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U.S. could pull bulk of troops from Syria in matter of days: officials

49 Comments
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

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49 Comments
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RichardPearce:

Spot on. The sheer hysteria of the war mongers (of both US parties) and their media goons shows you how upset the military/industrial complex is.

This whole illegal "regime change" operation in Syria was wrong and reckless, and thankfully now Trump is ening it. Lets hope he stays healthy.

About the CNN cackle about "abandoning the Kurds", that makes only sense to the denizens of the media propaganda bubble. But they believe anything that Fredo et al tell them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How about having any politician who wants to go to war have a mandatory draft for their kids.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is a relief that it looks like the US isn't going to use its illegal occupation forces to interfere with the legitimate government of Syria's effort to protect its population from another foreign invasion.

Unlike too many American Presidents before him, Trump actually grasps that the best thing to do when all avenues to achieve anything that can possibly be spun as success have evaporated, the best choice is to abandon the effort (who'd of thought that his horrible track record of business failures would actually make for one bright spot in his horrible track record as a politician)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

So, these colors do run, apparently.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Abandoning our allies and telling them to make a deal with Russia....

Deals with Russia - It seems Trump hasn't any other words in his vocabulary....

Now the region is in crisis and ISIS members are heading to the US and Europe...

Some posters here always ask "why Russia?" The answer stares them right in the face.

Russia becomes allies with the Kurds...expanding its influence and gaining another partner in the region.

Assad consolidates more of his country and power...with Russia's help.

American's partners and allies begin to question its commitment.

Russia wins, the US loses....

Putin's Poodle following orders....

Trump the Treasonous Traitor...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Whatever. As long as U.S. forces stay out of it.

So they can be shifted to Saudi Arabia. Am I right?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This just in -

Russia brokers deal for Kurdish forces, Syria to partner against Turkey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC2FaAQntzo

Whatever. As long as U.S. forces stay out of it.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Endless shame for the U.S.

No, endless shame for the factions in the Middle East who just can't seem to live together in peace.

many deaths for the Kurds

Maybe the hapless UN can save them.

and a big smile for Putin.

Putin, Putin, Putin! Russia, Russia, Russia! Keep floggin' it!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Endless shame for the U.S., many deaths for the Kurds, and a big smile for Putin.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The troops who are being pulled out and their families would disagree.

Nope. They know that the Kurds with whom they have been defending each other’s lives, fighting side by side, are being abandoned by Trump. If you think these people are happy knowing their friends and former teammates are being left to be murdered, you are clueless as to the thoughts of the military.

If you think these people are happy to continue fighting in endless Middle East wars, you are clueless as to the thoughts of the military.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Finally someone tries to get out of the Middle East mess, where the US should not be in the first place. Now watch the military industrial swamp gettng crazy. I hope Trump stays healthy. The last one who messed with this hornets nest was JFK.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Trump will not be 'bringing these boys home', but redeploying to Saudi Arabia, I would guess. Two birdy-shaped fluffy things with one stone.

The Russians might even get to test out their weaponry (their own naturally and the US stuff which is in SDF & Kurdish hands) in a proxy fight against Turkish stuff. Win-win.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A lot of conspiracy theories are being bandied about, and even more propaganda is being professionally advanced, but in a way, this is turning out to be Brexit, ME style.

The separatist extremists among the Kurds got their way because they were promising to put unicorns in every pot, and rainbows every morning. But the reality is that the US was NEVER going to be able to deliver on either of those things, just as DAESH was never going to be able to overthrow the legitimate and popularly supported Syrian government.

And just like the British population has realized that what their extremists are actually going to be able to deliver is a disaster, the Kurdish Syrian population has realized the same thing, and gone for unity within a bigger democracy rather than being a small, vulnerable, isolated fiefdom.

Within a week or two, the Syrian Kurdish militias that were actually fighting DAESH will be integrated into the 'regime forces' that first broke the back of DAESH, then liberated most of the territory and civilians that DAESH captured and looted at gunpoint, and together mopping up what is left of DAESH and chasing whatever is left of the Turkish invasion back into Turkey.

And shortly after that, a unified Syria will be starting on the thing that the whole American lead project to destabilize or decimate Syria was intended to prevent, the liberation of southern Syria from the brutal occupation and ethnic cleansing the Israeli regime has imposed on it.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

American families would rather have their sons & daughters in the military defending their own country rather than some desert wasteland.

Syria is not a desert wasteland. Like America, it does have vast tracts of desert but to dismiss the whole country as a wasteland shows lack of education.

Better to be ruled by the US than communist dictatorships like Russia & china. 

Russia and China are totalitarian, or authoritarian at the very least. The former has no ties with communism anymore and the latter (which is normally spelled with a capital "C") may use the term but it has very little to do with the principles of communism.

And no country should be ruled by another. Be it Russia, China or the USA. You're not entitled to rule our countries.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Hello Kitty 321: Well said. Maybe we would then have less wars and more peace in the world.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

While it is disgusting that the U.S. should just abandon its allies, American troops had no right to be in Syria to begin with. It is about time they stopped all their illegal military exploits.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Instead of blaming the US for pulling out, why don't people BLAME TURKEY for wanting to invade Syria?

Don't worry, people are able to do the 2.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-turkey-reaction-factbo-idUSKBN1WO217

And several countries choose to apply a weapon export ban.

https://www.dw.com/en/german-government-bans-weapons-exports-to-turkey/a-50807998

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Did Russia and Afghanistan also have a Guantanamo, extraordinary rendition and Abu Ghraib centres?

No, they had gulags and Siberia. Afghans used schools as torture centers...after kicking out the kids and preventing them from getting an education.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Wesley: " you'd know how the Soviets treated their prisoners."  "Because the US system of government is a lot better than whatever kangaroo court chaos the Afghans came up with...."

Did Russia and Afghanistan also have a Guantanamo, extraordinary rendition and Abu Ghraib centres?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Nope! They are just being moved to Saudi

Where there are less chances of someone's soldier son or daughter being killed fighting someone else's war and higher chances of going home to see their family. Still a win in my book.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The US has no allies or friends, only subjects to be ruled by the US.

Better to be ruled by the US than communist dictatorships like Russia & china. Ask Hong Kong people who they'd rather be under if they had no choice but to choose between the 3.

The same thing happened to the Taliban, who the US trained, financed and supplied with arms when they were fighting Russia in Afghanistan.

So that the Afghans would have a fighting chance against the Might of the Soviets. I didn't see any other country stepping up to protect these people from the Soviets. And if you know your WW2 & Cold War history, you'd know how the Soviets treated their prisoners.

As soon as Russia was defeated, the US wanted to put in a US puppet into Afghanistan. When the Taliban objected to US rule the US turned on them

Because the US system of government is a lot better than whatever kangaroo court chaos the Afghans came up with....especially with plenty of traitors within the Afghan government. They never got anything done when left to their own devices. I dare say more Afghan children and women were saved when the US ruled them rather than the Taliban ruling them.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Let this be a warning to so-called US allies and friends. The US has no allies or friends, only subjects to be ruled by the US. The same thing happened to the Taliban, who the US trained, financed and supplied with arms when they were fighting Russia in Afghanistan. As soon as Russia was defeated, the US wanted to put in a US puppet into Afghanistan. When the Taliban objected to US rule the US turned on them.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The decision was lambasted by Trump's critics, who say it opened the door for a Turkish offensive three days later against U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters

Instead of blaming the US for pulling out, why don't people BLAME TURKEY for wanting to invade Syria?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

And you obviously don't know much about families or have none of your own

Really? Which part of my quote specifically led you to this declaration?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Nope. They know that the Kurds with whom they have been defending each other’s lives, fighting side by side, are being abandoned by Trump. If you think these people are happy knowing their friends and former teammates are being left to be murdered, you are clueless as to the thoughts of the military.

And you obviously don't know much about families or have none of your own. Americans are sick & tired of their sons and daughters being killed for other people's wars. American families would rather have their sons & daughters in the military defending their own country rather than some desert wasteland.

Every soldier that Trump pulls out of there means 1 more soldier going home to his family.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Funny. Every keeps whining that the US is always "interfering" in other people's affairs. So now that the US is minding it's own business, everyone is still whining about abandoning.

I'm also wondering why the US's other allies, especially those from Europe, are hiding under their rocks and not stepping up. Why must it always be American blood & American taxpayer's money that has to be spilled?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

The troops who are being pulled out and their families would disagree.

Nope. They know that the Kurds with whom they have been defending each other’s lives, fighting side by side, are being abandoned by Trump. If you think these people are happy knowing their friends and former teammates are being left to be murdered, you are clueless as to the thoughts of the military.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

U.S. could pull bulk of troops from Syria in matter of days

Good.

CrazyJoe: This action by Trump is nothing short of mass murder.

The troops who are being pulled out and their families would disagree.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Yes, Donny, that'll scare the Turks.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So who cares? Let them fight it out. It's been their war for centuries. It's only the western governments that have meddled in the affairs of those who didn't ask for their presence that are suffering now. All because of where the oil comes from.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It means the word of the USA to protect an ally is meaningless. Japan should take note and either make peace or increase defense spending. Trump would allow China or Korea (both) to attack Japan.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The United States says it will not defend the Syrian Kurdish forces from Turkey and Turkish-backed forces, even though the Kurds fought alongside American forces against Islamic State and are guarding prisons holding tens of thousands of the militants.

What a disaster - foreign policy as conducted by The Apprentice....

Esper, speaking in a television interview, said he expected the Syrian Kurds would seek to ensure their survival by turning to America's rivals in Syria's conflict - Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "There's every expectation that the ... Syrian Kurds would cut a deal with the Syrian and Russian forces," he said.

"Cut a deal with Russia" - that seems to be the favorite five words of the Trump administration - given that's what was said in 2015 at the beginning...and utter almost daily ever since....

Trump announces withdrawal if US troops from Syria today while at the same time Erdogan announces he has found evidence of Hunter Biden on a Turkish company board ten years ago - and the new Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Ankara will break ground soon...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I did, my research indicates that the "Turkish-backed forces" are the FSA, or the so called Free Syria Army, the same anti-Assad rebels that the Syrian Army and Russia have been fighting since the Syrian civil war started.

Odd that every source I find calls them the National Army.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Could you enlighten us please

I could, but it would benefit you you more to do your own research.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

"The abrupt U.S. withdrawal from Syria - without any negotiated, diplomatic solution there - is widely viewed as a foreign policy defeat for the United States . . . "

And a big defeat it is. Trump didn't even try to negotiate. He just threw his hands up in the air and in so many words said, "I GIVE UP! WE'RE OUT! AMERICA FIRST!"

It makes you wonder if Trump had made any shady deals with Erdogan and whether Trump has some economic goings-on in Turkey which placed Trump's own personal interests above those of the nation.

Awful presidential skills being displayed on the world's stage. Trump should be sued for malpractice.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Could it be that they are in fact the very same Syrian rebels who the Western media used to praise as harbingers of freedom, justice and the American way

Why do you refuse to do any research before you attempt to disparage the Western media?

So now, the Syrian government and Russia will be the good guys right...

Russia and Syria are going to bomb the Syrian rebels to save the Kurds and the Western media is going to be scratching their heads trying to figure out how to make both Trump and Russia look bad at the same time.

No. Here you are again disingenuously creating a false duality in an attempt to oversimplify a complex situation just so you can disparage the West.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

This action by Trump is nothing short of mass murder.

If you still support him, take a long look in the mirror.

So in other words, Trump just told Turkey to go ahead and annihilate the Kurds.

What sort of secret deal did he make with Erdogan?

2 ( +8 / -6 )

 is widely viewed as a foreign policy defeat for the United States

If this is in fact a defeat for the US, which nations stand to gain. Could one of them perhaps be the state that's 'meddled' in US political affairs and uses troll armies to support Trump. Asking for a friend. #butyouguys #backatcha

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

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