from The Gray Area:
10/7/19:
There is much bipartisan criticism today regarding President Trump's decision to remove US troops from any further armed conflict or police actions in Syria.
Here is the offical statement:
A few examples of Republican and right wing media criticism follow. We did not include any Democrat or left wing media criticism as it is expected of anything that Donald Trump does, good or bad.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) tweeted that it would be a “grave mistake” for the Trump administration to retreat from Syria, while Sen. Mitt Romney (R., Utah) called it a betrayal of the Kurds and said it “presages another humanitarian crisis.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) said the president was right to want to bring U.S. troops home, but that it would be “DISGRACEFUL if we sat idly by while Turkey slaughters the Kurds.” Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) criticized the withdrawal as “terribly unwise.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged President Trump to “exercise American leadership” and keep U.S. troops in northern Syria, joining a chorus of Republican and Democratic lawmakers who warned the president against withdrawing from the area. “American interests are best served by American leadership, not by retreat or withdrawal,” the Kentucky Republican said. He didn’t directly criticize Mr. Trump, but reminded him that the Senate voted in January to keep U.S. troops in Syria, in reaction to a previous withdrawal plan announced by the White House.
When you listen to President Trump explain his decision, it is clear to see that it is well thought out, considerate of other opinions, yet strict to his campaign promise and personal beliefs to get our troops out of Syria. Obama put them there. He created the rift with Turkey. Obama paid millions to Iran for hostages creating
a precedent that Turkey followed with Pastor Brunson. Trump successfully negotiated Brunson's release without ransom.
Sticking to his campaign promise is a basic tenet of the President and his supporters love him for it. The idea that the US is not and should not be a police force is also a good position. If the UN did its job, there would not be a need for a worldwide US police force, but they don't.
It is, however, an equally good point that we cannot turn our backs on people (Kurds) who have helped us fight terrorism. It is also a good point that we have learned in previous conflicts, that we cannot leave too soon. Whenever we do, countries with existing instability are prone to move to bad leadership and bad decisions which will pull us in again. This is the void of leadership left by the UN that someone has to fill - and it usually falls to us.
Other than criticism, I hear no concrete proposals on how to handle this tough situation from the critics. All they say is leave our troops in place. What does that do and for how long? Poor option if you ask me. We have only about 50 soldiers in that region, what can they do? It would require reinforcements to do the job right, and we, Europe, Turkey and others have shied away from taking decisive action against Syria. Remember Obama's 'red line'!
Trump has apparently established another 'red line'. If Turkey takes actions against the Kurds or otherwise talks actions that they US doesn't approve of, he (Trump) will destroy their economy. I believe Trump, unlike Obama, will not sit idly by if that red line is crossed.
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