Posted on 10/21/2019 6:56:18 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The Trump administration signaled Monday it may re-thinking its troop withdrawal strategy in Syria, with the president and military officials now saying a small number of U.S. forces may remain in the country to protect oil supplies and keep them from falling into the hands of the Islamic State terror group.
The shift, which comes amid a fragile cease-fire in the battle between Turkey and the formerly U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), comes in the face of intense bipartisan criticism of Mr. Trump’s Syria policy from lawmakers, foreign policy analysts and retired military officials.
The president unexpectedly announced last week that the U.S. would move roughly 1,000 troops out of northeastern Syria as the Turkish advance gained steam, and military officials said that most of those forces are now on their way to Iraq.
The depth of the anger Syria Kurds felt about the U.S. withdrawal — leaving them exposed to a Turkish military incursion — could be seen in angry protests Monday targeting departing American troops, including a U.S. convoy hit by potatoes thrown by angry Kurds in the city of Qamishli.
It’s unclear how many troops, if any, would remain in that region of the country. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters Monday that planning has just begun.
“There has been a discussion about possibly doing it,” he said during a press conference while traveling in Afghanistan. “There has been no decision with regard to numbers or anything like that.”
The administration last week negotiated a cease-fire between Turkey and the Kurdish-led SDF, which had been a key American ally in the fight against the Islamic State but a group that Ankara views as a terrorist threat. As the SDF last week redirected its forces to fight the Turkish military...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I have no idea what is the right move in Syria, but I respect President Trump’s willingness to review his decisions, learn more, and move forward.
Trump is Lucy holding the football and encouraging the Democrats (Charlie Brown) to kick it.
He keeps them thinking that THIS TIME they have him and they will finally kick him out.
I’m looking forward to seeing them flat on their collective asses cursing Trump for fooling them once again.
He was for withdrawal before he was against it. Flip flopping is the new doubling down.
It is so horrifying that Obama armed what became ISIS but Trump is the bad guy. Even if every nefarious thing that Obama, Clapper, etc gets exposed, half of the country won’t even believe it, having been fed lies and biased reporting for three years.
I voted to end the endless wars & bring our troops home, and Trump has said again & again we will. NO reversals!!
There’s NO need for US troops to “protect” Syrian oil fields from defeated ISIS. Syria will protect its own oil fields.
This is Graham/Rubio/DemonRat BS, nothing more.
Gotta get your terms right.
No reversal.
Silly reporting.
Good. Keep them guessing. That’s how strategy is supposed to work.
Enjoy.
Operation Mincemeat WWII deception prior to invading Italyby Ian Fleming Full
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBk3sSUB5X4
oink
Well, but he has managed to get everyone to demand he stay...
Now we know why Lyin’ Lindsay was so happy on Sunday.
How about the “angry Kurds” fight for themselves? I’m sure we’d be happy to provide weapons for them. It is not our job to police the world. Except for Israel, we generally get kicked in the teeth, thereby.
It’s a classic Trump Rope-A-Dope!
I’ll just stay strapped into the roller coaster seat, then, and see what happens.
Trump said it was going to be a phased withdrawal all along.
BUT we DO need to put pressure on him and Congress to bring ALL the troops home from ALL the wars.
MAGA means bring the troops home.
If we make a big enough noise it will strengthen Trump’s hand.
From my light reading on this subject, this is what I think I know....
(1) 1,000 total USA troops in Syria.
(2) 900 are deployed along the Syria-Jordan border, along the Syria-Iraq border, and along Syria's oil field north of the Euphrates River.
(3) 100 USA soldiers are deployed in the area near Turkey and the Kurds.
(4) Those 100 soldiers are being re-deployed to the Iraq border.
And THIS is what all the hysteria is about?
Mon Dieu!
I see that this has piqued the interest of a number of the FR Concern Troll Squad....
How are fewer than 1000 troops supposed to hold the oil fields?
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