Being good at second-guessing everything that ends bad is not hard.
However, when anyone’s decisions consistently defy reason, precedent and principle they deserve to be condemned, not just questioned.
This month, President Trump made just such a decision when he withdrew U.S. troops from northern Syria.
Within hours after their withdrawal, Turkey did exactly as it promised — invaded that region.
Turkey asserts that our longtime allies against ISIS, the Kurds, that control northeastern Syria, are terrorists.
Then last week, in an amazing bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives vote, an overwhelming majority, 354-60, condemned Trump’s action. To his credit, Rep. David McKinley voted with the majority. To their discredit, our state’s other two House members were among the 60 Republicans backing Trump.
That resolution states Congress’ opposition to the troop pullback and says Turkey should cease its military action. It also calls for a plan for an “enduring defeat” of ISIS..
Whether that House resolution fell on deaf ears in the administration or not is not known.
However, the next day a top-level U.S. delegation flew to Ankara and negotiated a five-day cease fire, which Turkey referred to as a “pause.”
Why does any of this matter? That pause ends today and because it’s a decision that puts our nation’s security, our reputation and every American at risk.
The withdrawal from northern Syria gives our adversaries — Russia, Syria and Iran— the upper hand there.
It also not only erodes the trust of the United States internationally, but in this case leaves our former allies wearing a bull’s-eye on their back.
Finally, this withdrawal only increases the instability of this region, which could lead to a foothold for the Islamic State to re-emerge.
Anyone who doesn’t believe that last point should note that the hundreds of U.S. troops who are leaving Syria are actually being “repositioned” in Iraq to ensure there is no resurgence of ISIS there.
It would be some comfort to know such disastrous decisions by this administration are the exception, but indeed, they are the norm. Only last week again, the president announced one of his own resorts would host a meeting of the world’s leader — the G-7 summit — in Florida.
After expressing surprise at the backlash, including from top Republicans, he changed his mind. How could anyone not see the obvious conflict of interest in such a decision?
We condemn the decision to withdrawal U.S. troops from Syria to appease Turkey or anyone else.
No one expects Trump to change his mind on Syria, if he even could now. It’s much more complicated.
Still, decisions such as this are simply wrongheaded.
