Your latest Syria update...

[transporter]

...as usual Trump looks like a buffoon.

U.S. Military Now Preparing to Leave as Many as 1,000 Troops in Syria

WASHINGTON—The U.S. military is crafting plans to keep nearly 1,000 forces in Syria, U.S. officials said, a shift that comes three months after President Trump ordered a complete withdrawal and is far more than the White House originally intended.

Protracted administration talks with Turkey, European allies and U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters have so far failed to secure an agreement to create a safe zone in northeastern Syria, part of Mr. Trump’s plan for leaving Syria.

The U.S. now plans to keep working with Kurdish fighters in Syria, despite Turkish threats to cross the border and attack the Kurds, the U.S. officials said. The proposal could keep as many as 1,000 American forces, spread from the north of Syria to the south, they said.

Once the last bastion of Islamic State is seized, the U.S. expects to shift its focus toward withdrawing hundreds of American forces, in keeping with what Mr. Trump originally ordered.

The evolving discussions represent a decisive shift away from Mr. Trump’s December directive to get all Americans out of Syria, a country he recently said was little more than “sand and death.”

For those who are keeping score:

1. In mid December, Trump--without consulting anyone--unilaterally declared victory over ISIS and called for the immediate withdrawal of all troops from Syria.
2. Soon he changed his mind (no surprise there, huh?) and said we would keep 200 troops in Syria.
3. Then it was 400.
4. Now it is 1000.

Wonder what the next Syria troop story will be? An actual increase in the actual number of boots we have on the ground??

 

[gemma_rae]

Protracted administration talks with Turkey, European allies and U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters have so far failed to secure an agreement to create a safe zone in northeastern Syria, part of Mr. Trump’s plan for leaving Syria.

Turkey, European allies and U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters FUBAR it all and an imbecilic moron like you blames Trump. You are the lamest buffoon that ever wasted air. What a dickbag.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

...as usual Trump looks like a buffoon.

U.S. Military Now Preparing to Leave as Many as 1,000 Troops in Syria



For those who are keeping score:

1. In mid December, Trump--without consulting anyone--unilaterally declared victory over ISIS and called for the immediate withdrawal of all troops from Syria.
2. Soon he changed his mind (no surprise there, huh?) and said we would keep 200 troops in Syria.
3. Then it was 400.
4. Now it is 1000.

Wonder what the next Syria troop story will be? An actual increase in the actual number of boots we have on the ground??

I think #1 should be:
1. Tweeted about how bad of an idea it was back in 2013.

 

[GURPS]

and your point was what exactly

 

[Yooper]

...as usual Trump looks like a buffoon.

Sorry, but the buffoon ain't Trump.

Most adults understand that situations change, politics change, persuasion requirements change. Only a moron - excuse me, buffoon - would make a big deal about this. Criticisms like the one offered by the original poster are juvenile and are nothing more than the throwing of flaming turds. As we've all come to realize, this post is really more about the original poster's Fatal Attraction-type man(?) crush on Trump rather than anything substantive.

--- End of line (MCP)

 

[CPUSA]

 

[baxter]

here we go again, thanks tranny for your daily democratic BS

 

[TCROW]

Sorry, but the buffoon ain't Trump.

Most adults understand that situations change, politics change, persuasion requirements change. Only a moron - excuse me, buffoon - would make a big deal about this. Criticisms like the one offered by the original poster are juvenile and are nothing more than the throwing of flaming turds. As we've all come to realize, this post is really more about the original poster's Fatal Attraction-type man(?) crush on Trump rather than anything substantive.

--- End of line (MCP)

But not much has changed here, perhaps but the powers of persuasion and having the President's ear and a chance to change his mind, if only a little. But it's far too late, as our apparent policy there is chaotic and inchoate and that makes our enemies happy.

The raison d'être for the U.S. being there in the first place is to counter Russia's and to a nearly-equal extent Iran's influence in the region. Putin sees this drawdown, in fact any drawdown in U.S. presence there as a validation of Russia's strategy. That strategy was and continues to be to show the world they are able to be a power player in volatile areas outside of their traditional sphere of influence. She has been leveraging her relationships with Turkey, Iran, and Syria to sideline the U.S., and have been successful.

Assad continues to buddy up with Tehran, which paves the way for Tehran to maintain a closer relationship with Hezbollah by nurturing that relationship. They have been thrilled with the announced U.S. drawdown.

Anyone who doesn't see Iran and Russia, minimally, as equal enemies of the U.S. isn't reading enough. Many Trump supporters cheered this drawdown because, "we aren't and can't be the policemen of the world." Well, it's not about being police, it's about countering a huge threat to the U.S.

CENTCOM mission planners aren't even able to cobble together a plan because of the policy chaos. We're not able to get European partner commitments from the U.K., France, Germany, etc.

It's a complete mess, and likely will go down as the biggest tactical geopolitical mistake Trump has made.

 

[This_person]

Putin sees this drawdown, in fact any drawdown in U.S. presence there as a validation of Russia's strategy.

A) That your assessment is that Putin views things that way does not mean Putin views things that way.
B) Even if your assessment is correct (I didn't say it wasn't, just that you viewing it that way doesn't mean it is true), that Putin may view it that way does not mean that is actually what is happening.

That's the thing with assessing someone else's motives, needs, or wants: the assessment is meaningless unless true.

That strategy was and continues to be to show the world they are able to be a power player in volatile areas outside of their traditional sphere of influence. She has been leveraging her relationships with Turkey, Iran, and Syria to sideline the U.S., and have been successful.

Is it your take that it is the responsibility of the US taxpayer and soldier to pay for and die for the goal of limiting Russian influence in Turkey?

Assad continues to buddy up with Tehran, which paves the way for Tehran to maintain a closer relationship with Hezbollah by nurturing that relationship. They have been thrilled with the announced U.S. drawdown.

So, military presence has been limiting Assad's buddying with Tehran? The solution to two leaders of other countries talking with and strategizing with other nations is the US soldier being physically in one of their countries?

Anyone who doesn't see Iran and Russia, minimally, as equal enemies of the U.S. isn't reading enough. Many Trump supporters cheered this drawdown because, "we aren't and can't be the policemen of the world."

Outside of nukes, or the US trying to invade Russia in winter, they are certainly not our equals. Formidable (especially as a team)? Yes. Equals? No.

CENTCOM mission planners aren't even able to cobble together a plan because of the policy chaos. We're not able to get European partner commitments from the U.K., France, Germany, etc.

It's a complete mess, and likely will go down as the biggest tactical geopolitical mistake Trump has made.

Oh, don't get too upset. I'm sure you'll determine something else is a bigger blunder later.

 

[This_person]

Is it your take that it is the responsibility of the US taxpayer and soldier to pay for and die for the goal of limiting Russian influence in Turkey?



So, military presence has been limiting Assad's buddying with Tehran? The only/best solution to two leaders of other countries talking with and strategizing with other nations is the US soldier being physically in one of their countries?

@TCROW , I never saw your response to my questions.