Contradicting Trump, Bolton says no withdrawal from Syria until ISIS destroyed, Kurds’ safety guaran

[JANFU]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...p-table-main_bolton-1230pm:homepage/story-ans

Mods- Title to long to fit

President Trump’s national security adviser sought to reassure allies Sunday that the United States would be methodical about withdrawing troops from Syria, promising that the pullout would not occur until the Islamic State was fully eradicated from the country and Turkey could guarantee the safety of Kurdish fighters who have fought alongside American personnel.

Nonetheless, the plans and assurances the national security adviser offered in Israel were confirmation that withdrawal plans are on hold until conditions on the ground match the president’s stated assessment of the situation in Syria. As part of his announcement, Trump said the United States had “defeated ISIS” there — a claim that his advisers and political allies have disputed. ISIS is an alternative acronym for the Islamic State.

Is Trump slow walking back from a Syrian withdrawal?

If he is, how will he spin it? Regardless of whether you were for or against a Syria withdrawal, this would be a major FP change by Trump.
He received substantial criticism over his decision, and Sec Def resigned over it and other policy differences

 

[tecoyah]

If accurate then Bolton is doing everyone a favor except ISIS, Iran and Russia but he will probably be fired within the month for upsetting Trump.

 

[Thelion]

Forced to face reality in Syria, not getting his Red Ryder wall for Christmas, could be a bad couple of weeks for tRump.

 

[Mach]

A strange day when even John Bolton looks reasonable next to the dumpster fire of a boss he has.

 

[Jetboogieman]

A strange day when even John Bolton looks reasonable next to the dumpster fire of a boss he has.

Bolton is definitely one of the WORST Neo-Cons from the Bush Days, thoroughly detestable individual, so yes, I must concur it's a sad and extremely strange day where he looks better by comparison.

But this is the severe issue with the utter dysfunction of this White House, how it hasn't caused a very serious international incident, or if countries have just grown accustomed to the chaos I don't know, and withhold saying or doing anything til there's some clarity in the chaos, but, does anyone in the White House know what the **** is happening?

How many times have we heard that Trump has said things without consulting anyone on his staff?

And how many times have his driveling, brainless supporters said that was fake news?

 

[Winston]

A strange day when even John Bolton looks reasonable next to the dumpster fire of a boss he has.

Right? Bolton is an extremist warmonger, but, no one accused him of being dumb.

Trump, while I agree with bringing the troops home. Anouncing via Twitter without doing any homework is probably the dumbest way to do it. It's not what you're doing it's how you do it. I'm a big believer in that phrase.

 

[Chomsky]

We're literally confusing the **** out of our allies. Well, the ones we haven't already alienated.

 

[cpwill]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...p-table-main_bolton-1230pm:homepage/story-ans

Mods- Title to long to fit


Is Trump slow walking back from a Syrian withdrawal?

I don't know if Trump is driving the decision. But, it seems so, yes.

At least there's that.

 

[Tangmo]

Forced to face reality in Syria, not getting his Red Ryder wall for Christmas, could be a bad couple of weeks for tRump.

Trump is unfazed in certain ways because he doesn't know anything about this yet. Nobody's going to tell him we're staying either. It's like not telling your crazy uncle in the attic he's crazy. You avoid another of his stomping fits while everything remains unchanged. Trump meanwhile is left believing Bolton is busy in his office working on the pullout from SK announcement.

 

[ElChupacabra]

A strange day when even John Bolton looks reasonable next to the dumpster fire of a boss he has.

Yeah, I never thought that day would ever come but so it has. It's pretty interesting to see how many times administration officials have to "clarify" Trump remarks.

 

[Perotista]

Bolton is definitely one of the WORST Neo-Cons from the Bush Days, thoroughly detestable individual, so yes, I must concur it's a sad and extremely strange day where he looks better by comparison.

But this is the severe issue with the utter dysfunction of this White House, how it hasn't caused a very serious international incident, or if countries have just grown accustomed to the chaos I don't know, and withhold saying or doing anything til there's some clarity in the chaos, but, does anyone in the White House know what the **** is happening?

How many times have we heard that Trump has said things without consulting anyone on his staff?

And how many times have his driveling, brainless supporters said that was fake news?

Grown accustom to the Chaos, hmm. Perhaps, or they are simply ignoring him until some kind of action is taken. I've pretty much ignored Trump from day one. He's either saying some obnoxcious thing, calling someone a name, the guy tweets something one day, the opposite the next. Honors someone and then degrades him later.

I wonder if the nation is beginning to get adjusted to his very unpresidential behavior, basically ignoring him as I have. Sort of saying or thinking, that's Trump just being Trump. No standards, no respect and one huge ego. That could be dangerous if we come to accept his behavior, antics, name calling and temper tantrum throwing via twitter by just closing our eyes and ears to the man. I have to wonder how many of us that are neither pro or anti Trump. Not highly partisan right or left, not Republican or democrat have like myself, put this orange headed distasteful man on ignore?

Perhaps that comes from not giving a darn hoot who won or lost in 2016. Neither major party candidate was acceptable. So we just hit the ingnore button. Waiting and hoping for someone better.

 

[Common Sense 1]

President Trump has the MSM all in another tizzy. Oh my?

First they are upset with the pull out and now they are upset with the (maybe) slow down of the pull out?

Want to bet there is a change on Syria very, very soon?

Keep em guessing Mr. president. :fueltofir

 

[Jetboogieman]

Grown accustom to the Chaos, hmm. Perhaps, or they are simply ignoring him until some kind of action is taken. I've pretty much ignored Trump from day one. He's either saying some obnoxcious thing, calling someone a name, the guy tweets something one day, the opposite the next. Honors someone and then degrades him later.

I wonder if the nation is beginning to get adjusted to his very unpresidential behavior, basically ignoring him as I have. Sort of saying or thinking, that's Trump just being Trump. No standards, no respect and one huge ego. That could be dangerous if we come to accept his behavior, antics, name calling and temper tantrum throwing via twitter by just closing our eyes and ears to the man. I have to wonder how many of us that are neither pro or anti Trump. Not highly partisan right or left, not Republican or democrat have like myself, put this orange headed distasteful man on ignore?

Perhaps that comes from not giving a darn hoot who won or lost in 2016. Neither major party candidate was acceptable. So we just hit the ingnore button. Waiting and hoping for someone better.

I don't know if ignoring him is necessarily the right road to go down.

 

[ElChupacabra]

President Trump has the MSM all in another tizzy. Oh my?

First they are upset with the pull out and now they are upset with the (maybe) slow down of the pull out?

Want to bet there is a change on Syria very, very soon?

Keep em guessing Mr. president. :fueltofir

Inconsistent messaging doesn't serve anyone. What point is there for him to misdirect intentionally? The more likely explanation is he thought it was a good idea but didn't bother with the details, so he went rogue and stated the troops are coming home because ISIS is defeated. Now Bolton had to step in an provide a reality check. This whole thing makes the WH look disorganized and unprofessional.

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

I don't watch Fox, so maybe someone can enlighten me. Over the weekend did someone on Fox say us withdrawing from Syria was a bad idea, so Trump listened to his masters on Fox, and then sent Bolton out to spread to word.

 

[ElChupacabra]

I don't watch Fox, so maybe someone can enlighten me. Over the weekend did someone on Fox say us withdrawing from Syria was a bad idea, so Trump listened to his masters on Fox, and then sent Bolton out to spread to word.

Who the heck knows. At this point policy decisions might be coming from Twitter comments and distributed by carrier pigeons.

 

[Perotista]

I don't know if ignoring him is necessarily the right road to go down.

I've been thinking about that. I noticed in most polls about Trump, when independents are asked if they like or dislike Trump, on average 15% answer they neither like or dislike him and another 15% say their not sure or undecided about him. Independents make up approximately 40% of the total electorate. That's a lot of independents who have no opinion on Trump. Of course their not as political active as those who affiliate with either major party or do they pay much attention to the daily goings on in Washington.

 

[Jetboogieman]

I've been thinking about that. I noticed in most polls about Trump, when independents are asked if they like or dislike Trump, on average 15% answer they neither like or dislike him and another 15% say their not sure or undecided about him. Independents make up approximately 40% of the total electorate. That's a lot of independents who have no opinion on Trump. Of course their not as political active as those who affiliate with either major party or do they pay much attention to the daily goings on in Washington.

Well as I've always said throughout the years, look, most people are more concerned with Brangelina and stuffing their face at the Mall Food Court to give a damn about what's going on in Washington.

But for those of us who are concerned, who do care and pay attention to what's going on, when the President of the United States says something, it matters, it matters everytime and I think one should take seriously and be concerned with whatever comes out of his trap, however he chooses to convey it, whether that's twitter or whatever.

And it's concerning that you never know if what he's saying is going to be binding or actioned in any way, I mean when one is unilaterally saying, unreservedly and most likely without talking to anyone, including the military themselves, that he's going to pull out of Syria, a geo-political cluster**** with more players with even more motivations, with huge implications for the region... That's as concerning as it gets and to me as clear a sign as one can have that he is completely unfit for office.

It's not that I agree or disagree about pulling out of Syria, I believe I have an understanding of geo-politics that at this point, it may be not in Americas interests, despite my opposition to general involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, but I know that's not what we're discussing, just also wanted to get that out the way.

 

[Mach]

Keep em guessing Mr. president. :fueltofir

Supporting anti-leadership
lack of clear communication to the public he serves
lack of communication with his own staff/advisors
Trolling with the best of them.

But he does communicate well with Hannity, Rush, and Putin, just fine.

Priorities.

 

[Bullseye]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...p-table-main_bolton-1230pm:homepage/story-ans

Mods- Title to long to fit


Is Trump slow walking back from a Syrian withdrawal?

If he is, how will he spin it? Regardless of whether you were for or against a Syria withdrawal, this would be a major FP change by Trump.
He received substantial criticism over his decision, and Sec Def resigned over it and other policy differences

Or maybe this destroys one of the left's most cherished urban legends- that Trump doesn't listen to his advisors - maybe Bolton convinced him to go slow on withdrawal until Turkey's intentions are clearer.

 

[Jetboogieman]

Or maybe this destroys one of the left's most cherished urban legends- that Trump doesn't listen to his advisors - maybe Bolton convinced him to go slow on withdrawal until Turkey's intentions are clearer.

As if that somehow absolves Trump of making unilateral, massively impactful geo-political decisions and broadcasting them to the world before hes likely run it past anyone, including the military.

 

[Airyaman]

What exactly is the track record of Trump announcing something via Twitter or Fox News or Facebook or random interview before boarding Marine 1 and it ever coming to fruition? It seems to be pretty low. Like, almost zero follow-up by himself or those serving on Team Trump. Trump announces he wants something, no one bothers to follow it up in writing, so nothing really happens beyond media chaos and the rest of the world wondering why we elected a very unstable person as our president.

 

[Perotista]

Well as I've always said throughout the years, look, most people are more concerned with Brangelina and stuffing their face at the Mall Food Court to give a damn about what's going on in Washington.

But for those of us who are concerned, who do care and pay attention to what's going on, when the President of the United States says something, it matters, it matters everytime and I think one should take seriously and be concerned with whatever comes out of his trap, however he chooses to convey it, whether that's twitter or whatever.

And it's concerning that you never know if what he's saying is going to be binding or actioned in any way, I mean when one is unilaterally saying, unreservedly and most likely without talking to anyone, including the military themselves, that he's going to pull out of Syria, a geo-political cluster**** with more players with even more motivations, with huge implications for the region... That's as concerning as it gets and to me as clear a sign as one can have that he is completely unfit for office.

It's not that I agree or disagree about pulling out of Syria, I believe I have an understanding of geo-politics that at this point, it may be not in Americas interests, despite my opposition to general involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, but I know that's not what we're discussing, just also wanted to get that out the way.

I think I realized shortly after Trump announced his intentions to run for the presidency, that he says one thing one day, something totally the opposite the next, then on the third day, denies saying anything at all. Not someone I would support. Hence the ignore button. No one can believe a word he says. I had hoped the GOP would come to its senses and nominate someone else. When that didn't happen, the dang Democrats came up and nominated Hillary. That's when I gave up on the whole 2016 election. All I could do was vote third party against both candidates whom I disdained.

There was a whole of disliking both candidates, especially among independents. election day, 57% disliked Trump, but 70% disliked Hillary. Hence Trump winning the independent vote 46-42 with 12% voting third party. Against both of them. Questions 10 and 11.

https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/l37rosbwjp/econTabReport_lv.pdf

Now those 57% of independents who disliked Trump in 2016 showed their dislike in 2018 by voting for the Democratic congressional candidates 54-42. I have a feeling the GOP will be paying another dear price in 2020. Unless the Democrats nominate another Hillary Clinton type candidate.

 

[Bullseye]

As if that somehow absolves Trump of making unilateral, massively impactful geo-political decisions and broadcasting them to the world before hes likely run it past anyone, including the military.

Doesn't absolve him of anything, HE'S the BOSS, the buck stops with him, advisors have input but the BOSS makes the call. My point is that maybe he isn't making as many of those "unilateral" decisions as you guys think.

 

[Jetboogieman]

HE'S the BOSS, the buck stops with him, advisors have input but the BOSS makes the call.

And don't you think THE BOSS... Has a responsibility, especially with a subject and decision as serious as this, to make an informed decision and convey that informed decision, right or wrong, as it is subjective, in a clear, responsible and concise manner?

Anything short of that, in my mind is madness.