Why did Trump suddenly decide to withdraw from Syria?

[Dittohead not!]

Seems it had to do with a phone call to Ergodan:

The Dec. 14 call came a day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu agreed to have the two presidents discuss Erdogan's threats to launch a military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish rebels in northeast Syria, where American forces are based. The NSC then set up the call.
Pompeo, Mattis and other members of the national security team prepared a list of talking points for Trump to tell Erdogan to back off, the officials said.
But the officials said Trump, who had previously accepted such advice and convinced the Turkish leader not to attack the Kurds and put U.S. troops at risk, ignored the script. Instead, the president sided with Erdogan.

source

 

[ttwtt78640]

Seems it had to do with a phone call to Ergodan:



source[/FONT][/COLOR]

Trying to assign logical reasons for Trump's constantly changing policy positions is an exercise in futility - especially when Trump often does not bother to offer any. He seems to take great pride in his own unpredictability.

 

[Rexedgar]

Seems it had to do with a phone call to Ergodan:



source[/FONT][/COLOR]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/10/jamal-khashoggi-saudi-arabia-extradite-turkey-

This story may get less and less attention.........:shrug:

 

[Dittohead not!]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/10/jamal-khashoggi-saudi-arabia-extradite-turkey-

This story may get less and less attention.........:shrug:

That one does seem to have faded into the background lately.

 

[danarhea]

Seems it had to do with a phone call to Ergodan:



source[/FONT][/COLOR]

That decision was made by President Putin. And Trump's decision to shut down the government was made by Presidents Coulter and Limbaugh.

 

[Dittohead not!]

That decision was made by President Putin. And Trump's decision to shut down the government was made by Presidents Coulter and Limbaugh.

The US is indeed blessed to have so many presidents.

 

[SoCal]

Trying to assign logical reasons for Trump's constantly changing policy positions is an exercise in futility - especially when Trump often does not bother to offer any. He seems to take great pride in his own unpredictability.

Changing his mind as often as the wind changes direction aside, I thought he did offer a reason for the cut and run. Trump has declared that he's defeated ISIS. Thank God for our fearless leader...

That decision was made by President Putin...

The US is indeed blessed to have so many presidents.

So true, Trump's decision has made our president, our vice president and our vice-vice president very happy . Putin gets a free hand in Syria and the date Trump breaks ground for his Moscow tower has moved up considerably...

 

[gulfman]

mission accomplished

 

[jnug]

mission accomplished

Actually not...but whatever.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Changing his mind as often as the wind changes direction aside, I thought he did offer a reason for the cut and run. Trump has declared that he's defeated ISIS. Thank God for our fearless leader...





So true, Trump's decision has made our president, our vice president and our vice-vice president very happy . Putin gets a free hand in Syria and the date Trump breaks ground for his Moscow tower has moved up considerably...

The reports that I am aware of state that ISIS forces in Syria "have been largely decimated", are down to the 2K to 5K fighters level and hold little Syrian territory. Most arguments about the "need" for US forces in Syria have little to do with fighting ISIS and much to do with keeping Russia, Iran, and Syrian (Assad) forces from gaining more power and/or attacking the Kurds. When folks state that US military forces must remain until 'stability' (in a country or the region) is not threatened by their withdrawal that means forever - see Afghanistan.

 

[SoCal]

The reports that I am aware of state that ISIS forces in Syria "have been largely decimated", are down to the 2K to 5K fighters level and hold little Syrian territory. Most arguments about the "need" for US forces in Syria have little to do with fighting ISIS and much to do with keeping Russia, Iran, and Syrian (Assad) forces from gaining more power and/or attacking the Kurds. When folks state that US military forces must remain until 'stability' (in a country or the region) is not threatened by their withdrawal that means forever - see Afghanistan.

Sen. Graham: Trump's claim of ISIS defeat is 'fake news,' pulling troops is 'stain' on US

He's a namby-pamby weak Senator who's a hawk, verses Putin's bitch. If you have a link to some authority besides Fox News or A cult member claiming ISIS have been decimated I'd like to read it.

Like he said fight'm there or fight'm here. Maybe it's because terrorists attack cities where all those Dems live. If they were attacking the yokel Trump voters out in the sticks, they might be singing a different tune...

 

[ttwtt78640]

Sen. Graham: Trump's claim of ISIS defeat is 'fake news,' pulling troops is 'stain' on US

He's a namby-pamby weak Senator who's a hawk, verses Putin's bitch. If you have a link to some authority besides Fox News or A cult member claiming ISIS have been decimated I'd like to read it.

Like he said fight'm there or fight'm here. Maybe it's because terrorists attack cities where all those Dems live. If they were attacking the yokel Trump voters out in the sticks, they might be singing a different tune...

Fighting any ideological terror group is more like playing whack-a-mole than claiming and holding territory in a conventional war. The trick is then to define what is "under ISIS control" and what is allegedly not - often simply a matter of taking snapshots in time and comparing them. This is a BBC estimate over a three year period:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034

 

[Lesh]

Trying to assign logical reasons for Trump's constantly changing policy positions is an exercise in futility - especially when Trump often does not bother to offer any. He seems to take great pride in his own unpredictability.

What? Erdogan tells Trump to get out of Syria...Trump orders the troops out

Putin criticizes Trump for not getting troops out of Afghanistan...Trump orders troops out of Afghanistan

 

[ttwtt78640]

What? Erdogan tells Trump to get out of Syria...Trump orders the troops out

Putin criticizes Trump for not getting troops out of Afghanistan...Trump orders troops out of Afghanistan

Man does rain dance...it rains.

 

[SoCal]

Fighting any ideological terror group is more like playing whack-a-mole than claiming and holding territory in a conventional war. The trick is then to define what is "under ISIS control" and what is allegedly not - often simply a matter of taking snapshots in time and comparing them. This is a BBC estimate over a three year period:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034

I hadn't heard we've taken that much territory, but like you say, fighting a terrorist group doesn't involve taking and holding territory like fighting a conventual war. I understand why Repubs who believe we should become isolationists would cheer this on.

But withdrawing from the world stage, breaking our agreements with our allies, abandoning NATO, couldn't have made Putin happier. For me, it was Putin's reaction that said it all;

"MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Thursday hailed the decision by President Trump to withdraw United States forces from Syria, calling it “correct” because the American troops were not needed...

...The decision has been criticized, even among Republicans, as abandoning Kurdish allies in the face of a hostile Turkey and a still dangerous Islamic State, as well as leaving Syria open territory for the geopolitical ambitions of Russia and Iran...

...“Trump has won, which is an obvious fact, but not everyone is willing to accept this victory,” Mr. Putin said. “They have been doing their utmost to delegitimize their president.”

When Putin's happy, Trump is happy. Conservatives must be thrilled to join their Russian brothers in arms who're demanding Trump's critics stop delegitimizing Putin's bitch. Repubs don't know who their friends are...

 

[ttwtt78640]

I hadn't heard we've taken that much territory, but like you say, fighting a terrorist group doesn't involve taking and holding territory like fighting a conventual war. I understand why Repubs who believe we should become isolationists would cheer this on.

But withdrawing from the world stage, breaking our agreements with our allies, abandoning NATO, couldn't have made Putin happier. For me, it was Putin's reaction that said it all;

"MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Thursday hailed the decision by President Trump to withdraw United States forces from Syria, calling it “correct” because the American troops were not needed...

...The decision has been criticized, even among Republicans, as abandoning Kurdish allies in the face of a hostile Turkey and a still dangerous Islamic State, as well as leaving Syria open territory for the geopolitical ambitions of Russia and Iran...

...“Trump has won, which is an obvious fact, but not everyone is willing to accept this victory,” Mr. Putin said. “They have been doing their utmost to delegitimize their president.”

When Putin's happy, Trump is happy. Conservatives must be thrilled to join their Russian brothers in arms who're demanding Trump's critics stop delegitimizing Putin's bitch. Repubs don't know who their friends are...

That seems far too close to the 'domino theory' used to justify the need for a (never ending?) presence in Vietnam. If our national security is actually being threatened by Russia, Iran or Turkey then deal with that threat up front, honestly and with extreme prejudice - otherwise stop the ruse that we must maintain an ever growing military 'presence in the region'. Meanwhile, China sits back and watches us spend ever more and spread our forces ever more thinly.