U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post Reply
Credo ut intelligam
Posts: 713
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:27 pm

U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Credo ut intelligam »

White House declares victory over ISIS in Syria; troops coming home:

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham criticized the move as an "Obama-like mistake."

That comment is sure to alienate both sides of the aisle, but bringing back our soldiers sounds like good news to me. Let's get out of Afghanistan while we're at it. 17 years is long enough.
Last edited by John Q. Public on Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: spammy link removed
broman
Posts: 4724
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:52 am
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Syria Withdrawal

Post by broman »


Lindsey mot buying it

In a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday night, Graham, one of Trump's closest allies in Congress, called the move "disastrous to our own national security" and a decision that was made "against sound military advice." Graham said this decision would make Americans around the world and here at home "more at risk, not less." "We have been dishonorable. This is a stain on the honor of the United States,"

Just four days ago, Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat ISIS, warned against a withdrawal when I interviewed him at the Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday.
While McGurk called ISIS a "significantly degraded organization," he added, "But no one who does this day to day is naive enough to know you can just declare victory and walk away. We have to maintain pressure on these networks really, for a period of years."
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/19/opinions ... index.html
broman
Posts: 4724
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:52 am
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Syria Withdrawal

Post by broman »

Behind the scenes, the move generated confusion as military officials raced to outline plans for a rapid departure of the entire U.S. force of more than 2,000 troops. U.S. forces have been working in small numbers with local forces since 2015.

A host of officials, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have dismissed a precipitous departure as premature and risky as militants are embracing insurgent tactics and seeking to regain strength in areas they once controlled.
“Getting rid of the caliphate doesn’t mean you then blindly say, ‘Okay, we got rid of it,’ march out, and then wonder why the caliphate comes back,” Mattis told reporters in September.

Current and former White House officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, described the announcement as a “knee-jerk presidential reaction” to Trump’s call last week with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish leader has threatened to launch a military offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria in coming days.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/na ... 6224b43f05
User avatar
Omar Bongo
Posts: 10537
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:59 pm
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 26 times

Re: Syria Withdrawal

Post by Omar Bongo »

Pretty sure GWB & Obama got roasted by Trump for the same thing :eh?:
"Trump is what he is, a floundering, inarticulate jumble of gnawing insecurities and not-at-all compensating vanities, which is pathetic."
George Will

"How stupid is our country?"
Donald Trump
broman
Posts: 4724
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:52 am
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Syria Withdrawal

Post by broman »

I almost feel bad for Bolton...... almost.

Those cautioning against a rapid and immediate withdrawal included Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton.

And in September, Bolton told reporters on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly that US troops would remain in Syria to counter Iran. "We're not going to leave as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders and that includes Iranian proxies and militias," Bolton said.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/19/politics ... index.html
User avatar
John Q. Public
Site Admin
Posts: 27490
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:56 am
Has thanked: 24 times
Been thanked: 66 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by John Q. Public »

Mission accomplished!

Waiting for the Kremlin to release the timetable.
Don't look at me, I just work here.
User avatar
John Q. Public
Site Admin
Posts: 27490
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:56 am
Has thanked: 24 times
Been thanked: 66 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by John Q. Public »

Don't look at me, I just work here.
User avatar
Professor Fate
Posts: 4806
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2016 5:11 pm
Has thanked: 91 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Professor Fate »

I'm not concerned about ISIS making a comeback in Syria. The forces that will still remain there (Russia, Syria, Iran and the Kurds) can finish them off.

I am, however very concerned with:

Iran's presence, (and their desire to carve a road to the sea),
The welfare of the Kurds,
The Russian presence.
Make Them Cry Again In 2024
Credo ut intelligam
Posts: 713
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:27 pm

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Credo ut intelligam »

John Q. Public wrote:Mission accomplished!

Waiting for the Kremlin to release the timetable.
Well, it didn't take long for someone to find a "Russia!" narrative to explain the President's decision.

As I recall someone once saying, the 1980's called; they want their foreign policy back...

User avatar
Fordama
Posts: 18288
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:12 pm
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Fordama »

The Zen Master said, "we'll see."
This country of the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them.—-JFK
User avatar
Wabash
Posts: 28017
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:29 am
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Wabash »

It's pretty easy to reach the conclusion that Trump never particularly cared one way or another about Israel or Iran, and that he was really only interested in using them as political props in order to poke Barack Obama and the Democrats in the eye. It's also clear that the President doesn't care what Mattis or any of the other generals have to say. This move is also very unlike John Bolton, so it may be that Trump has begun to tune him out, as well.....IMO
Stay loose, and be a little afraid.

quando omni flunkus, mortati
User avatar
Omar Bongo
Posts: 10537
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:59 pm
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 26 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Omar Bongo »

Maybe he's planning to move them to the US-Mexico border where they're really needed
"Trump is what he is, a floundering, inarticulate jumble of gnawing insecurities and not-at-all compensating vanities, which is pathetic."
George Will

"How stupid is our country?"
Donald Trump
User avatar
Wabash
Posts: 28017
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:29 am
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Wabash »

This is his usual way to shake things up and distract the narrative. Given the week he is having with Flynn, his charity, and getting the wall rammed up his behind, who could blame him?

Wouldn't surprise me if he changes his mind in a couple of days.

Citing some nonsense like, "after further consultation."
Stay loose, and be a little afraid.

quando omni flunkus, mortati
User avatar
Omar Bongo
Posts: 10537
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:59 pm
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 26 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Omar Bongo »

Credo ut intelligam wrote:Well, it didn't take long for someone to find a "Russia!" narrative to explain the President's decision.
Do you have another explanation for why Trump seems to be the only person in our entire government who wants to give Putin this huge Christmas present?
"Trump is what he is, a floundering, inarticulate jumble of gnawing insecurities and not-at-all compensating vanities, which is pathetic."
George Will

"How stupid is our country?"
Donald Trump
User avatar
Wabash
Posts: 28017
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:29 am
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Wabash »

I'm guessing the Kurds are not amused. The NY Times is reporting the Kurds are considering releasing thousands of ISIS prisoners.
Stay loose, and be a little afraid.

quando omni flunkus, mortati
User avatar
Omar Bongo
Posts: 10537
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:59 pm
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 26 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Omar Bongo »

What about Israel? The mullahs in Tehran must be partying like it's 1979
"Trump is what he is, a floundering, inarticulate jumble of gnawing insecurities and not-at-all compensating vanities, which is pathetic."
George Will

"How stupid is our country?"
Donald Trump
User avatar
Fordama
Posts: 18288
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:12 pm
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Fordama »

I didn't see it before, but that's a nice bit of internet shade that Marco threw out there.
This country of the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them.—-JFK
RPW
Posts: 6001
Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:11 pm
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by RPW »

Credo ut intelligam wrote: White House declares victory over ISIS in Syria; troops coming home:

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham criticized the move as an "Obama-like mistake."

That comment is sure to alienate both sides of the aisle, but bringing back our soldiers sounds like good news to me. Let's get out of Afghanistan while we're at it. 17 years is long enough.
Nice PR spin for the president to take focus away from others.

Are you a teacher at Servite?
I am The Voice of Reason
MDDad
Posts: 12383
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:24 pm
Been thanked: 26 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by MDDad »

I can't believe what I'm reading. For almost as long as I've been hear, I've heard the usual suspects whining and complaining to bring our troops home from the Middle East, because the cost in "blood and treasure" is just too high, because we have much more important things to spend our money on, and because we have no business there and can never fix that region's problems.. Now that this loon in the White House is actually planning on doing it, they whine and complain about that.

As if I needed more convincing every day that no matter what this guy does, the usual suspects here will find some reason, any reason, to crap on him.
User avatar
Tommy Tar
Posts: 1793
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:32 am
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: U.S. Troops Coming Home from Syria

Post by Tommy Tar »

Lefty wants blood of oil? —:— If the rich Middle East nations want to be safe they can buy our guns and jets.
Post Reply