Trump orders American troops to retreat

[Sandy Shanks]

The Department's position has been and remains that establishing a safe zone in northern Syria is the best path forward to maintaining stability.

Unfortunately, Turkey has chosen to act unilaterally. As a result we have moved the U.S. forces in northern Syria out of the path of potential Turkish incursion to ensure their safety. We have made no changes to our force presence in Syria at this time.
https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Re...om-jonathan-hoffman-chief-pentagon-spokesman/

The Trump White House is getting more bizarre by the day. The President asked for interference from a foreign power in our Presidential election to benefit his political campaign.

The Trump White House sent a letter to the House of Representatives telling them to vote on the impeachment of the President.

Our ignorant Commander-in-Chief is concerned the Turkish army will attack American troops and he ordered a retreat from northern Syria to ensure their safety?

What are the odds of the Turks attacking American troops? Slim and there ain't no way. But Trump doesn't know that. Or ...

Trump has an ulterior motive. Who will benefit most from the American withdrawal? The answer is simple, Russia and Russia's ally, Iran.

Then, just when you think matters couldn't get any worse, matters got worse.

This has to be read to be believed. This is what has happened to the leadership of our armed forces under our Commander-in-Chief. In addition to the disgraceful statement that began this report, strongly suggesting a surrender to Turkey, there is this.

Secretary Esper and Chairman Milley were consulted over the last several days by the President regarding the situation and efforts to protect U.S. forces in northern Syria in the face of military action by Turkey. https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Re...om-jonathan-hoffman-chief-pentagon-spokesman/

Esper and Milley were consulted by Trump? It is supposed to be the other way around. The secretary of defense and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff are supposed to consult the Commander-in-Chief, offering him sound advice. What is the problem and what are the alternatives.

Instead, Trump consulted them, according to the Department of Defense statement. In all likelihood, Trump told them his decision to surrender to the Turks, and that was it. Trump was not in the mood to be given advice. He was ordering the retreat.

The White House’s announcement that U.S. forces are pulling back from northeastern Syria to allow a Turkish offensive there took the Pentagon and the government’s Syria point man by surprise ⁠— and the decision defied the current thinking of President Donald Trump's national security leaders. 'POTUS went rogue': Trump's Syria move blindsides national security leaders

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Time reports, "President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in the staff of the National Security Council, according to five people familiar with the plans, as the White House confronts an impeachment inquiry touched off by a whistle-blower complaint related to the agency’s work."

When Putin helped Trump in the Presidential election of 2016, he knew, according to the American Constitution, the President commands the U.S. armed forces.

Is Trump returning the favor? Is Trump helping Russia? If so, is it a matter of understanding between leaders or does Putin have something on Trump? If so, could the answer possibly be in Trump's tax returns?

We don't know the answer to those questions. All we do know, considering the chaos in Washington, the White House wanting an impeachment vote, the total failure of leadership of our armed forces, the benefits received by the President's decision in Syria, a Russian agent could not be doing a better job for Putin than Trump is doing.

I do not understand any American supporting Trump on this. If you do, please explain why you support the betrayal of an important ally who suffered much. Please explain why you support the failure of leadership of our armed forces, ordering the retreat from the Turks!

I'll say this, as a retired Marine, that really sucks.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Try that again?

Ok, again. They're not relevant for this discussion.
Now what? You'll be continuing to whine about the bad Turk ?

No chance they'll be just as nice to the Kurds as they were to the Armenians, eh?

Why?

 

[ekrem]

No chance they'll be just as nice to the Kurds as they were to the Armenians, eh?

Why?

Turks are nice people, scout's honor even more so the Turkish Army

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

The Department's position has been and remains that establishing a safe zone in northern Syria is the best path forward to maintaining stability.

Unfortunately, Turkey has chosen to act unilaterally. As a result we have moved the U.S. forces in northern Syria out of the path of potential Turkish incursion to ensure their safety. We have made no changes to our force presence in Syria at this time.
https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Re...om-jonathan-hoffman-chief-pentagon-spokesman/

The Trump White House is getting more bizarre by the day. The President asked for interference from a foreign power in our Presidential election to benefit his political campaign.

The Trump White House sent a letter to the House of Representatives telling them to vote on the impeachment of the President.

Our ignorant Commander-in-Chief is concerned the Turkish army will attack American troops and he ordered a retreat from northern Syria to ensure their safety?

What are the odds of the Turks attacking American troops? Slim and there ain't no way. But Trump doesn't know that. Or ...

Trump has an ulterior motive. Who will benefit most from the American withdrawal? The answer is simple, Russia and Russia's ally, Iran.

Then, just when you think matters couldn't get any worse, matters got worse.

This has to be read to be believed. This is what has happened to the leadership of our armed forces under our Commander-in-Chief. In addition to the disgraceful statement that began this report, strongly suggesting a surrender to Turkey, there is this.

Secretary Esper and Chairman Milley were consulted over the last several days by the President regarding the situation and efforts to protect U.S. forces in northern Syria in the face of military action by Turkey. https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Re...om-jonathan-hoffman-chief-pentagon-spokesman/

Esper and Milley were consulted by Trump? It is supposed to be the other way around. The secretary of defense and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff are supposed to consult the Commander-in-Chief, offering him sound advice. What is the problem and what are the alternatives.

Instead, Trump consulted them, according to the Department of Defense statement. In all likelihood, Trump told them his decision to surrender to the Turks, and that was it. Trump was not in the mood to be given advice. He was ordering the retreat.

The White House’s announcement that U.S. forces are pulling back from northeastern Syria to allow a Turkish offensive there took the Pentagon and the government’s Syria point man by surprise ⁠— and the decision defied the current thinking of President Donald Trump's national security leaders. 'POTUS went rogue': Trump's Syria move blindsides national security leaders

The President asked for interference from a foreign power in our Presidential election to benefit his political campaign.

Trump's campaign doesn't benefit......unless there's proof of Biden's corruption.

You wouldn't want corruption to remain hidden, would you?

 

[Indeependent]

When you sit in a committee, you can comment on politics.
We know no more about what’s going on with local politics than we know about what’s going on in the Middle East.

so what’s your point? Since we don’t know everything we shouldn’t say anything?

I’m only responding to your response to Correll.

so what’s your point? I was asking if she was speaking in Platitudes or if she had knowledge about this specific situation. Now secret, have to be there knowledge, but a basic awareness of the relationships, history and actions between us and the Kurds. Is that not a fair question in your mind?

We all speak in platitudes.
None of us are attorneys or politicians.

so? Are you trolling me or do you really not understand my line of questioning?

You’re usually pretty smart.
Your remark about whether or not someone is in a Middle East location wasn’t smart.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Turkey has now invaded Syria. Their mission: Destroy the Kurdish fighting force they regard as terrorists.

To prevent this invasion when he ordered the retreat of American troops Trump tweeted, “As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!)."

Trump thinks that all of life's problems can be solved with rhetoric. The statement was made solely for Trump's base. They believe it. No one else did, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

So, of course, the Turks ignored the fool and launched their invasion.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Many will die as a direct result of Trump's decision to order a retreat of American troops from northern Syria, giving Turkey a green light to annihilate the Kurds whom they regard as terrorists. His decision caused a national security threat for our country, and poses serious problems for the Western democracies, not to mention the betrayal of a valuable American ally that had destroyed the ISIS caliphate.

How could an American President do this? I really don't know. Trump acts more like a Russian puppet than an American President.

While countless people are dying in northern Syria because of his decision to surrender to the Turks, this American President held a news conference today. I was watching Fox News when Trump approached the podium after smooching with a baby in the arms of someone in the audience behind him.

Trump droned on with poltical B.S., talking about trading agreements he signed or will sign, introducing other politicians in the room and praising them for something or other. This went on for about fifteen minutes and then Fox caught him off and returned to important matters before us today.

Imagine that, Fox cut off the President.

Before Fox cut Trump off, I watched in amazement as this sociopath droned on about the most mundane of matters as a tragedy was unfolding in Syria, a tragedy of his making. Trump simply didn't care.

He did not even attempt to justify his decision. Most likely because he could not. So, he simply ignored the problem he created and the lives lost as a consequence.

To further illustrate his sociopathy, Trump said this in a statement"The United States does not endorse this attack and has made it clear to Turkey that this operation is a bad idea."

A bad idea? The extreme reduction of the gravity of the situation is noted. Trump simply didn't care and that is the definition of a sociopath.

Speaking to reporters at the White House hours later, Trump further illustrated his mental defect. Trump was asked about the 10,000 ISIS fighters who are likely to escape when their Kurdish guards are ordered to the front to confront the Turks. Trump's answer is classic sociopathy.

Well, they are going to be escaping to Europe, that's where they want to go. They want to go back to their homes. But Europe didn't want them for months. They could have had trials, they could have done whatever they wanted, but as usual, it's not reciprocal. ... When President Obama took the PKK, that's a tough deal because that's been a mortal enemy of Turkey. And so when you bring them into a partnership, it's a tough situation. ... They've hated each other for many, many years.

Note in his blithely stated rambling answer he brings up the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers's Party, and Obama. Did Trump get confused? Did he confuse ISIS terrorists with the Kurds? Is he somehow blaming Obama if the ISIS terrorists are allowed to escape?

No one knows, but Trump might have other mental problems besides his sociopathy. It sounds like he is losing his mind.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

“Turkish armed forces hit 181 targets of the terror organization by air forces and fire support elements within Peace Spring operation," the Turkish ministry said.

Asked whether he was concerned the Turkish army would "wipe out the Kurds" -- who have helped the U.S. fight ISIS in Syria -- Trump repeated a threat made earlier this week.

"I will wipe out his economy if that happens," Trump said. "I've already done it once with Pastor Brunson," Trump said referring to U.S. sanctions slapped on Turkey over the detention of an American. "I hope that he will act rationally," he said.

Trump is saying he wiped out the Turkish economy because of Pastor Brunson. Well, that is what he said.

Trump said he would be “much tougher than sanctions,” if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “doesn’t do it in as humane a way as possible.”

"IT?" Does Trump mean killing the Kurds in an humane way?

Are these the words of rational man?

 

[Slade3200]

so what’s your point? Since we don’t know everything we shouldn’t say anything?

I’m only responding to your response to Correll.

so what’s your point? I was asking if she was speaking in Platitudes or if she had knowledge about this specific situation. Now secret, have to be there knowledge, but a basic awareness of the relationships, history and actions between us and the Kurds. Is that not a fair question in your mind?

We all speak in platitudes.
None of us are attorneys or politicians.

so? Are you trolling me or do you really not understand my line of questioning?

You’re usually pretty smart.
Your remark about whether or not someone is in a Middle East location wasn’t smart.

I think you misunderstood me from the start. The lady I was replying to didn’t seem to be aware of our relationship with the Kurds. General knowledge stuff. I don’t know where this “knowing every detail from first hand experience” thing came from but that doesn’t have anything to do with my point.

 

[Indeependent]

I’m only responding to your response to Correll.

so what’s your point? I was asking if she was speaking in Platitudes or if she had knowledge about this specific situation. Now secret, have to be there knowledge, but a basic awareness of the relationships, history and actions between us and the Kurds. Is that not a fair question in your mind?

We all speak in platitudes.
None of us are attorneys or politicians.

so? Are you trolling me or do you really not understand my line of questioning?

You’re usually pretty smart.
Your remark about whether or not someone is in a Middle East location wasn’t smart.

I think you misunderstood me from the start. The lady I was replying to didn’t seem to be aware of our relationship with the Kurds. General knowledge stuff. I don’t know where this “knowing every detail from first hand experience” thing came from but that doesn’t have anything to do with my point.

The Kurds are nice people surrounded by Head Choppers.
They have no safe haven near Turkey or Syria.
It’s a frustrating and expensive exercise in flushing US tax dollars down the drain.

 

[Slade3200]

so what’s your point? I was asking if she was speaking in Platitudes or if she had knowledge about this specific situation. Now secret, have to be there knowledge, but a basic awareness of the relationships, history and actions between us and the Kurds. Is that not a fair question in your mind?

We all speak in platitudes.
None of us are attorneys or politicians.

so? Are you trolling me or do you really not understand my line of questioning?

You’re usually pretty smart.
Your remark about whether or not someone is in a Middle East location wasn’t smart.

I think you misunderstood me from the start. The lady I was replying to didn’t seem to be aware of our relationship with the Kurds. General knowledge stuff. I don’t know where this “knowing every detail from first hand experience” thing came from but that doesn’t have anything to do with my point.

The Kurds are nice people surrounded by Head Choppers.
They have no safe haven near Turkey or Syria.
It’s a frustrating and expensive exercise in flushing US tax dollars down the drain.

it was also crucial to work with them to decimate Isis and they could have been better protected if we hadn’t of convinced them to demilitarize along the turkey border which they wouldnt have done if they had known we would bail

 

[Indeependent]

We all speak in platitudes.
None of us are attorneys or politicians.

so? Are you trolling me or do you really not understand my line of questioning?

You’re usually pretty smart.
Your remark about whether or not someone is in a Middle East location wasn’t smart.

I think you misunderstood me from the start. The lady I was replying to didn’t seem to be aware of our relationship with the Kurds. General knowledge stuff. I don’t know where this “knowing every detail from first hand experience” thing came from but that doesn’t have anything to do with my point.

The Kurds are nice people surrounded by Head Choppers.
They have no safe haven near Turkey or Syria.
It’s a frustrating and expensive exercise in flushing US tax dollars down the drain.

it was also crucial to work with them to decimate Isis and they could have been better protected if we hadn’t of convinced them to demilitarize along the turkey border which they wouldnt have done if they had known we would bail

In the meanwhile Turkey, unlike the US, is now escorting their Syrian refugees out of Turkey.
Muslims reject Muslims.

 

[iceberg]

We all speak in platitudes.
None of us are attorneys or politicians.

so? Are you trolling me or do you really not understand my line of questioning?

You’re usually pretty smart.
Your remark about whether or not someone is in a Middle East location wasn’t smart.

I think you misunderstood me from the start. The lady I was replying to didn’t seem to be aware of our relationship with the Kurds. General knowledge stuff. I don’t know where this “knowing every detail from first hand experience” thing came from but that doesn’t have anything to do with my point.

The Kurds are nice people surrounded by Head Choppers.
They have no safe haven near Turkey or Syria.
It’s a frustrating and expensive exercise in flushing US tax dollars down the drain.

it was also crucial to work with them to decimate Isis and they could have been better protected if we hadn’t of convinced them to demilitarize along the turkey border which they wouldnt have done if they had known we would bail

has anyone really ever beaten down a terrorist org? all i ever see 'em do is rebrand and start up again.

 

[Indeependent]

Turkey's Erdogan warns of flooding Europe with Syrian refugees if EU calls assault an 'invasion'

 

[22lcidw]

You can argue but 30 years of war over there and its still a mess.

 

[toobfreak]

So, what does Trump do? What he always does. He replaces one moronic decision -- asking two foreign powers to interfere in our Presidential election -- with another moronic decision.

Hey idiot, asking a foreign power to cooperate in a criminal investigation that occurred in their country is called LAW ENFORCEMENT, not interference in an election. Crime supersedes politics, Biden is just running for now not even a nominated candidate, and there is no election, not for another 13 months.

Quit shitting yourself that Trump might actually expose the vast crime network of the Democrats.

 

[Slade3200]

so? Are you trolling me or do you really not understand my line of questioning?

You’re usually pretty smart.
Your remark about whether or not someone is in a Middle East location wasn’t smart.

I think you misunderstood me from the start. The lady I was replying to didn’t seem to be aware of our relationship with the Kurds. General knowledge stuff. I don’t know where this “knowing every detail from first hand experience” thing came from but that doesn’t have anything to do with my point.

The Kurds are nice people surrounded by Head Choppers.
They have no safe haven near Turkey or Syria.
It’s a frustrating and expensive exercise in flushing US tax dollars down the drain.

it was also crucial to work with them to decimate Isis and they could have been better protected if we hadn’t of convinced them to demilitarize along the turkey border which they wouldnt have done if they had known we would bail

has anyone really ever beaten down a terrorist org? all i ever see 'em do is rebrand and start up again.

True, there will always be terrorists and fringe whackos. But Isis grew to hold terror and to fortify. Taking out their Caliphate was an important goal and that’s what we were able to do by working with the Kurds. They took the front lines and lost thousands of fighters in the process.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump made a disgraceful military decision, betraying a valuable ally who had eliminated the caliphate and marginalized the ISIS Guerilla force.

NPR reports, "As a military offensive by Turkey into Syria enters its third day, aid agencies are increasingly concerned. An estimated 100,000 civilians in northeastern Syria have been displaced, at least one displaced-persons camp was relocated out of the line of fire, a front-line hospital was abandoned and critical water infrastructure was taken out of commission, according to the United Nations. All of this is exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that was already one of the world's worst.

"On Wednesday, Turkish ground and air forces commenced a series of assaults against a Syrian militia of the Kurdish ethnic group, which had been an American ally in the fight against ISIS but is viewed as a terrorist organization by the Turkish government."

“We have not abandoned the Kurds. Nobody greenlighted this operation by Turkey,” secretary of defense, Mark Esper said. His remarks make me want to puke. “We oppose and are greatly disappointed by Turkey’s decision to launch a unilateral military incursion into northern Syria. This operation puts our [Syrian Democratic Forces] partners in harm’s way, it risks the security of [Islamic State] prison camps and will further destabilize the region.” Well, no shyt!

Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wants to make sure none of our troops get hurt as a result of the military action directly related to Trump's order to retreat.

“The Turkish military is fully aware, down to explicit grid coordinate detail, of the locations of U.S. forces,” Milley said. “Everyone is fully aware that we are the U.S. military we retain the right of self defense.” Gee, really, after betraying an ally. How did this guy make general? A suck-a$$ to Trump?

As a military offensive by Turkey into Syria enters its third day, aid agencies are increasingly concerned. An estimated 100,000 civilians in northeastern Syria have been displaced, at least one displaced-persons camp was relocated out of the line of fire, a front-line hospital was abandoned and critical water infrastructure was taken out of commission, according to the United Nations. All of this is exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that was already one of the world's worst.

Recalling that the President is solely responsible for what is happening by ordering a retreat of American forces, Trump's response is beyond comprehension.

“The last thing I want to do is bring thousands and thousands of soldiers in and defeat everybody again,” Trump said when asked about how to handle the situation. “We've already done that.

“So what we have is really two choices: You have the choice of bringing in the military and defeating everybody again, or you have the choice of financially doing some very strong things to Turkey. ... We have a very good relationship with the Kurds. Or we can mediate. I hope we can mediate.”

Trump continues to have a problem with reality.

One possible explanation to his reaction to all this? Trump is a sociopath. He sure sounds like one. He simply does not care about the humanitarian crisis he caused and mounting casualties. Last night he went to a political rally in Minneapolis.

Another possible explanation, Trump is serving his mentor, Vladimir Putin.

Both explanations are plausible. I would like to hear from someone who disputes them.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Another possible explanation, Trump is serving his mentor, Vladimir Putin.

My God, it is worse than I thought, far worse! I speak from that standpoint of a retired Marine officer, and Chesty Puller must be rolling over in his grave.

Joseph Francis Dunford Jr. is a United States Marine Corps general and served as the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2015 until September 30, 2019. He maintained constant contact with the leadership of the Turkish military.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. spoke with Chief of the Turkish General Staff Gen. Yasar Guler today. The two leaders discussed updates to the security situation in Syria and the importance of U.S.-Turkish cooperation in the region. The U.S. and Turkey enjoy a strong and continuous military-to-military relationship as key members of the NATO alliance. https://www.jcs.mil/Media/News/News...iefs-of-staff-gen-dunfords-phone-call-with-c/

Trump waited until Dunford retired. The mealy mouth, lapdog Mark A. Milley replaced Dunford on Oct. !. Milley is far more concerned that his troops might get hurt rather than the mission assigned to them. He is quick to pull them out of harm's way, and to hell with the mission.

On October 5th Trump ordered the retreat of American troops from northern Syria, betraying our invaluable ally, the Kurds, and causing the release of hundreds of ISIS terrorists.

Butt kisser Milley approved of the dishonorable decision. So did Trump's other butt kisser, SecDef Mark Esper. It is why they were hired.

It gets worse. Until now I simply thought Trump made a stupid, dishonorable decision that involved the betrayal of an ally. I was joined by many, Republicans and Democrats alike.

It is more than that. On Oct. 5, "President Trump had given his endorsement for a Turkish military operation that would sweep away American-backed Kurdish forces near the border in Syria."

"Administration officials said that Mr. Trump spoke directly with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on the issue on Sunday. And the officials indicated that the 100 to 150 United States military personnel deployed to that area would be pulled back in advance of any Turkish operation but that they would not be completely withdrawn from Syria."

"Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria,” the White House said in a statement released just before 11 p.m. in Washington. “The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces will no longer be in the immediate area."

President Endorses Turkish Military Operation in Syria, Shifting U.S. Policy

I don't have words, I really don't. The report says it all, I guess.