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We Must Keep Some Troops In Syria
The Revolutionary Act ^ | 12/22/18

Posted on 12/22/2018 8:39:41 AM PST by Liberty7732

Thursday, quite unexpectedly, we learned of President Trump’s plan to have American forces leave Syria immediately. In a video tweet published Wednesday, the President declared, “We have won against ISIS,” and that it was consequently time to bring the troops home.

Unfortunately, on this point, the President is making a mistake to be precipitously pulling our troops out of Syria.

Unquestionably, we all want our troops home. None of us wants even one American to die while unnecessarily fighting for a goal with no firm endpoint. And of course, no one wants our military engaged in foreign battles a moment longer than necessary. But the claim that we have defeated ISIS, although generally true, may not be completely accurate. And even more importantly, the United States still has multiple, bonafide, national security interests in the region — including in Syria.

ISIS is one of the great evils of the 21st century. Their intolerant religious views coupled with their ruthless pursuit and punishment of all not subscribing to there radical Islamic tendencies crosses the threshold from fervent belief to blood-bathed, sadistic power grab with no signs of self-restraint. Regardless of the faith, there is no defense for the mass decapitation, stoning, and burning of others, and there is equally no excuse for the sequestration, enslavement and mass rape of women. But these are mere standard operating techniques for ISIS and its followers.

The United States was correct in entering the theater for the purpose of destroying these inhumane elements. Moreover, historical hindsight now allows us to understand that a large factor in ISIS’s ability to flourish was the Obama Administration’s passive policies of leading from behind and not rocking the boat.

In fact, Obama’s precipitous withdrawal from Iraq led directly to the rapid rise of ISIS. From the void the United States left as it retreated from the Middle East came the opportunity for mayhem and evil to spread, and ISIS mercilessly capitalized on it.

Through the efforts of our brave men and women, ISIS has been beaten back to a small and remote area of Syria where its members live holed up in caves and fearing for their lives. By most accounts, remaining ISIS forces number between 2,000 and 15,000 members and are devoid of a valid organizational structure.

But exist they do, and these fanatics would like nothing more than the opportunity to spread their influence and reorganize. Let us remember, this is a perpetual battle for ISIS; one of apocalyptic proportions and without rules of engagement. They will never go away on their own.

Then, there are the regional issues. Iran, the greatest fomenter of terrorism in the world has only one goal in mind; the eradication of the State of Israel. For them, the end game is to drive every Israeli into the Mediterranean Sea and see them drown. Like ISIS, their vision is apocalyptic in nature.

Crucial to Iran’s plan is the establishment of a corridor of influence spanning from its western border to the Mediterranean Sea. Such a corridor would include deployed elements in Iran, Lebanon, and yes, Syria. So important is Syria to the successful establishment of a corridor, that Iran has deployed personnel and rockets in coordination with the Syrian regime under chemical-using Bashar al-Assad.

Russia’s interest in the area is different. For Russia, maintaining the Assad regime, even if it is in coordination with Iran, means the expansion of Russian influence at the expense of the United States. For Russia, controlling Syria equals gaining a foothold in a region with a massive influence on the world’s oil reserves and markets — something critical to Russia’ economy that is centered around exporting oil. It also means pushing the United States out of a geopolitical region where American influence is vital.

Viewed in its totality, America’s continued presence in Syria is crucial to keeping Iran from forwarding its abilities to foment terrorism, keeping Soviet influence at bay, checking the evils of the Assad regime, protecting Israel, and preventing the resurgence of ISIS. In short, the stakes here are, quite frankly, far too high for the United States to abandon them at this time.

That our country would love to have their young men and women home, not just for Christmas, but permanently, goes without saying. That our country has seen involvement in way too many unnecessary engagements also stands without dispute as does the fact that American foreign policy and its attempts at regime change is mired in wrong decisions.

But none of these can discount the dire consequences of our troops abandoning Syria. It is unfortunate that our country does not have a viable exit option at this time in Syria. Despite our intense desire for engaging in interventions with clearly defined endpoints, goals, and exit strategies, Syria and the Middle East is not one of those situations.

For all these reasons, our absence in Syria will come at an unacceptable price, one that the President must consider despite his desire to get our troops out.

In short, President Trump needs to rethink his position in Syria and engage in patient perseverance.


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To: Capt. Tom
Islamic terrorism has many group titles practicing Muslims are actively engaged with or support.....Isis, Shabat, Taliban, and on and on. They thrive in conflict zones because the only ‘guarantee’ a muslim has of reaching their heaven is by dying while fighting or killing non-muslims. So they rally to these wars/conflict areas ‘to die’...which for them is assured life eternal in their eyes, and pleasing to their counterfeit God.....So of course this makes Islam a death cult in every sense of the world... However....a muslim can ‘earn’credit for Jihad” outside fighting in conflicts...and that's by ‘Immigration Jihad’ to western lands. It counts exactly in the same way as a warrior in the field and why we saw and see sooo many young military age men as refugees flooding borders. They escape actual fighting (potential death), can live a better life while sustaining their allegiance and commitment to Islamic Jihad.

Soooo at the core of these wars and conflicts is Islam itself as you know...and as long as there is Islam ISIS and others will never be eradicated. These will continue to erupt and Islamic Jihad will continue in all western countries as well as middle eastern.

21 posted on 12/22/2018 9:58:22 AM PST by caww
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To: Old Teufel Hunden

The U.S. has plenty of assets and ability to respond to anything in the Mideast including Syria if need be except Benghazi,Libya when government watched men die.


22 posted on 12/22/2018 9:59:21 AM PST by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: wardaddy
As I see it Putin wants Syria back under Assads rule for the most part, Syria is significant to him so though he's apparently not real fond of Assad he wants the war to cease on his border. Putin can control Irans influence there to some degree in what they can do in Syria. HE’ll not forfeit his ports to Iran ever.

Isis went to Syria because Islamic muslims always run to areas in battle to die as it guarantees them their place in their Islamic heaven, and the only gurantee Islam teaches fro salvation...which they believe. ....Syria is Irans lynch pin to their Apocalyptic beliefs which is used by Irans leadership to motivate fighters to fight for 'political' asperations of the Iranian leadership. Without "religious' Islam they could not move any to fight for them..

So leave it tho them to sort out....but we have to protect the Kurds.

23 posted on 12/22/2018 10:12:13 AM PST by caww
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To: Liberty7732

Do you even read the daily dispatches from Syria, about the only source of what is happenjng in the ground.
Our token force ( and 2,000 troops based in Syria is a token force, most of them there to defend the base, not the Kurds) could easily be based in Jordan or another host and stage attacks on ISIS as needed...if that was their real mission. It is not.
Trump called the establishment on its big lie about the real mission.
He understands the real mission.
And has other ways of dealing with it than sending someones son father and husband as pawns in an undeclared and absolutely ill-devised proxy faceoff with Russia and Iran.

2,000 troops.


24 posted on 12/22/2018 10:15:23 AM PST by silverleaf (A man who kneels for the national anthem doesn't stand for much of anything)
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To: Liberty7732

Armchair quarterback.


25 posted on 12/22/2018 10:24:34 AM PST by Fledermaus (If the rule of law no longer exist, then what is the point?)
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To: caww
It counts exactly in the same way as a warrior in the field and why we saw and see sooo many young military age men as refugees flooding borders. They escape actual fighting (potential death), can live a better life while sustaining their allegiance and commitment to Islamic Jihad.

It is a Muslim invasion strategy introduced by Muhammad himself, when Muhammad and his good friend Abu Bahkr fled for their lives to Medina from Mecca.
Muhammed switched from just using his mouth to convert followeers as he did in Mecca, to also using the sword in Medina, and it has been that way ever since.
Move in mass into a Kafir area and when the time is right draw the sword. - Tom

26 posted on 12/22/2018 10:32:11 AM PST by Capt. Tom
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To: Liberty7732
ISIS is one of the great evils of the 21st century.

ISIS does not exist.

Not really. There are a number of mohammedan terror groups, Hammas, Hezbollah, Islamic State (ISIS), the Taliban, Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Lashkar-e-Taliba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen and Abu Sayyaf just to name a few. But you will never be able to effectively deal with them until you realize that all of these groups are fronts.

They are all groups that are attacking everyone who is not Mohammedan or sufficiently Mohammedan.

The point is not what ever they claim their grievance is, the point is the forced submission of the world to their death cult.

So you can not "Fight ISIS" in Syria. All you will be doing is supporting one branch of the death cult against another that would rather be on top. You can never win. As long as there is one mohammedan "true believer" in the world left then there is going to be more terror. All you are doing is giving space for some new horror to emerge.

It is like fighting Trotsky for Stalin. No matter what you do there is no possible happy outcome. So why are you spending your money and the blood of your fighters again?

27 posted on 12/22/2018 10:42:33 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, and somewhere else the tea is getting cold.)
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To: shanover
"except Benghazi,Libya when government watched men die."

Correct that the government watched men die. Incorrect that we didn't have assets to respond. The FAST company in Signoella Italy has this mission (to protect our embassies) and was just a quick plane ride to Benghazi. They were stood down.
28 posted on 12/22/2018 10:56:11 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: Liberty7732
Trump is just implementing campaign promis. Mr. President bring back troops from europe. Let them defend themselves

Also kick out UN out of US.

Deploy these troops at our southern border. Also stop US invasilion via h1b visa and other cheap labour loopholes,

29 posted on 12/22/2018 11:08:17 AM PST by va22030
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To: Liberty7732

All this over 2,000 troops that I don’t believe were engaged in direct action. ISIS is essentially toast in Syria. We don’t want to hang around for the civil war. Kurds will be protected by the Saudis, etc.


30 posted on 12/22/2018 11:55:53 AM PST by Revolutionary ("Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!")
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To: Capt. Tom

Nobody believed Muhammad in the beginning.....even his own family thought he was nuts..he was in fact. All he created in his world was copied and borrowed to devise his agenda. Nothing original. Then he just built this elaborate story about himself and sold it to a back word uneducated peoples....who of course were well familiar with violence.


31 posted on 12/22/2018 12:03:51 PM PST by caww
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To: Liberty7732

No - we need to bring all of our boys home and focus on defeating our domestic enemies, of which there are many.

President Trump is a good man, but he is only one man. It will take all of us to return this great nation to the land of the free; the home of the brave.

Let Syria, Yemen, the Koreas, Iraq, et. al., take care of themselves.


32 posted on 12/22/2018 12:17:48 PM PST by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: Liberty7732
I was thinking of writing a long rebuttal this this. Instead, I'll keep it simple.

After all these years, I'm finally understanding why neocon is a dirty word.

33 posted on 12/22/2018 3:27:22 PM PST by Widget Jr
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To: Liberty7732

NO.

WE.

DON’T.


34 posted on 12/22/2018 3:29:43 PM PST by TADSLOS (My favorite essential oil is bacon grease.)
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To: Liberty7732

Here you go, buddy:

How to volunteer to fight ISIS in Syria, in eight steps...

https://fusion.tv/story/324193/fight-isis-syria-war-kurds/


35 posted on 12/22/2018 4:43:24 PM PST by sergeantdave (Teach a man to fish and he'll steal your gear and sell it)
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To: Liberty7732

ISIS in Syria does Assad and Russia no good....let them cleanse the rest.


36 posted on 12/23/2018 2:48:20 AM PST by trebb (Those who don't donate anything tend to be empty gasbags...no-value-added types)
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