Posted on 10/16/2019 11:03:13 AM PDT by Hojczyk
Everybody thought we had to keep our troops around so the Turks wouldn't invade Northern Syria and kill off all the Kurds. Everybody wanted them to negotiate with the Kurds and figured the only way to do that was little by little, by getting allies to reason with Turkey and hem and haw and maybe buy her off as in times past. Meanwhile, we had to keep the two ancient enemies, Kurds and Turks, apart.
Negotiations would ever happen only if our troops stayed.
Trump saw the situation differently. As beautifully laid out by Sundance at Conservative Treehouse, removing our guys would leave the intransigent Turks vulnerable to an alliance against them of their many enemies in the region. This thought didn't occur to Turkish president Recep Erdoğan, who at first seemed delighted that we were leaving and promptly dispatched his troops into Syria, as everybody had predicted he would.
Not so fast, fellas. The actual result hasn't been quite what everyone expected. Erdoğan suddenly understood the box he was in when Trump authorized Treasury secretary Mnuchin to prepare sanctions against Turkey. By themselves, sanctions haven't succeeded much in that part of the world. But in concert with the departure of the U.S., they became a scary signal that Turkey was all by her lonesome. Having steadfastly refused to negotiate, Erdoğan now nervously rang up Trump and asked for an emergency conference. Trump sent Vice President Pence and national security adviser O'Brien to mediate negotiations with the Kurds.
These are the long sought negotiations, brought about by U.S. troops leaving.
Trump once again exhibits strategic insight not seen in the White House since George Washington.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
“ ping John Bolton discredited again”.
Little man complex....
FDR’s kids were accused of getting clients and commissions because of their father’s position. It was a little like the Biden scandal, but no foreign powers were involved. Maybe not so much like the Biden thing, since I can sort of understand somebody wanting to buy insurance from the president’s son or give him a promotion without any quid pro quo being involved: “Hey! I know the president’s kid!” It’s not so innocent when foreign powers and more money and are involved.
Seems like the Russians and Syrians are filling the gap so perhaps it will only be a minor foreign policy fail.
But PKK is worse than ISIS? Come on.
BOOKMARKED!
True, but let’s allow things to play out a little further here. It wasn’t so long ago we were all ready to give Trump the Nobel Peace Prize for denuclearizing North Korea and reuniting the North and South. This is STILL 3D chess, and he is trying to strike a balance that solves the Syria situation without driving Turkey into Russia’s influence. The EU, now including England, has cut off arms sales to Turkey, and is considering sanctions. US/EU sanctions alone would likely force Erdogan to back down.
With a wider view, Trump is also pushing KSA to solve their Yemen problem, and put them on notice that they can’t count on the USA to attack Iran on their behalf. Notice Iran did NOT blame KSA or USA for their tanker being attacked. Just a few months ago, they would have, regardless of who actually did it.
From your lips ... errr ... keyboard, to God's ears :-)
Interested in where you are finding this? The only Russian forces I've seen confirmed are Military Police, in very vulnerable GAZ TIGR 4x4's. These are more peace keepers or human shields than combat troops "in the fight". I see no indication Russia is employing airpower or artillery against Turkish forces, and for the past few days, only Turkish and US aircraft have been reported flying.
Agree or disagree about any one Trump decision. I think it’s clear that he makes up his own mind and isn’t afraid to do his own thing. I don’t think that’s been the case for any President in a long time
Lincoln doesn’t belong in the discussion of greatest Presidents, imo. He lied to the citizens to begin the CW.
The nukes in Turkey are useless without the devices to trigger them, which are not there.
The Russian airforce is providing overwatch to their field units, just like we and the Turks are doing.
The players in Syria hate each other so much, that there can never be winners by outside forces whom will always be seen as invaders by someone.
Very good point, thanks. But the Turks could used them as leverage if they told US troops to leave.
They could be used for dirty bombs with all the fissionable material in them, no?
And couldn’t the trigger mechanisms be relatively easily developed on their own?
Neither the WP article, nor the tweet say anything about Russian air or artillery forces. They strictly show exactly what I said; Military Police in very lightly armored GAZ TIGR 4x4’s.
I have no doubt that Russian air and artillery would respond if those troops were under attack, but for now it seems they are staying out of the picture and out of the fight.
Pence-pompeo-secure-cease-fire-agreement-in-syria-after-meeting-with-turkish-president
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