Trump’s insane comments this morning have been well documented here already. Referring to the Kurds as “no angels,” Trump claimed that “we” defeated ISIS, that the invasion of Turkey is not our problem, that Syria is welcome to have Russia as an ally, claimed the Kurds have lots of sand to play in and that they only fought because we paid them. He bloviated about money for several minutes and also ranted about The Server which he thinks is in Ukraine.
He went on and on, inviting rebuke from Republicans who realize how bad this is and how it weakens the US strategically, morally, endangers our national security and also our economy.
Trump dispatched Pence and Pompeo to Turkey, which is absurd under the circumstances.
“To have the vice president and the secretary of State going to meet with Erdogan and suggesting that somehow we’re surprised by what’s happening is disingenuous,” said Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the party’s 2012 presidential nominee. “Very clearly it was a decision by the administration which has led to what you’re seeing. This is a bit like the farmer locking the barn door after the horses left.”
Per Lindsey Graham who couldn’t resist a swipe at President Obama,
“I hope President Trump is right in his belief that Turkeys invasion of Syria is of no concern to us, abandoning the Kurds won’t come back to haunt us, ISIS won’t reemerge, and Iran will not fill the vacuum created by this decision,” Graham said Wednesday. “However, I firmly believe that if President Trump continues to make such statements this will be a disaster worse than President Obama’s decision to leave Iraq.”
The House by a large bipartisan majority passed a resolution condemning Trump’s behavior and reiterating the need for alliances and for America to be an honorable, upstanding presence in the world.
Separately, the House adopted a resolution on a 354 to 60 vote with four Republicans members voting present that rebuked Trump’s move to pull U.S. troops out of northern Syria — a decision announced Oct. 6 that has found few defenders on Capitol Hill. The strategy is meant to force Trump to sign or veto legislation that scolded his own decision, although Senate Republican leaders have yet to publicly commit to taking up that bill.
“Alliances and values are important,” said Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) speaking out on the House floor. “Walking away from friends is a sad indication of policy that we don't want to support, we don't want to condone. Yes, we want America to be great, but we're also great because of our friends and our allies. Coalitions are not bad. Coalitions strengthen our public policy around the world.”
It is unknown whether GOP Senators will take up the Resolution. I certainly hope they do.
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