I just had a long and productive call with President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey. We discussed ISIS, our mutual involvement in Syria, & the slow & highly coordinated pullout of U.S. troops from the area. After many years they are coming home. We also discussed heavily expanded Trade.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018
The Hill: After pushback, Trump describes pullout from Syria as ‘slow & highly coordinated’
President Trump on Sunday said the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria will be "slow & highly coordinated" after facing criticism for what some have described as an abrupt decision to pull out of the war-torn nation.
"I just had a long and productive call with President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey. We discussed ISIS, our mutual involvement in Syria, & the slow & highly coordinated pullout of U.S. troops from the area. After many years they are coming home. We also discussed heavily expanded Trade," Trump wrote on Twitter.
Read more ....
Update #1: Trump, Erdogan to coordinate as U.S. pulls out of Syria: Turkish presidency (Reuters)
Update #2: Erdogan, Trump agreed to avoid power vacuum in Syria: Turkish presidency (News International/AFP)
WNU Editor: President Trump is optimistic that he can work with Turkish President Erdogan. He should not be.
3 comments:
President Trump is wrong. He is going to be bitched slapped.
President are often wrong, learn, but do not have enough time to right things before the next election comes up.
Carter learned. I don't think Obama learned.
Erdogan might rue the day. Trump may be wrong. He may get his comeuppance, but remember he is ADHD. He will react strongly.
Editor,
Very respectfully I think the Turkish leader has to coordinate with Trump. Trump is approaching this from a position of extreme strength. As such, the phone call is essentially Trump dictating terms to the Turkish leader. As it generally isn't the style of serious people to dress down others in public, the diplomatic niceties are just that. At least this is my take.
Anon (10:13PM)
Very respectfully I disagree. As part of the redeployment plan, Saudi and UAE forces are going to back up the Kurds and the Israelis, Jordanians, and the Saudis working in concert with Rusdia are going to curtail Iran in Syria. This plan took many months to put together.
The plan may not work. Maybe the parties won't be able to work together. Maybe Russian support won't materialize to the extent needed. Maybe the Iranians and/or the Turks will simply be to strong, however, the Turkish problem may be close to being mitigated via this dialogue. Also, US air support can be called in as needed from nearby Iraq.
Essentially this puts the Kurds in a better position than they've ever been in. I estimate this plan has an 80-85% chance of success.
The alternative is the "plan" of the establishment that has us in Syria in perpetatuity with us as the Kurds sole source of support all we continue to sap our strength. That "plan" has about a zero percent chance of success. This would be bad for the Kurds, bad for us, and bad for anyone who allies with us. Of course unscrupulous elements who would siphon off US foreign aid for their benefit might like such a "plan." For the purposes of American national security or the Kurds this hardly seems like a plan at all!!
When presented with the option that has an 80-85% chance of success or the option that has a zero percent chance of success, the one with an 80-85% chance seems like a no brainer to me. Maybe you have a third option. I'd be interested to see it.
Da Comrade
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