[ScottinVA]

I agree. I’d like to know who advised the administration to do this.

[nathanbedford]

I agree. I’d like to know who advised the administration to do this.

I'd like to know whether any of this was vetted?

I cannot maintain that this is what happened but the reports I read tell me the president got off the phone with Erdogan and surprised the world by announcing this policy. Yes, I know that this had been part of his campaign and I know that he had mooted the subject of withdrawing troops from Syria some time ago, but how was this vetted?

Was the president apprised fully of the effect it would have on Congress? Was the president advised about the damage to the Kurds? Was the president advised about the possible damage to him in the impeachment fiasco? Was the president advised about the potential consequences of securing other allies, especially Muslim allies, to fight our battles for us? Was the president apprised of the rather large political and geopolitical downside consequences of his decision and the relatively paltry upside advantages to his decision? Was this the right place and the right time to effect his stated policy (with which I agree in general terms) of withdrawing American forces from endless, fruitless wars?

[Zhang Fei]

[I’d like to know who advised the administration to do this.]

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It wouldn’t surprise me if this was Trump forcing Congress to give him a definite authorization with a definite budget. If Congress does in fact force his hand, maybe an independent Kurdistan will be the result. On the one hand, I think the Kurds are doing yeoman’s work when they could legitimately leave and get refugee status in Europe. On the other, maybe it’s Europe’s turn to foot the bill. This is a deployment that’s costing billions a year. Why isn’t Europe paying for it?