12-20-2018, 09:48 AM
No doubt........Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Assad welcomed yesterday's Twitter surprise withdrawal announcement.
My biggest concern is for the Kurds. As we discussed upthread, the Kurdish peshmerga forces are largely responsible for pushing back and reclaiming territories from ISIS on the ground in Iraq and Syria. A lot of Kurdish lives were lost partnering with U.S. and allied forces.
Turkey already declared that it plans to go after the Kurds at the Syrian border and would prefer to do it without clashing with U.S. forces. U.S. troops suddenly pulling out without any apparent notice or protections looks like we're ingrates who don't give a shit what happens to them next.
Another major concern is that this might be the last straw for Defense Secretary General Mattis. I'd hate to see him resign because I think he's good for the country. But, I wouldn't blame him for calling it a day if he feels like he has no real influence anyway.
My biggest concern is for the Kurds. As we discussed upthread, the Kurdish peshmerga forces are largely responsible for pushing back and reclaiming territories from ISIS on the ground in Iraq and Syria. A lot of Kurdish lives were lost partnering with U.S. and allied forces.
Turkey already declared that it plans to go after the Kurds at the Syrian border and would prefer to do it without clashing with U.S. forces. U.S. troops suddenly pulling out without any apparent notice or protections looks like we're ingrates who don't give a shit what happens to them next.
Another major concern is that this might be the last straw for Defense Secretary General Mattis. I'd hate to see him resign because I think he's good for the country. But, I wouldn't blame him for calling it a day if he feels like he has no real influence anyway.