Since Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from northern Syria, media outlets have turned to politicians and military strategists to break down exactly what it all means—and all of it is bad news. The real-life ramifications of Trump’s ineptitude are having dire consequences. In short, with a weak-minded president like Trump, world leaders are willing to call his bluff. His international diplomacy as been exposed for what it is: bluff, bluster, and blunders. Everything about Donald Trump is a bluff.
The former commander of American forces in Afghanistan and former special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS under the Obama administration, Gen. John Allen, explained the unfolding events to CNN and his description of what is happening is extremely troubling:
"There was no chance (Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan) Erdogan would keep his promise, and full blown ethnic cleansing is underway by Turkish supported militias," he said. "This is what happens when Trump follows his instincts and because of his alignment with autocrats."
If that statement was too difficult for the economically anxious Trump supporter, Gen. Allen made his point as simple as possible, "There is blood on Trump's hands for abandoning our Kurdish allies."
The humanitarian crisis unfolding in northern Syria is one of the few actions both Democratic officials and Republican officials can superficially agree on. The harsh reality conservatives would rather not face is the moment Donald Trump was elected, the Republican Party circled their wagons around him in spite of his obvious corruptions and his clearly compromised situation. These things were entirely predictable.
General so and so isn’t the only one speaking out. Military personnel who’ve served in Syria alongside the Kurds are stunned and horrified. Several have spoken out to The New York Times.
“They trusted us and we broke that trust,” one Army officer who has worked alongside the Kurds in northern Syria said last week in a telephone interview. “It’s a stain on the American conscience.”
Another officer who served in northern Syria told the Times he was “ashamed,” by the United States’ recent actions.
What is happening with our country’s family separation and immigration policies, the safety of our allies around the world, our environmental protections, were all thrown into chaos. The Republican Party got the president they’ve wanted all along, and the results keep coming in. And those results are horrifying.