of the eu,we,'ve got enough problems of our own without taking a lot more on.

And this is relevant how?