We’ve heard rumblings of something going on in Turkey for several days. For months, we’ve heard President Trump complain about European Nations who refuse to take responsibility for their citizens who became ISIS fighters. The USA has been stuck with them. And yes, we’ve heard Citizen/Candidate/President Trump complain about endless foreign wars.
We recall President Trump trying to withdraw from Syria and the GOPe and Dems had a fit. How odd. Almost open defiance from Sec Mattis. Well, today we see further action.
From the President himself: He did this in a tweet thread. Below is the first tweet in the thread, and below that is the compiled message for ease of reading.
The United States was supposed to be in Syria for 30 days, that was many years ago. We stayed and got deeper and deeper into battle with no aim in sight. When I arrived in Washington, ISIS was running rampant in the area. We quickly defeated 100% of the ISIS Caliphate,…..
….including capturing thousands of ISIS fighters, mostly from Europe. But Europe did not want them back, they said you keep them USA! I said “NO, we did you a great favor and now you want us to hold them in U.S. prisons at tremendous cost. They are yours for trials.” They…..
….again said “NO,” thinking, as usual, that the U.S. is always the “sucker,” on NATO, on Trade, on everything. The Kurds fought with us, but were paid massive amounts of money and equipment to do so. They have been fighting Turkey for decades. I held off this fight for….
….almost 3 years, but it is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN. Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will now have to…..
…figure the situation out, and what they want to do with the captured ISIS fighters in their “neighborhood.” They all hate ISIS, have been enemies for years. We are 7000 miles away and will crush ISIS again if they come anywhere near us!
Thoughts?
Imagine this will be updated throughout the day.
End.
Update #1, 8:15AM Eastern time: Within 30 Minutes, here comes Lindsey Graham, bemoaning our abandonment of the the Kurds, and advocating for the USA staying in Syria with no end in sight. Lindsey claims ISIS is not destroyed and “it is the biggest lie being told by the administration”. “I will do everything I can to destroy Turkey and their economy if they step one foot in Turkey”. “The administration is short-sited in my opinion.” “To say that ISIS is destroyed in Syria is not true.” “We just set the motive for the continuation of ISIS.” and it makes the military sad to leave.
Update #2 8:22AM Eastern Time: Just as predicted, here come the NeoCons.
And MORE from Lindsey Graham:
Update at 11:20AM Eastern Time, from the President:
….down, watching over a quagmire, & spending big dollars to do so. When I took over, our Military was totally depleted. Now it is stronger than ever before. The endless and ridiculous wars are ENDING! We will be focused on the big picture, knowing we can always go back & BLAST!
President Donald Trump
And MORE from our President: 11:38AM Eastern Time
….the captured ISIS fighters and families. The U.S. has done far more than anyone could have ever expected, including the capture of 100% of the ISIS Caliphate. It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory. THE USA IS GREAT!
President Donald Trump, October 7, 2019.
Update, about 1:00pm, from the Dept of Defense: (Looks like they were not “blindsided” at all, were they?)
About 2:00pm, we hear from Mitch McConnell, who released a statement:
McConnell Statement on Turkey and U.S. Partners in Syria
‘Major new conflict between Turkey and our partners in Syria would seriously risk damaging Turkey’s ties to the United States and causing greater isolation for Turkey on the world stage. As we learned the hard way during the Obama Administration, American interests are best served by American leadership, not by retreat or withdrawal.’
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today regarding Turkey and U.S. partners in Syria: “In January, a supermajority of the U.S. Senate voted for an amendment that expressed bipartisan concern about the continuing threat posed by ISIS and Al Qaeda in Syria, appreciation of the long-term American security interests in Syria and the region, and support for a continued military presence in northeastern Syria.
“The conditions that produced that bipartisan vote still exist today. While the physical caliphate has been removed, ISIS and al Qaeda remain dangerous forces in Syria and the ongoing Syrian civil war poses significant security and humanitarian risks.
“A precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would only benefit Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime. And it would increase the risk that ISIS and other terrorist groups regroup.
“I urge the President to exercise American leadership to keep together our multinational coalition to defeat ISIS and prevent significant conflict between our NATO ally Turkey and our local Syrian counterterrorism partners. Major new conflict between Turkey and our partners in Syria would seriously risk damaging Turkey’s ties to the United States and causing greater isolation for Turkey on the world stage.
“As we learned the hard way during the Obama Administration, American interests are best served by American leadership, not by retreat or withdrawal.”
Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, October 7, 2019
