Syria’s Kurds, Feeling Betrayed by the U.S., Ask Assad Government for Protection

[dherd]

It was also the first sign that President Trump’s abrupt announcement last week that he was withdrawing American troops from Syria was not only shifting alliances in the conflict but directly benefiting Mr. Assad — a brutal autocrat once described by Mr. Trump as an “animal” responsible for chemical attacks and other atrocities.

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Feeling betrayed by the United States, its Kurdish allies in Syria asked the Syrian government on Friday to protect them from possible attack by Turkey.

The request surprised some American officials and could help open the way for the forces of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, backed by Russia and Iran, to start retaking the Kurdish-held part of the country near Turkey’s border.

That would be a big step toward Mr. Assad’s goal of reclaiming all of Syria, upended by almost eight years of war.

It was also the first sign that President Trump’s abrupt announcement last week that he was withdrawing American troops from Syria was not only shifting alliances in the conflict but directly benefiting Mr. Assad — a brutal autocrat once described by Mr. Trump as an “animal” responsible for chemical attacks and other atrocities.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/world/middleeast/syria-kurds-turkey-manbij.html

 

[extragreen]

I know more about ISIS than the generals.

 

[i am herdman]

So now you guys are for us troops staying in perhaps endless conflicts?

 

[ThunderCat98]

While the Dems criticizing Trump over something they've advocated for on here for years is hypocritical, we have absolutely f*cked the Kurds - a group of people that have continually backed us and rely on our support for their continued survival. I'm not a fan of us playing "world police" either, but once you've made that decision, you can't just say "f*ck it" and leave your allies high and dry. By angering and isolating Mattis, Trump may very well have destroyed his chances for reelection.

 

[extragreen]

So now you guys are for us troops staying in perhaps endless conflicts?

No I'm not, and never have been. We certainly should have a plan to keep the kurds as safe as possible. Now, are you STILL all in for troops on the ground in the middle East?? Or has your tune changed simply because your idiot president is in office??

 

[dherd]

No I'm not, and never have been. We certainly should have a plan to keep the kurds as safe as possible. Now, are you STILL all in for troops on the ground in the middle East?? Or has your tune changed simply because your idiot president is in office??

THAT SECOND THING. PLUS IT IS EXACTLY WHAT PUTIN WANTS AND IF ITS WHAT PUTIN
WANTS TRUMP AND HERDMAN ARE ALL IN TOO. JUST WALK AWAY AND GIVE IT ALL TO RUSSIA - EUROPE - MIDDLE EAST - SOUTH AMERICA - ASIA - AFRICA THE CHINEESE AND RUSSIANS ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR
AGENT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

NICE JOB RUSSIACONS

LIKE I HAVE SAID FOR 20 YEARS - CONSERVATIVE POLICIES ALWAYS YIELD EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAY THEY ARE AGAINST.

 

[wvkeeper(HN)]

Maybe if we stopped getting involved in these banal quagmires we'd no longer have to regret getting out.

 

[herdfan429]

Thanks Obama

 

[wvkeeper(HN)]

 

[extragreen]

Thanks Obama

So you were against fighting middle East terrorists in the first place??

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

we have absolutely f*cked the Kurds - a group of people that have continually backed us and rely on our support for their continued survival. I'm not a fan of us playing "world police" either, but once you've made that decision, you can't just say "f*ck it" and leave your allies high and dry.

This.

 

[wvkeeper(HN)]

No one screwed the Kurds harder than GHWB.

 

[i am herdman]

No I'm not, and never have been. We certainly should have a plan to keep the kurds as safe as possible. Now, are you STILL all in for troops on the ground in the middle East?? Or has your tune changed simply because your idiot president is in office??

After 17 years and 3 presidents it is time to really look at where we are and what we are doing. In addition we are revamping doctrine and troops to fight larger militaries.

 

[i am herdman]

This.

Doesn't mean we should put thousands of troops in Syria

 

[raleighherdfan]

It’s interesting to read the former ambassador’s comments suggesting “collusion” with Russia on this.

Is anyone surprised that he essentially is calling guys like Dtard...”absurd”?

 

[big_country90]

No blood for oil!!! Bring the troops home now!!!

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

Doesn't mean we should put thousands of troops in Syria

I don't believe anyone has suggested a "surge". Just let Turkey know, in no uncertain terms, if they cross into Syria or Iraq to fvck with the Kurds we will provide air support for our friends. I'd throw in telling Turkey to stop fvcking their own Kurdish population, but I know Trump would rather sell Turkey weapons. And yes, I understand Turkey would otherwise just buy Russian shit.

At heart I am a realist, but the Turkish leadership's turn to the Islamic right concerns me. There's a lot of shit that hasn't been said since 9/11, and I think it is long past time to explain some requirements for our "friendship" to our Muslim "friends".

 

[extragreen]

After 17 years and 3 presidents it is time to really look at where we are

Some of us, including myself, told you this 15 years ago before your previous idol took us into war in iraq.

 

[i am herdman]

Some of us, including myself, told you this 15 years ago before your previous idol took us into war in iraq.

Good for you

This isn't 2001

 

[extragreen]

Good for you

This isn't 2001

That's correct. In 2001 you were gung ho troops in afghanistan. In 2003 you were gung ho troops on the ground in iraq. From 2009 through 2016 you were against pulling troops out of either country. But once cheetos decides to pull out troops, all of a sudden you're ok with that. You're just a subservient trumpkin and past the point of sickening.

 

[i am herdman]

That's correct. In 2001 you were gung ho troops in afghanistan. In 2003 you were gung ho troops on the ground in iraq. From 2009 through 2016 you were against pulling troops out of either country. But once cheetos decides to pull out troops, all of a sudden you're ok with that. You're just a subservient trumpkin and past the point of sickening.

Not true. Yes I was for Afghanistan as most people. I was for Iraq as were most of the us Congress at the time. I an not for staying in shit holes with absurd rules of engagement. Just because I was fir something doesn't mean nearly 20 years later

That's not hard to understand.

Trump is correct in this to get us out of some places and draw down in others

 

[extragreen]

Not true. Yes I was for Afghanistan as most people. I was for Iraq as were most of the us Congress at the time. I an not for staying in shit holes with absurd rules of engagement. Just because I was fir something doesn't mean nearly 20 years later

That's not hard to understand.

Trump is correct in this to get us out of some places and draw down in others

What do you mean "not true"? What part listed below wasn't true regarding you?

You were gung ho afghanistan.
Gung ho iraq.
Gung ho more troops on the ground 2001 through 2016.
UNTIL cheetos withdraws troops.

 

[i am herdman]

What do you mean "not true"? What part listed below wasn't true regarding you?

You were gung ho afghanistan.
Gung ho iraq.
Gung ho more troops on the ground 2001 through 2016.
UNTIL cheetos withdraws troops.

I think I had a post about Afghanistan and our troops there before trump said we were reducing troops size there.

 

[ARandomHerdFan]

 

[CockyHerd]

We certainly have a reputation for backing foreign fighters on the ground in the Middle East and then leaving them high and dry.

 

[dherd]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/the-news-in-cartoons/ss-AABGTFJ?ocid=spartandhp

 

[Bankerreturns]

Cool, dherd with another post that has nothing to do with the thread.

 

[Marine03]

So now you guys are for us troops staying in perhaps endless conflicts?

In this case, yes. After all we did ask then to fight on our behalf. Our military officials agree with this as wellhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...a1db60-eecf-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html

 

[i am herdman]

In this case, yes. After all we did ask then to fight on our behalf. Our military officials agree with this as wellhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...a1db60-eecf-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html

Let's keep doing the same thing we have been doing for 18 years with the same plan!

 

[i am herdman]

and what were we going to do exactly? Fight the Turks?

 

[Marine03]

Let's keep doing the same thing we have been doing for 18 years with the same plan!

let’s just let these folks who fought on our side for years die because a 5 deferment coward said so. No one in our armed forces agree with this. And you as a supposed former member of the Armed forces should understand what these soldiers are saying here. But, like most blind sheep following Cheeto you will do as he says and not question it. It’s a joke really the way he’s brainwashed you dolts.

 

[raleighherdfan]

How many of you libs agreed with this guy last year?

 

[i am herdman]

let’s just let these folks who fought on our side for years die because a 5 deferment coward said so. No one in our armed forces agree with this. And you as a supposed former member of the Armed forces should understand what these soldiers are saying here. But, like most blind sheep following Cheeto you will do as he says and not question it. It’s a joke really the way he’s brainwashed you dolts.

I understand the premise behind it. But, what are we going to do? Fight the Turks? Stay there and get caught in another shit hole country in an ethnic tribal war for another 20 years? What is the end game? We have bigger problems.

 

[WV-FAN]

 

[Chevy1]

As many have pointed out....there was no plan. It was an impulsive decision with little or no consideration of all the outcomes.

If this was our policy, then plans should have been made for a logical, organized withdrawal.

SMH that a President of the United States of America allowed a dictator from Turkey to threaten our troops. As mentioned in another thread, most former presidents would have responded, "bring it".

 

[MichiganHerd]

not everybody likes the Kurds, but living close to Wisconsin, I'm privy to a bunch of them. I prefer the kurds they make with jalapenos. Taste great, but burn your ass next morning, if you're able to take a much needed draft beer dump.

 

[Chevy1]

not everybody likes the Kurds, but living close to Wisconsin, I'm privy to a bunch of them. I prefer the kurds they make with jalapenos. Taste great, but burn your ass next morning, if you're able to take a much needed draft beer dump.

Also living near WI, I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[WV-FAN]

i guess ABC had to get this one right after . . .

 

[WV-FAN]

 

[ohio herd]

View embedded media

View embedded media

yep sort of like the media did not care about detainment centers until they wanted to attack trump over it. They didn't care that ICE had deported more under Obama than under Trump.