Trump’s chaotic and reckless decision to abandon Syria’s Kurds has endangered U.S. troops, pushed Kurdish forces into an alliance with Syria and Russia, and endangered our national security. And now, our own military, defense officials, and even Trump’s own administration are speaking out against his impulsive decision.
US troops, defense officials, and even Trump’s own administration are speaking out against Trump. They say his decision is “really not good for us” and that “it’s pretty messed up.”
“It’s pretty messed up what’s happening out here.” – US special forces soldier “This is really not good for us.” – US defense official
“How do we expect anyone to partner with us now?” – US defense official
“There is blood on Trump’s hands for abandoning our Kurdish allies. … This is what happens when Trump follows his instincts and because of his alignment with autocrats. I said there would be blood, but could not have imagined this outcome.” – Retired four-star Marine general John Allen
“[The Syrian Kurdish forces] are fighting a force that intends to eliminate their people because we green lighted their operation.” – US senior defense official
“Another US military official involved in operations in Syria said he was ‘ashamed’ of his country’s actions with regards to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, saying the US had failed to defend its one-time ally in the fight against ISIS.” – US military official
“This is total chaos.” – Trump administration official “[It’s] a total s—storm.” – Trump administration official
Now, as a result of Trump’s chaotic and reckless decision, ISIS “has a second lease on life” and attacks are already being carried out.
CNN’s Jake Tapper: “US official tells @npwcnn that the campaign to defeat ISIS in Syria is ‘over for now’ and that ISIS ‘has a second lease on life with nearly 100,000 [people] who will re-join their jihad.’ In this official’s opinion, ‘US policy has failed.’”
CNBC: “More than 800 suspected IS detainees escaped the Ayn Issa camp in northern Syria on Sunday, Kurdish forces said in a statement, five days into Turkey’s military incursion into northern Syria. … He also said attacks were already being carried out by ‘sleeper cells’ that had emerged from inside the camp, which holds IS prisoners, internally displaced persons and families or affiliates of IS fighters.”
Trump’s rash decision to abandon the Kurds in Syria has pushed them into an alliance with the Assad regime and opened a void for Russia to fill.
Associated Press: “Russia moved to fill the void left by the United States in northern Syria, deploying troops Tuesday to keep apart advancing Syrian government and Turkish forces. … U.S. rival Russia was quickly moving to entrench its de facto power broker role after President Donald Trump ordered the pullout of American forces in northeast Syria. The American move effectively abandoned the Kurdish fighters allied with the U.S. and opened the door for the Turkish invasion aimed at crushing them.”
Associated Press: “Desperate for a new protector, the Kurdish administration struck a deal with the Russian-backed government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose forces began on Sunday deploying in Kurdish-administered areas to shield them against Turkey.”