President Trump’s announcement of an immediate withdrawal of US forces from Syria seems to have taken a lot of people by surprise. Such big news is fueling both a predictable backlash from hawks, and angry criticism from political rivals who are portraying the announcement as a reckless shift from the open-ended military engagement everyone was expecting.
Trump presented the move as a natural response to he defeat of ISIS, which is leading a lot of hawks to deny that ISIS is really defeated. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) compared this to the 2011 withdrawal from Iraq, and said Congress must make Trump explain the policy.
Still, since the war has been spun as being sort of about Iran, analysts are still predicting anger among Iran hawks, both in the cabinet and in the party leadership. Charles Lister from the Middle East Institute said it might plant the seeds for rebellion among Republicans to not be in the war.
Hillary Clinton advisers said the move would “strengthen Russia,” and CNN’s Jake Tapper quoted an unnamed Pentagon official calling the end of the war a Russian victory. Yet Russia has also been very public in drawing down its own war effort.
Indeed CNN was broadly critical in its coverage of the move out of Syria, generally focusing on liberal opposition to the change. The opposition appeared primarily built around it being a Trump policy.
MSNBC was also critical in its coverage, quoting former CIA Director John Brennan and multiple analysts reiterating the narrative that underpins the long-term presence in Syria which the rest of the administration had been parroting up until today.
The Pentagon had been positioning the US for a permanent presence in Syria, coming up with additional military goals beyond the defeat of ISIS, centering on demanding all Shi’ite militias leave Syria, and ensuring ISIS-like groups never reemerge at any point in the future.
While unachievable goals make for a permanent war, it would be difficult to justify this with the Syrian government not authorizing the US presence, and the US no longer demanding regime change.
Still, the Pentagon’s focus now is shifting away from those secondary goals they invented, and now they’re simply arguing that ISIS is not defeated, and that the war is not over. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) claimed this was a function of “arbitrary political deadlines.”
Yet there doesn’t appear to have ever been a public deadline. Trump, rather, has long expressed interest in ending the war, and it’s only been intense pressure that’s kept him from doing so before now.
Whether it’s Iran or Russia that’s the excuse, a number of senators seem to be lining up to issue brief statements opposing the end of the war. It seems after so many years of war, many believe this will be the safer position to take.
Well now … is he going to let “the generals” talk him out of it …? And is Bolton eating his mustache right now?
The deranged response of the “permanent empire” lobby in DC today is something to behold, no? From the “left” to the “right” singing from the same hymn book of war.
One thing: if this guy ends the Korean War once and for all (and removes American troops from the peninsula) and he ends the US occupation forces action in Syria, does he deserve the Nobel peace prize?
If he would leave the poor suffering Syrians and Koreans alone, the guy would deserve the Nobel peace prize, but instead what he will surely get is unlimited flak from the MIC – no more Christmas cards from Lockheed or Raytheon. And it would surely annoy the Israelis, that America is no longer in the business of killing Arabs in air operations in Syria..
For once, it is I who am saying, “give him a chance.” I have optimism tempered by extreme caution. We honestly don’t know what is is his head, in spite of what JR and his mirror images on the Democrat side keep claiming.
I said before, when he does the right thing, I will acknowledge it, and even, if warranted, praise him for it. I am prepared to be totally disappointed, but also prepared to be pleasantly surprised.
Even if it is just the stopped clock theory in action, he’s actually doing the right thing for once. Take the win. Just accept it. We haven’t seen many of these.
“he’s actually doing the right thing for once.”
Let’s hope that turns out to be the case. I am cautiously optimistic, but am prepared to be disappointed by a flip-flop.
Of course – and who shouldn’t welcome a withdrawal at Christmas time? Well, those making a buck off killing people and those hoping to see Israel steal half of the Middle East, that’s who.
President Trump seems to have realized that the US attempt to topple Syrian President Assad is now a lost cause, so US troops are being deployed elsewhere.
“those making a buck off killing people”
Yes, the MIC views anyone opposing war, particularly someone in power, as the Grinch.
Actually, trump’s Twitter doesn’t mention the end of US air operations, as those assets are not based in Syria, nor were ever counted as being “in Syria”.
Sure, give him the Nobel peace prize. Maybe it will go to his head and he’ll renounce his bromance with Bibi and accept Iran as an equal.
Oh Yeah……Bigtime…!!!!!!!!!!!#
Graham wants Trump to explain his role of commander in chief to congress.
Apparently, the accepted rule is: The President has the authority to go into any military conflict he desires without approval from Congress, but he has no authority to abstain from any military conflict without approval from Congress.
Yes, the congressional war powers challenge is very important stuff. As it is, activities in Syria are linked to the war on terror authorization, which, ultimately, that authorization will be called into question, the ultimate US militancy nightmare.
Turning the Constitution on its head. Years ago I read the NYT every morning back when it was against the Vietnam war. After the Iraq war began, I switch to the net and more skeptical coverage by the outliers. These days the times never darkens my door.
Trump is doing something right for a goddamn change and these f**king poseurs want to cut off their own damn heads just to spite their face?
Deplorables, hit Twitter and let your orange leader know that staying in Syria equals a one term presidency. He listens to you. Make yourselves heard.
Trump’s base was never antiwar. A handful of his supporters on an antiwar site, is not going to change that.
I know the one’s where I live, in the Rust Belt, are tired of all the goddamn wars. That may not make them antiwar but it’s a start. These folks don’t make up the majority of Trump supporters, but they are the segment that gave him the Electoral College and could again. And many of these folks would have voted for Bernie if he were on the ballot.
I still strongly suggest they rethink their devotion to a president who has been overwhelmingly pro-war, but there is more than enough common ground for me to stand with them on certain issues. And who knows, maybe I’ll recruit a few to my anti-statist cause.
You make the false presumption that soldiers and the military want to risk their lives in dishonorable engagements. Most do not, they are just trying to get by, like most others.
True Americans want the constitution restored, and our troops home. Most who voted for trump did so because he WAS NOT killary, who would have already blown up the world in her madness and that of her communist deranged supporters.
America first makes sense, we must take care of the people and our country, be our best, then and only then can we contribute something good to the rest of the world.
Our country was founded on self sufficiency and hard work, and we have strayed, thanks to policies which reward stupid and criminal behavior.
Hillary’s base is definitely for war, as was obama, who said he was real good at killing.
Trump deserves kudos for listening to the people and ending the death economy, and creating a life economy.
The bottom line is, our republic is run by the people, and if it is not what you want it to be, then just look in the mirror and see who is responsible…. the people need to stop blaming their public servants for their deficiencies; apathy, ignorance, etc.
Our country has fallen apart due to complacency and adopting communist principles, and straying from our founding documents and ideals. Giving children to the state to raise, and teaching them the government has more power than God, and is God creates communism. Mao used the same strategy, and we are on our way, and would have been completely doomed to reenact this despicable time in history, if it had not been for trump.
Do your research about the infiltration of communist chinese and other globalists, they are everywhere.
Polarization such as yours only serves the usurpers. Life is not black and white and only simple minds want it to be that way, so they do not have to think and educate themselves .
The pinball machine that is Trump’s brain does occasionally do something right. Doesn’t mean that he’s some kind of libertarian peacenik like the Trumpsters would have us believe. Those troops in Syria were just a symbolic trip wire, anyway. Why put them out there at all when they’ll be needed against Iran? The “f-ing poseurs” don’t get that, but then neither do the Trumpsters.
“Always gets the replay, never seen him fall,
That deaf, dumb, and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball.”
Trump as a pinball wizard… OK, Jeffrey. Very entertaining. Thanks very little.
“deaf, dumb, and blind”
Well, you got that part right.
“many believe this will be the safer position to take.”
No, peace sells to the electorate. The people want peace. It is only our “leaders,” by and large, that desire war.
Their donors and the think tanks they own are the place to find desire for war.
“Their donors and the think tanks they own are the place to find desire for war.”
You may have a point: How much of the politicians’ warmongering is sincere, and how much is an effort to get campaign bucks?
If you think the “effort to get campaign bucks” isn’t sincere, you do not understand that ^campagna bucks” are the life blood of winning…. Sincere being a relative term…. Like life!
Something appears to be happening in the ME!!!
“Bashir in Damascus: The Arab League’s message to Assad – welcome back
#SyriaWar
The Arab League is ready to take Syria back and talk to Assad for full restorations of ties”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/omar-al-bashir-damascus-arab-league-s-message-assad-welcome-back-454658910
It was clear long ago that Trump wanted to take this path – as Justin Raymond and I (by another name) pointed out only to reap a lot of criticism. Let us give Justin a lot of credit.
So everyone, support this measure on Syria by calling Congress, writing op-eds and letters to the editor etc. Otherwise this initiative will die. Trump relies on us for this.
So can the psychobabble and the thinly disguised imperial arguments and get out there and fight for this policy. We Deplorables cannot do it alone. We need a few of you Respectables -although I prefer to remain among the Deplorables.
Amen Justin has been right all along. If the Neocons hate Trump he must be doing something right.
What could be more amusing than Little Marco Rubio disagreeing with Trump about Syria? Lindsey Graham? John Bolton?
Trump has been playing a patient game, to have enough cover and backup before going against the grain of the establishment on things as deep as the global war machine, or domestic corruption. Just as it has taken two years of staffing changes and secret investigations at Justice to get it ready to start draining the swamp, Trump decided he had to continue fighting ISIS in Syria long enough to not be called ‘another Obama’ when he pulled out. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out a pullout is also being planned for Afghanistan by mid-2019.
Yeah, I think Assad and the Russians can handle what”s left of Hillary”s Foreign Legion…
It wasn’t so clear when he did two separate missile attacks on Syria for their alleged chemical attacks without any evidence.
The NYT threw aside its false face, and went full neo-con attack on this idea. It is all for Forever War, with half a dozen articles each more extreme than the last.
One might have been excused as reflexive attack on anything Trump does. This is pure Judith Miller, cheerleading for the Iraq War.
Then we have our number one neo con hero, Max Boot, chiming in on the neo con bugle, WaPo: -not too sure at this point ,however, just reading from a script.
https://www.theburningplatform.com/2018/12/21/left-wing-idiots-are-funny/
Lindsey reverting to his McCainiac bs.
I was hoping he would wither away after the other head(McCain)of that two headed monster died.
Mr Trump has done something none of his predecessors accomplished—the reduction of American wars. As the Afghanistan war drags on into 2019 and a once unified Iraq remains splintered and suspected of some super “Shia” power under Tehran’s control, Trump listened and ended the misbegotten intervention into Syria’s domestic problems. Problems we aided and abetted and only resulted in shattering a country that renewed al Qaeda, introduced ISIS, enhanced international terrorism, and caused its neighbors unneeded crisis.
As a Brown University report revealed, the wars of the 21st century have cost us $6 Trillion.
Kudos to Mr Trump. As John Quincy Adams said, “Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force…. She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit….”
“shattering a country that renewed Al Qaeda ” ..it is unclear whom you are referring here. The writing was on the wall under Obama, the refugee crisis created by US wars ended with the arab spring, chaos and destruction throughout the ME. As the US attempted feckless interference, when it came to Syria, the Russians stepped in, saying, ok, we are going to play too. Faced with an actual trained, modern conventional and nuclear army, the US began its retreat with nothing to show for its efforts, besides massive profits for war racketeers. These events would not have changed, regardless of 2016 election. If you believe trump wanted out of Syria, he could have done it 2 yrs ago.
Cry me a river, Hillary. Yes we’ll be missing out on an opportunity to bleed Russia, and maybe killing us all in the process. This country was wise to not elect you, even if that means enduring The Orange One for four years.
Some interesting politic. Could be he sees the writing on the wall in Yemen, as congress works to supplant executive war power. If and when they do, Syria would be their next target, it wont stop in Yemen. Since the Yemen challenge was Democrat forced, trump is grabbing headlines and publicity for ending ground intervention in Syria. Good stuff, he is playing right into the antiwar faction of congress. No doubt deployment of modern anti-air systems will check US air operations as well, they are probably on line about now.
CNN calls it “shocking” that Trump did what he said he would. Fair enough I guess.
In another article that CNN pretended was news instead of analysis, they bemoaned that removing troops would also mean they’d have to stop bombing Syria. In fact that was the whole point of the story’s headline. 3 sentences later, they say the bombing will probably continue, only using drones.
Perhaps their best argument, such as they were, was that if we don’t keep meddling, others might. And then there were the wails that Trump didn’t address the nation to justify ending something that the nation wasn’t addressed over the start of.
I wrote a letter today thanking President Trump for this withdrawal. And I am eye rolling at the noise of the reflexive criticism from the right/left of our War Parties.
yes, i wrote an email too. He needs to know there are people beyond the beltway noise that has his back on this.
It must be good news if so many pundits are furious.
Exactly. Confirmation of good news.
I’ve seen too many reversals from the executive branch to trust this as a done deal. There’s a whole mess of folks that are gonna do everything they can to pull the US in deeper.
What gives? Trump the other day said we are staying in Syria
(which by the way was an illegal occupation) the next day we are getting
out since ISIS is defeated.Well if Trump seriously follows up and pulls
our troops/advisors out of Syria then he’s really showing true chutzpah
and swinging some big cojones. His neocon advisors Bolton, Pompeo,
Haley along with Bibi and MBS will surely be totally outraged by “Trump
the tyrant'” erratic behavior and ill conceived decision, for they will
ask “what happened to MIGA?” .
Today Nicholas Burns, a former CFR member, in a BBC interview, called Trump’s Syria move a distraction tactic. We’re being played!!!
You have to expect that AIPAC will be pushing very hard to keep American Military in Syria.
And if they don’t, I’d guess something is going to happen concerning Iran. And not a good thing.
Right on cue – the leftist interventionists and the neocon warmongers badger Trump because he doesn’t want to pursue Empire building.
Russia’s forces in Syria were always small, a few dozen airplanes, some guards on the air base perimeter, some antiaircraft missiles and guns around the air base. Beyond that, they’ve left “advising” to Iran and apparently some contractors.
Russia has also been consistent in rotating those small forces. They seem to be giving combat experience to different units, and trying out different equipment and tactics. For them, it is like the limited forces of Germany in the Spanish Civil War, compared to the larger commitment of Italy that is more like what Iran is doing.
In that context, any Russian draw down need be no more than a pause for rest and rotation. We won’t know until other forces either show up, or not.
This has the additional benefit for Russia that they don’t really risk the sort of exhaustion or expense that characterized Afghanistan for them, or all of the US wars for the US. They learned, and the US did not.