The terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad reason the military wants to stay in Syria

NY Post ^ | December 29, 2018 | Steven W. Mosher

[rightwingintelligentsia]

On December 19, 2018, President Trump declared correctly that “we have won against ISIS,” and announced that the remaining 2,000 American troops in Syria would be withdrawn.

The president has made the right decision. Having won the war against ISIS, he does not want to lose the peace by getting into a military conflict with the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s forces, or with the Iranians or the Russians, or even with the Turks for that matter.

As the father of an Army officer who is in theater right now, I think I have a right to an opinion. And in my opinion, the desert sands of Syria are not worth a single American life.

Everyone agrees that the commander in chief should bring our troops home from any overseas combat theater as soon as the mission is complete.

But what is the mission?

[Vermont Lt]

My Italian MIL tells of childhood friends who went back to Italy because Mussolini was getting the trains to run on time. Some of her “peers” did not come back as they were of draft age in Italy.

That must have sucked.

[cpdiii]

Prior to our intervention in Syria by Obama and Hillary, Syria was a stable nation ruled by a despot that was not a threat to us. Syria was a threat to Israel but Israel can take Syria out any day it wants.

Obama and Hillary funneled weapons into Syria to the rebels and destabilized the entire region. This resulted in war and genocide and the influx of economic refugees into Europe.

I have always been puzzled by their actions. If it was a plan they are evil. If it was not a plan they are idiots. I do not think they are idiots. They successfully destabilized the entire Middle East and much of Europe. If this was their plan, they were brilliant. As mentioned, if not their plan they are blithering moronic fools. I do not think they were fools.

[robowombat]

Its a bit more complex than that but it is true that MacArthur came to see himself as a national savior very much as Charles de Gaulle did. In passing mu parents were life long Washingtonians who curiously never were federal employees. Their opinion and I take it most residents felt the same way, was that Mac Arthur was a hero. After the bonus bill didn't \pass the feds offered transport back to most major cities for the veterans. Those that stayed did so because the benefits were superior. In effect residual gimmedats. To get rid of the Bonus Army the encampments in Anacostia had to be cleared. Hoover in his weak way only wanted the vets moved out of the area near Pennslyvania Ave where they had occupied a number of buildings condemned for the Department of Agriculture and the other colossi of the Mall for federal agencies. In other words kick the can down the road and deal with the optics problems of having vets camping in abandoned buildings almost next door to the White House. I know this is not the usual perspective spun by pro democrat and FDR worshiping academics. It is how the locals saw it and people were afraid of the gimmdats camping in significant numbers in Anacostia.

[lizma2]

I think he was talking about our Warriors not the project.

There are tons of groups out there with better track records the WWP.

[robowombat]

As I said this seems to be mostly gossip of the sort that is always around in DC.

[robowombat]

Seems to have little to do with the current situation which stems from the Mex government covertly encouraging mass self deportation for their citizens since the economy was stalling. Central America has been wrecked by a combination of attempted communist subversion, weak government (as in the early 20th century) and the shifting of narco trafficking from Columbia/Peru straight to the US to through Central America. One could only wish that pro-US regimes similar to Batista had been maintained by a little direct US force before the likes of Castro could get well entrenched.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Whaaat...it’s true. That does not mean freeprs don’t love and respect our military.

[lizma2]

“Note that when the article refers Syria, it uses “Syrian dictator Bashar” but when referring to Turkey, it uses “the Turks” rather than “the Turkish dictator Erdogan.””

Guess they forgot Erdogan’s reaction to the coup. His tanks running over civilian’s car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twWhUPfYxPs

[Ann Archy]

HA!! NEWBIES HAVE TO BE SHARP!

[lizma2]

I KNOW! BUT WE HAVE TO EDUACATE!! NOT ANNIHILATE! YOU BEHAVE!! LOL!

[wastedyears]

The military brass need to justify their budgets and jobs. The military industrial complex loves war.

[wastedyears]

The interests of the US should pretty much be trade and expanding our energy and technology capabilities. Why do we have so many bases overseas? Why do we send “aid” to any country at all?

[Jim W N]

Let's make it easier. Step by step.

The military is a bureaucracy.

True or not?

Bureaucracies exist for their own interests.

Generally true of not?

Bureaucracies are NOT for the best interests of America

Generally true of not?

If you're going to compare my statement with "DU" which I assume is a derogatory term, then you should be able to explain why. Else you're just mindlessly scatter-shooting.

[Jim W N]

With the right leadership like Trump, the military will be just fine. Otherwise, it is like a four-year old with a missile launcher.

[Future Snake Eater]

I hear everyone in the military now prattling on about stopping the Chinese in Africa. Lots of friends keep trotting out that company line.

Another military solution in search of a problem.

The Chinese are their own worst enemy in Africa. They pour billions of dollars in infrastructure into these countries, promise all kinds of jobs and development in order to mine and drill, but what do these countries get?

Completely shoddy garbage roads and buildings that falls apart quickly and no jobs b/c the Chinese send their own people over to work on these projects.

There's very little benefit to letting the Chinese in and African country's leadership are getting tired of being used.

[Lurkinanloomin]

The Constitution said Barack Obama could not be President.

They went ahead with that anyway, too.

[firebrand]

ISIS rampant in Mali, Chad, and Niger. FBI is aware. No U.S. forces there yet.

[firebrand]

Back in the 1960s the Africans threw the Chinese out. The joke was they used the wrong fork. But the world is completely changed now. Countries have to take the help they are offered.

[AAABEST]

Funny to watch the Dems suddenly grow a set of war-nads, but nobody believes it. Not us, their supporters, nor even they themselves.

Nearly ALL Americans want out of the Mideast. Unless you work at a coastal news outlet, as a defense contractor or on Wall Street. Then it's endless proxy warfare - doesn't matter how much it costs or who dies.

[Vermont Lt]

Yes. I am sure there are no US forces in ay of those places.