The Syrian Kurds Are
Not America’s Problem
American Spectator,
by
Brandon J. Weichert
Original Article
Posted By: Pluperfect,
10/14/2019 4:48:48 AM
All of Washington has been atwitter with the president’s recent decision to draw down American forces from their ongoing mission in Syria. The reason is the purported American abandonment — betrayal, in the eyes of many — of the Syrian Kurds. But the situation is more complicated than that. There has been much conflation of both the American mission in Syria and the disposition of America’s erstwhile Kurdish friends.
The fact is, despite being the world’s largest stateless ethnic population, sharing a contiguous landmass that cuts across Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran — roughly a 500,000-square-kilometer area — the Kurds are by no means a monolithic entity.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
SueDotSue 10/14/2019 6:22:09 AM (No. 206769)
The only reason the US invaded Syria, lavishly funded terrorists as their foot soldiers there, and continues to illegally occupy a third of its land was to remove Syria's elected government, destroy the country and its culture, as it has other countries in the region. Terrorists were able to capture Idlib in 2015 only because of billions of dollars of US support and TOW anti-tank missiles. Trump is a human shield for them to this day. I've read enough to know that ISIS was just another gimmick to keep the 'war' going, to try to get rid of Assad, and that it was backed by US, Saudi, and Qatar. The Kurds were merely helpful to the US in extending the 'war' to get Assad to beg for mercy. The US makes countries, regions, and now continents worse than they were before.
12 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
PostAway 10/14/2019 7:28:35 AM (No. 206791)
Over the weekend I saw various elites on TV bemoaning what the President did in pulling about 50 troops out of Syria. There was Chris Wallace and Lindsay Graham. There was Charles Lane of the WP, Donna Brazile, Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). I wondered if they have children who have been called to go over there. Because I have. And as a mother, and I’m sure like every other mother with a child there, I spent every minute of every month with a heavy heart praying for his safe return. Once, this past summer, his father and I got a call from him from the Middle East that we could only interpret as a goodbye call. So did his wife. They have young children. Luckily, tragedy for my family and countless others was averted with a few minutes to spare by the President. On another tour he was nearly killed by an IED in Afghanistan, a country that used to be a metaphor for Americans for remote and odd. I wonder if any of the children of those people, many of them Harvard-educated and working in foreign affairs or finance in the safety provided by other peoples’ children, have gone over there. Or have even served. Maybe President Trump’s decision will lead to terrible trouble but let the naysayers put their money where their mouths are.
64 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Turninggrey 10/14/2019 7:39:11 AM (No. 206800)
The Cold War that never really ended was also in play. Assad's love affair with Russia was part of the USA's effort to attempt to get Assad overthrown. Assad actually sided with the Kurds and supported them after Saddam Hussein gassed tens of thousands of them. The Syrian Kurds then backstabbed Assad in 2012 when the Arab Spring revolt got going. The Syrian Kurds saw an opportunity to get some real estate recognition. This notion that the Kurds are immune to backstabbing and leaving an ally behind is a little strange. Now that they are back with Assad after a whopping 7 year break has the press screaming Trump is leaving behind a long time ally. LOL. As Ron Burgandy was wont to say......."That escalated quickly".
10 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Gruntmedic 10/14/2019 8:14:57 AM (No. 206842)
We trained the Kurds and gave them alot of weapons, now let them bleed the Turks.
17 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
LesUNo 10/14/2019 8:23:17 AM (No. 206847)
“The United States has no interest in destabilizing the Middle East further. Breaking apart NATO by pushing Turkey away totally from our orbit while creating an independent Kurdish state in northern Syria would prompt backlash from nearly every Middle Eastern state.”
An excellent summation. Not to mention Russia entering the fray.
16 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
chumley 10/14/2019 9:01:12 AM (No. 206873)
Its easy to overanalyze this, but unnecessary. The bottom line is that Muslims love to kill. They kill us, they kill others, and they especially love to kill each other. It is an integral part of their religion, and the religion could not exist without it.
When we waste our people's lives and our resources trying to stop it, the best we can do is hold a piece of plywood over a hole in a dam. Its hard to hold the wood in place because the water is always pushing, and sooner or later we will tire, the wood will fall away and the dam will erode and fail. It will happen sooner or later. Best to drop the wood and get out of Dodge so those barbarians can kill each other and get it over with.
29 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
earlybird 10/14/2019 9:19:00 AM (No. 206894)
I couldn’t agree more.
8 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
earlybird 10/14/2019 9:21:31 AM (No. 206899)
If I could give #2 100 Likes I would do so. That needs to be said. Louder and louder...
17 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
Dodge Boy 10/14/2019 9:34:48 AM (No. 206912)
#2, these words are very highly appreciated and we thank your son for his service.
Meanwhile, I think the pullout of 50 US serviceman is obviously overblown. Funny though how the pubbies, the dims, the msm, and the deep state are suddenly ok with the endless war. Since they chose to be opposite of Trump on this, then Trump must be making the right call. But, it was a tough call. I think Graham et al should have kept their yaps shut. The Kurds have their hands full and this may not end well for them in the long run. By now, if they don't know how to fight without 50 US soldiers telling them how to fight, they need to be woke.
18 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
padiva 10/14/2019 9:47:51 AM (No. 206932)
Why??? BO wanted to have a real-live game of Risk. The fact that the military will put their lives on the line for him is immaterial. To him, they are just bumps in the road.
6 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
zephyrgirl 10/14/2019 10:00:06 AM (No. 206956)
The Middle East is tribal. Any outsider who ventures there has to understand that they have no friends, because ME loyalties are to family and tribe. They slaughter each other over nothing, and anyone who gets in their way risks the same. I say let them settle their own problems. If the Saudis are so worried about what is going on in the area, let them get off their duffs and do something about it.
13 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Rumblehog 10/14/2019 10:03:40 AM (No. 206965)
Syria was Obama's war. Leave the muslims to their own devices.
7 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
GO3 10/14/2019 10:10:34 AM (No. 206974)
Minor revision: Syria was Obama’s and the Gang of Eight’s war.
5 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 10/14/2019 10:27:04 AM (No. 206990)
I realize that Obama sent our troops to fight with the Kurds. That is why it is better if Trump brings them home. He is just tired of bringing them home to their own funerals. They are, after all, our own men and women. Whatever President Trump can do to keep the nastys off guard is what is best for America. I came to this conclusion when I realized it is the liberal left that wants our youth fighting on foreign soil. Somebody somewhere is making a ton of money off our blood!
10 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
snowoutlaw 10/14/2019 10:52:10 AM (No. 207006)
One thing I think we (US) has learned over time is that a people need to win their own freedom, the US can't win it for them. The Kurds can and I think will in time beat Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria and gain their own country.
4 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
bigfatslob 10/14/2019 10:59:34 AM (No. 207011)
We know this is all part of the Middle East constant warring over borders and tribes it never ends. A time long ago 'oil' was the word used to protect US interest in the Middle East not so much anymore with this President. This was Obama's venture and President Trump's to end it. One American soldier's life is too many to lose there the same in Afghanistan.
It's rather strange President Trump becomes a dove and all the left becomes hawks.
6 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
NotaBene 10/14/2019 11:06:51 AM (No. 207020)
This never ending war will weaken Turkey, Russia, Iran, Marxist Kurds, so be our guests. President G. W. Bush did a great thing when he moved in to destabilize Iraq. Now Muslims know they cannot bring down our buildings with impunity. Let the fight amongst themselves. Out of Afghanistan next, and may the religion of peace bleed there too for many years to come. Every time I wait in line at the TSA at airports for the past 19 years I am reminded of the Muslims we owe this to.
8 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
TrueBlueWfan 10/14/2019 11:26:22 AM (No. 207039)
If anyone thinks the average American really cares about Syria, Turkey or the Kurds, they're smoking something. I would bet 75% could not find Syria or Turkey on a map. The only reason the media are obsessing over this is that they think it will hurt Pres. Trump. Otherwise, we'd never hear a word about what was happening over there.
9 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
fayebeck 10/14/2019 12:13:13 PM (No. 207072)
Since World War 2 when America decided to stop winning wars, we've "betrayed" many countries from Vietnam to Venezuela. It's what America does. It's what happens when we think it's our obligation to defend the entire world including the sorry worthless parts.
3 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
dman 10/14/2019 12:37:20 PM (No. 207090)
Since Bush 41 launched the Iraq war, the late great KSFO talk host Lee Rodgers repeatedly warned against our involvement in the quagmire that is the Middle East.
"Uncle Lee" was correct. His points of view on this [and several other matters] have been vindicated. May he RIP, but never be forgotten.
4 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
bighambone 10/14/2019 12:49:46 PM (No. 207106)
ISIS is just another brutal Islamist entity that hate all infidels that have popped up during the endless Middle East Wars that have been ongoing for centuries. With that in mind the Kurds, various militant elements in Syria now supported by Russia, and Turkey have been battling each other for many decades. During the Obama era, small contingents of US troops were deployed on the Syrian side of the Turkish Border to act as observers to try to deter Turkey from invading Northern Syria into areas populated and controlled by Kurdish groups.
Recently it became evident to the US Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that Turkey was intent on militarily invading Northern Syria imminently and that small units of US troops deployed along the Syrian Border could no longer deter Turkey invading Northern Syria. Anyone with any military smarts would know that once that invasion commenced that it was sure to provoke a reaction from the Syrian Armed Forces that are supported by Russia. Once that happened it was clear that the deployed US small units could well be caught between the invading Turkish Forces and whatever Syrian Forces with Russian support moved North to defend against the invading Turks. So President Trump, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Defense decided to withdraw those small US units that could not defend themselves during possible large scale combat for their own safety.
When the people who have come out against Trump’s withdrawal order are asked what the alternative to Trump’s withdrawal order should be, they either do not answer, or evade directly answering that question. No doubt there are “chicken hawks” in DC who would be all for sending a massive US Force, similar in strength to the Iraq invasion Force, to invade Syria and engage in combat against the Turks, the Syrians supported by Russia, Iran that has military elements in Syria and any other enemies who show up there, thus starting another endless Middle East War resulting in massive numbers of casualties to US Forces in a “fool’s gold” effort that has nothing to do with US national security. Trump is right, what is going on in Syria is not our war and US Forces should not be there.
The argument has been made that if the US does not fight the Islamist terrorists all over the Islamic World that those terrorists will come to the USA and mount more 9/11 style terrorist attacks. Clearly the USA can do that by using special operations forces and does not have to get involved in endless Middle East ground wars with conventional forces. Common sense will tell you if the US effectively administered and enforced competent immigration laws and borders protected by efficient borderline barriers, that the Islamist terrorists would not be able to get into the USA to plan and carry out their terrorist attacks.
8 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
GO3 10/14/2019 3:44:51 PM (No. 207273)
It was clear during the Gulf War that Turkey always had designs on northern Iraq and northern Syria. As coalition forces were showing huge success, Turkey amassed about 12 mechanized/armored divisions pointed at northern Iraq, which were originally deployed to protect NATO's southern flank. Waiting for the final strike against Saddam, they were hoping for their slice of the pie. And this was before Turkey's turn towards Islamism.
0 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
Heil Liberals 10/14/2019 7:31:27 PM (No. 207487)
The fundamental fact is that the Middle East is Europe’s problem - especially the French and British. They created these states so poorly that it created the monster we deal with today.
0 people like this.
Below, you will find ...
Most Recent Articles posted by "Pluperfect"
and
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)