In an interview with Germany’s DW, US Special Envoy on Syria James
Jeffrey defended President Trump’s declaration of victory over ISIS
earlier this year, and argued that people who thought he was going to
end the war or withdraw from Syria simply “misunderstood.“
Jeffrey conceded that there was confusion around the announcement,
saying even some within the administration misunderstood. At the same
time, he said Trump’s statement was clear and “close to the truth”
compared to other statements by victorious political leaders.
Jeffrey also suggested that the inspector general’s statement on the
ISIS war was mistaken, but added that they “would not ever deliberately
put out false statements, but they often put out inaccurate statements
based upon a misrepresentation of one-sided information.”
Trump had been pretty clear about there being a pullout in Syria, and
defended it for at least some time from critics before eventually
backing down and claiming he was going to stay. Though Jeffrey’s
narrative is that continuing the war was the plan all along, it simply
doesn’t fit with what officials had been saying at the time.
Well it’s important to avoid misunderstandings.That is well known.
Trump: “let’s bomb those islands to let China know we’re serious!”
Minion: “But sir, China will retaliate and we’ll have a war on our hands!”
Trump: “Ok. Nevermind that.”
Minion: “Understood sir! Launch the bombers!”
Trump: “!Why are you launching?”
Minion: “But sir, you said…”
Trump: I said nevermind my proposal!
Trump wiggle-wiggle is by now a classic.
But why? Why do that? What dies he get out of it?
So far, for running on the platform of “stupid wars”, he got himself investigated as Kremlin agent.
But just as he started looking compliant on Iran — he misses a grand bombing opportunity after drone downing.
And even more infuriating — it is up to Saudis if they want war, we will defend them for a price!
This calls for another whipping of the thick-headed leader. How to concoct now a war — when Saudis said on 60 Minutes that they want peace! And that it is up to “international community” , read US to contain Iran!
What a mess!
So Trump said it was up to Saudis, we are just here to help you, while Saudis want peace, but up to us to control Iran.
No wonder they want impeachment — anything to get him to say a clear , irrevocable YES to dispatching bombers.
And that will force him to stand up and explain to the nation why are we at war.
And — finally — bring back those deluded red states back into the fold. To do the inly thing they are useful for, flag waving.
Admittedly— Trump and his wiggle are not at all clear to me.
But we cannot just ignore that the maddening wiggle exists — and that we are no closer to explaining why now, then at the beginning of his contested presidency.
The way I understand Trump – for what it’s worth – there are always several factors at work simultaneously. It’s not because he’s boastful that is isn’t flexible or that he will push through his ideas against everyone else.. Rather, he isn’t afraid to come out with ideas prematurely because he’s not afraid to backtrack afterwards.
So he wanted at least to get the ground troops out of Syria but couldn’t push through against all the internal opposition. I don’t think there is much to see there.
Maybe some people confuse his antiwar positions with anti-bullying positions. He is not against bullying or intimidating others. Probably not against overthrowing governments either. So everyting to put pressure on Iran is fine but war is not and in that respect he is well aligned with the Pentagon.
Yes, the world is full of misunderstandings!
We have something called videos.
Nice try!
I think Erdogan is being misunderstood as well. No, he does not really plan to come into part of Syria controlled by US proxies. No, he never said anything like that!
And he never said that he was going to return millions of refugees back to Syria, and US better not drag feet. No, this is just not happening.
Once our proxies get endangered at the very heart of their majority area — Kobane — what would US soldiering bring them?
To be US sentinels at far flung Deir Azzor, where 99% of Arabs live, while their own lands will be cleared of YPG as they already are in Afrin? Would our YPG helpers have a home to go to?
If are they hanging out there because US has promised them all the Arab land they are now lording over — they are taking a huge risk.
A bird in hand — Kobane — is worth much more then hundreds of American birds in a bush.
Some of the highlights of this lowlife:
“I don’t know of anybody in the US government at any level that does not think that Iran’s encroachment on the region, its hegemonic tendencies, its use of asymmetrical warfare throughout the region … is not at the very top of the threats to regional security,” he said.
James Jeffrey said the US does not see Bashar Assad as having won the war in Syria
Jeffrey’s second goal is to ensure a “different political solution for Syria” and he added that the US is going to continue its “unrelenting pressure” on the regime of Bashar Assad.
“Whether Assad ever stands trial for his war crimes, of which there are many, and he certainly deserves to, that is another question,” he said. “But we don’t see Assad as having won this war.”
And we have yet another talented contender in the Baghdad Bob Bloviation Championships. But he’s certainly got his work cut out for him, as the field is bulging with talent this year: Mike Pompeo, Col. Turki al-Malki, Adam Schiff, Eric Swallwell, the ever-present Bibi N & team Neocon, and the list goes on. A truly exciting year in the annals of world-class bullshit awaits. The star of the show however, the man to beat, who has turned bullshit into an art form, and who, for three years now has dominated the field and out-classed the competition, taken the world of bullshit to a whole new level, brought a smile to the face of so many with his sweet sweet over-the-top artistry, trash-talker extraordinaire The Donald, is the man to beat. Bring it, baby! Yumm!
Bottom line: Trump folded.
And this is the guy we’re supposed to believe has the gall to “drain the swamp.”
Good luck with that.
No his order was quite clear the Pentagon bureaucracy just refused to carry out.
What order? Got a link?
Trump was genuine about the Syria withdrawal. But then Bolton and the Pentagon completely under mind and overthrew it basically.
There was an order, or there wasn’t.