US Politics

[Monseratto]

The Turks get what they want, clear the kurds out of an exclusion zone from the Turk-Syria border... But will Kurds cooperate with their FORMER ally USA... 5 day pause in exchange.

The agreement, announced by Vice President Pence after hours of negotiations, appeared to hand Turkey’s leader most of what he sought when his military launched an assault on northeastern Syria just over a week ago: the expulsion of Syrian Kurdish militias from the border and the removal of a U.S. threat to impose sanctions on Turkey’s vulnerable economy.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...199_story.html

[Jun aka Pekto]

The Turks get what they want, clear the kurds out of an exclusion zone from the Turk-Syria border... But will Kurds cooperate with their FORMER ally USA... 5 day pause in exchange.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...199_story.html

Probably not in Syria. But, those in northern Iraq might. Of course, in Northern Iraq, the Kurds there have the most autonomy. But, whatever the US does, it cannot afford to lose Incirlik AB. Once that base goes, the only way the US will get a foothold in the region is via a full blown amphibious invasion a la D-Day. Once the base is gone, it's game over. No future comeback, nothing.

Short-term concession and long-term benefits.

Also, don't just believe what's going on at the surface. The politics there are far more complicated. Remember Iran-Contra? Even when the US and Iran were attacking each other and the rhetoric between Israel and Iran were venomous, they were all doing deals under the table.

[donbuggy]

Our Republic Is Under Attack From the President | The New York Times

If President Trump doesn’t demonstrate the leadership that America needs, then it is time for a new person in the Oval Office.

By William H. McRaven
Admiral McRaven is a former commander of the United States Special Operations Command.
Oct. 17, 2019

Last week I attended two memorable events that reminded me why we care so very much about this nation and also why our future may be in peril.

The first was a change of command ceremony for a storied Army unit in which one general officer passed authority to another. The second event was an annual gala for the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) Society that recognizes past and present members of the intelligence and Special Operations community for their heroism and sacrifice to the nation. What struck me was the stark contrast between the words and deeds heralded at those events — and the words and deeds emanating from the White House.

But, beneath the outward sense of hope and duty that I witnessed at these two events, there was an underlying current of frustration, humiliation, anger and fear that echoed across the sidelines. The America that they believed in was under attack, not from without, but from within.

These men and women, of all political persuasions, have seen the assaults on our institutions: on the intelligence and law enforcement community, the State Department and the press. They have seen our leaders stand beside despots and strongmen, preferring their government narrative to our own. They have seen us abandon our allies and have heard the shouts of betrayal from the battlefield. As I stood on the parade field at Fort Bragg, one retired four-star general, grabbed my arm, shook me and shouted, “I don’t like the Democrats, but Trump is destroying the Republic!”

But, if we don’t care about our values, if we don’t care about duty and honor, if we don’t help the weak and stand up against oppression and injustice — what will happen to the Kurds, the Iraqis, the Afghans, the Syrians, the Rohingyas, the South Sudanese and the millions of people under the boot of tyranny or left abandoned by their failing states?

If our promises are meaningless, how will our allies ever trust us? If we can’t have faith in our nation’s principles, why would the men and women of this nation join the military? And if they don’t join, who will protect us? If we are not the champions of the good and the right, then who will follow us? And if no one follows us — where will the world end up?

President Trump seems to believe that these qualities are unimportant or show weakness. He is wrong. These are the virtues that have sustained this nation for the past 243 years. If we hope to continue to lead the world and inspire a new generation of young men and women to our cause, then we must embrace these values now more than ever.

And if this president doesn’t understand their importance, if this president doesn’t demonstrate the leadership that America needs, both domestically and abroad, then it is time for a new person in the Oval Office — Republican, Democrat or independent — the sooner, the better. The fate of our Republic depends upon it.

[Jun aka Pekto]

If President Trump doesn’t demonstrate the leadership that America needs, then it is time for a new person in the Oval Office.

By William H. McRaven
Admiral McRaven is a former commander of the United States Special Operations Command.
Oct. 17, 2019

Trump has always been anti-war unlike most Republicans. Top military brass may not like him. But, he's pretty popular with the lowly grunts who do the actual fighting and dying.

Do you really think the 50 or so US troops in the whole region could have stopped the Turks? They're not supermen who can each kill hundreds of enemies.

It's just like in Korea. I got sent to support an Army unit near the DMZ. When I asked my supervisor if we can really stop an invasion by a million or so North Korean soldiers? The answer I got was no. Our job was to be a sacrificial trigger that would elicit a massive and deadly US response. Then I asked, "What about us?" He said, "Well, we'll either be dead or prisoners of war. Probably dead."

Eventually, the US gave up that sacrificial trigger thing and closed many of the bases near the DMZ. For the handful of US troops pulled out of Syria, that's all they were. A sacrificial trigger except there's no massive US force to back them up.

[KingoftheNorth]

Trump has always been anti-war unlike most Republicans. Top military brass may not like him. But, he's pretty popular with the lowly grunts who do the actual fighting and dying.

Do you really think the 50 or so US troops in the whole region could have stopped the Turks? They're not supermen who can each kill hundreds of enemies.

It's just like in Korea. I got sent to support an Army unit near the DMZ. When I asked my supervisor if we can really stop an invasion by a million or so North Korean soldiers? The answer I got was no. Our job was to be a sacrificial trigger that would elicit a massive and deadly US response. Then I asked, "What about us?" He said, "Well, we'll either be dead or prisoners of war. Probably dead."

Eventually, the US gave up that sacrificial trigger thing and closed many of the bases near the DMZ. For the handful of US troops pulled out of Syria, that's all they were. A sacrificial trigger except there's no massive US force to back them up.

The troops might not but I bet the 50 or so B61 tactical nukes they have in Incirlik Airbase would give any large force pause.


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[Jun aka Pekto]

The troops might not but I bet the 50 or so B61 tactical nukes they have in Incirlik Airbase would give any large force pause.


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The US nuke guys aren't going to use the bombs. Not with almost 2M civilians nearby. The Turks aren't going to attack them either unless they want another Chernobyl.

[Jun aka Pekto]

This has happened over and over during the past decade and why my trust of the MSM is at an all-time low.

If I did this back when I still posted weather bulletins and discussions? I'd be fired.

[oj88]

"If the facts are on your side, pound the facts into the table. If the law is on your side, pound the law into the table. If neither the facts nor the law are on your side, pound the table."

And wow, the Republicans pounded on an empty table.



Déjà vu... for those who are old enough to have played this game...

[StockEngine]

This has happened over and over during the past decade and why my trust of the MSM is at an all-time low.

If I did this back when I still posted weather bulletins and discussions? I'd be fired.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Geez. Politics here really are a circus. Ilhan Omar marrying her brother and committing immigration fraud. Now, Katie Hill.

[Jun aka Pekto]

I'd share a few beers with him.

[Jun aka Pekto]

I recall posting a few days ago about not quickly jumping to conclusions with the politics in the Middle East.

I'm not really a Trump fan which is why I don't listen to his speeches. But, I finally watched his speech about the death of the ISIS leader. He mentioned working together with Turkey, Russia, Iraq, and *gasp* the Syrian Kurds. Hmmmm. Remember what was happening a few days ago? Yeah. Weird, eh?

[Ketib]

Marami rami rin naipasok sa bulsa.

.

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[StockEngine]

I recall posting a few days ago about not quickly jumping to conclusions with the politics in the Middle East.

I'm not really a Trump fan which is why I don't listen to his speeches. But, I finally watched his speech about the death of the ISIS leader. He mentioned working together with Turkey, Russia, Iraq, and *gasp* the Syrian Kurds. Hmmmm. Remember what was happening a few days ago? Yeah. Weird, eh?

He made them feel safe? Got them out of the shadows. epic move imo. Seems like the intel community is doing covert work real well.

[donbuggy]

Donald Trump Gets Boos, "Lock Him Up" Chants at World Series Game 5 | Deadspin

by Dan McQuade

[donbuggy]

Trump faces renewed backlash for 'abandoning' the Kurds in Syria as its revealed THEIR intelligence helped locate al-Baghdadi in compound where he blew himself and three of his kids up in dead-end tunnel | The Daily Mail

by Luke Kenton and Marlene Lenthang
27 October 2019

However, in the hours since, two intelligence officials revealed to the New York Times it was actually Syrian and Iraqi Kurds who provided the most information about al-Baghdadi’s whereabouts and were instrumental in bringing him down.

Soon after the announcement of the raid, the White House proclaimed that under Trump’s watch, 'we’ve obliterated' al-Baghdadi and his 'caliphate.'

Meanwhile, Trump’s reelection campaign sent a message to supporters that 'President Trump has brought the #1 terrorist leader to justice.'

However, eight years ago, president Trump was singing an entirely different tune when then-President Obama announced the successful assassination of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

[uls]

ok Trumpists, celebration's over

[Jun aka Pekto]

ok Trumpists, celebration's over

That's fine. We'll find him too.

[kisshmet]

^its a vicious cycle

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[Jun aka Pekto]

Seriously, the MSM wants a police state? I don't think so.