Cadet Bonespurs managed to pull off a military feat that foreign adversaries have failed to for generations: he made US Troops hang their heads in shame.
The story originally appeared in a series of conversations with The New York Times, where brave military men talk about betrayal, shame, and bad military strategy. The New York Times wasn’t alone, though, in finding this sentiment. Today, CNN put out a blistering piece noting the deep problems this creates for the US Military.
There's also a concern that allies and potential partners won't trust the US in the future.
"How do we expect anyone to partner with us now?" one US defense official told CNN.
"They did everything we asked them to do," said another. "This is really not good for us."
Cadet Bonespurs contends that he simply doesn’t want war without end. The truth is, he served our allies — those who helped contain ISIS — up on a silver platter to be slaughtered, suggesting that the American military policy might be to abandon allies whenever we feel like it. And the US Military has noticed. If we’re willing to hang our allies out to dry, how much real respect do we have for our own troops?
However, troops on the ground have described it as an abandonment and a "betrayal."
"It's pretty messed up what's happening out here," one US Special Forces soldier on the ground in Syria told CNN when news of the US withdrawal was announced.
"We want to offer support," the soldier said, adding "We do not want to leave them in this situation."
Honor is apparently a word that Trump hasn’t quite figured out.
Betrayal, however, is a pretty easy one for the cadet.