Susan Wright on the Right
The commander-in-chief of our military is a complete idiot.
That may not be completely fair. To be fair, we’d also have to pose the question: How would a Russian asset act any differently?
With a tidal wave of investigations, scandals, and reports of corruption threatening to overwhelm President Trump, his administration, and even his family over the entirety of his presidency, thus far, he really needs distractions.
Just the news cycle of the last couple of weeks demands something big.
With that in mind, Trump arose on Wednesday morning and decided, “Hey… Maybe we should just say ISIS is defeated and immediately withdraw from Syria!”
ISIS, is not, in fact, “defeated.”
Have they been frustrated and their efforts cut off?
To a degree, yes, but that only indicates that the pressure should be increased, to finish the job. Trump wants to give them time and breathing room to regroup.
Do you know who else wants to see the United States out of Syria?
Vladimir Putin.
I’m just saying…
“We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning.
The White House confirmed in a statement that the administration has “started returning United States troops home” but emphasized that coalition efforts in Syria would continue. It also reiterated Trump’s claim that “the United States has defeated the territorial caliphate.”
“These victories over ISIS in Syria do not signal the end of the Global Coalition or its campaign. We have started returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign. The United States and our allies stand ready to re-engage at all levels to defend American interests whenever necessary, and we will continue to work together to deny radical Islamist terrorists territory, funding, support, and any means of infiltrating our borders,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
Let’s keep in mind that Trump has no military experience and draft dodged with the best of them, having his wealthy daddy get him 4 or 5 deferments from serving in Vietnam, based on a sore foot.
He later joked with shock jock Howard Stern that his “personal Vietnam” was avoiding sexually transmitted diseases.
What a guy…
Meanwhile, the Pentagon seem rather perplexed, and you can bet within the next few days, we’re going to be hearing stories of how they were caught off guard by Trump’s latest announcement.
The Pentagon spokesman, Col. Rob Manning was asked about the president’s tweet on Wednesday, only to say that our military continues to work with partners in the region, and that they have nothing more to add (regarding Trump’s tweet) at this time.
Seriously. Is there anyone else that thinks maybe making really sensitive foreign policy and military announcements across social media, and essentially, on a whim, is a great idea for this nation?
Trump fanboy and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham, actually took time away from licking Trump’s boots to call out this misguided move. He referred to it as a “big, Obama-like move.”
It wasn’t a compliment.
“After visiting Syria earlier this year, it is abundantly clear the approximately 2,000 American troops stationed there are vital to our national security interests,” Graham said in a statement. “An American withdrawal at this time would be a big win for ISIS, Iran, Bashar al Assad of Syria, and Russia. I fear it will lead to devastating consequences for our nation, the region, and throughout the world.
A big win for Russia. I think you’ve stumbled on to something, Senator.
A full withdrawal from Syria would be a reversal for the Trump administration, which as recently as Monday was talking about the need to remain in the country until the “enduring” defeat of the terrorist group.
“We’re well on our way to seeing that happen, the problem is ISIS will come back if the underlying conditions are receptive to that kind of ideological movement,” the State Department’s special envoy for Syria, James Jeffrey, said at the Atlantic Council.
National security adviser John Bolton also pledged in September that U.S. forces would stay in Syria until Iran withdraws all its forces.
Gee. I wonder if he’s feeling a bit tossed under the bus, today?
Stick with this administration long enough, Mr. Bolton, and it will eventually happen.
There will be a time to leave, but it should be after the work is done.
Senator Marco Rubio took to his Facebook page to post a short video, voicing his opposition to the move.
“full and rapid” withdrawal from #Syria is a grave error with broader implications beyond just the fight against #ISIS
Too complex to outline why in a tweet. Will speak about this on Facebook Live at 10:45am eastern.
Watch here: https://t.co/SN8390EYZe
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 19, 2018
He suggested that ISIS has been “significantly degraded,” but not defeated.
He then skillfully mapped out what is happening in the region, and why Trump is wrong.
It is well worth the watch.
Others had their opinions about what is happening.
The first time American troops are moved on orders from the Kremlin? Putin needs more war and remembers what US forces did last time. With them gone, a new bloodbath & control of all Syria. https://t.co/NgOxJAnoku
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTom/status/1075424618347945985
For those who have been watching closely, just because he says it, there’s no guarantee he’s going to act on it.
Just look at the southern border wall, for instance.
The problem, however, is that he is sending signals to both our foes and our allies in the region, and none of it makes the United States seem strong, or as reliable partners.
President Trump should not be tossing out such critical statements as distractions from a bad news cycle.
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