Posted on 10/08/2019 11:16:39 AM PDT by upchuck
President Trump has announced that he is withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria. The reaction to this decision has raised cries of alarm across the political spectrum.
I claim no expertise in international affairs but will share some thoughts on this latest noisy crisis of faith (and unfaith) in our president.
Although it is easy to pick and choose quotes from America's founders and original thinkers, President Trump's actions seem to line up with the thinking of several of these men.
Thomas Jefferson described what he saw as America's role in the world thus: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations — entangling alliances with none."
George Washington was even more to the point. He said that we as a nation should "act for ourselves and not for others" and spoke of our nation's very "character" as a nation as being "wholly free of foreign attachments."
That was our nation's understanding for generations, but America's thinking and its role in the world changed after WWII, for then much of the world lay largely in ruins, and it thus looked to America — to its industry, to its wealth, to its power.
That America took on that great responsibility is, in my estimation, much to its credit.
But to that must be added that social inertia is real. What one starts to do, one in time comes to see as natural and normal.
When American troops set up bases in Great Britain, for instance, with the buildup to defeat Nazi Germany, did Americans think we'd still see our military there some 70-plus years later?
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
The U.S. is in Great Britain and Germany because we had bases there for NATO during the Cold War. If the author questions our continued use, and I don’t necessarily disagree with them, then the solution is to withdraw entirely from NATO. Those troops and aircraft can be brought back to the states and the army and air force sizes reduced accordingly. Likewise Japan and South Korea. Bring them home, do away with the headcount, and realize the savings in reduced costs.
Interesting read. I don’t believe Trump trusts the Russians or the Turks ...
They hadn’t up to that point, after years of trying.
They’re called a “trip wire”. Attacking them is the same as attacking the US. They could call in arty and air strikes meanwhile - decimating the Turks. That’s what 50 soldiers could do.
Put them in Jordan and they can respond in 30 minutes if needed
Turkey will take the 10,000 ISIS fighters and rearm and unleash them on the Kurds. The ISIS troops will go on to recreate the Caliphate with Turkey’s blessing.
A foolish promise is still a fooling promise no matter who made it for what reason.
Winner? Iran.
Good, let them.
Syria has become a Russian protectorate; and Iran wants to retain unlimited access to Lebanon; Turkey getting involved with this mess will only make it very difficult for all these idiots.
Update
only two observation posts are being vacated (100-150 troops) - neither are in Kurdish territory. 2,250 US troops remain as well as training and arms supply to the Kurdish YPG.
Let's arm them to take care of themselves instead.
Well, it appears that Trump is changing his mind again about pulling out from all the upset in his own party. The Kurds have been our most hard working ally in that part of the world. Regarding Erdowan’s government, recent election really hurt him in Istanbul, he appears to be loosing leverage.
In case you missed it “it” is going on here too. Or we could just wait until they nuke us because we are too bust keeping our collective heads glued to our navels ... and what was all that stuff abut the Nazis in Germany anyway - just let the Europeans fight it out because that’s been going on since your great, great, great, grandfather was a glimmer in his poppa’s eye.
And BTW its only 100-150 troops on 2 outposts not in Kurdish territory - the other 2,250 US troops remain. DJT is not a complete fool and besides Estrogen gets to take care of the 10,000 captured ISIS fighters saving us the expense.
We already armed ‘them’ and they turned out to be ISIS ... care to try again?
Frank Gaffney: Turkey “is an ally no more”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlLqe_-fkrk
Bill Whittle
Does Trump’s Syria Pullout Betray Kurdish Allies, Jeopardize U.S. Interests Elsewhere?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghspBkc8q7Q
A couple more Never Trumper War Mongering Neo-Con RINO’s
/Sarc.
I get more concerned about the Ever Trumpers ie Trump is always right, than i am about the Never Trumpers...all 37 of them.
“The world is not our problem, and we have no solutions.”
3 small simple questions that need to be asked and answered..
1. What Do You Want?
2. How Do You Get It?
(and most importantly)
3. THEN WHAT HAPPENS?
....and a thought.
Someone IS going to be the dominate power in the world. I think it should be America. In spite of mistakes, the world is a much better, richer, more safer place because we are the dominate power. Now IF not us...Who...China? Because a world where China dominates is a very different world...and not in a good way....for anyone one including America.
We didn’t arm the Kurds. Obama armed the elements who were in opposition to Syria because they wanted Assad out. So yes Obama is the one that armed ISIS.
50-100 guys dug in between the Turks and the PKK is not so many dead troops but not worth 1 American life
It’s a token bootprint in a proxy war Trump is too savvy to escalate
“ Please Mr Custer, I don’t wanna go”
We stayed out of the European problem for at least 2 years. We can always go back when needed to help the Kurds should Turkey try to obliterate them.
Again I say both sides of the Turkey Kurd conflict are allies. However, Turkey is a NATO ally. Do something about that before we even get involved further in this CF.
In no way am I saying we need to disengage from the world. I'm saying we do not need to be involved in everything that happens in this world.
TheTrump Doctrine focuses on question 2, but using the American economy- not just the military - to spread and influence
The neocons just cannot wrap their post Cold War brains around this
Thats why Trump’s trade confrontation now with China
Global economic balance
Warfare in another dimension, and he is our best hope at winning
Both the Kurds & Turkey are allies. However, Turkey is a member of NATO. So how do we choose sides? It's a CF we should avoid. Either expel Turkey from NATO and bring in the remaining members of NATO to deal with Turkey, or arm the Kurds.
The time has come to quit interjecting our national treasures into every crisis unilaterally & militarily.
Just in case you missed it
Turkey Attacks Kurds in Syria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DUPnzfkNFY
And who says Turkey is an ally?
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