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Analysis: On Syria, Trump is right where he wants to be: Alone
NBC "News" ^ | December 21, 2018 | By Jonathan Allen (D-NBC)

Posted on 12/21/2018 11:24:28 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

President Donald Trump isolated himself from top allies and advisers with his unilateral decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria, triggering a backlash in Washington and around the globe unlike any he has seen during past go-it-alone moves on foreign policy.

At a White House meeting Thursday, Defense Secretary James Mattis handed Trump a blunt resignation letter that pointed to the president's failure to work with long-standing U.S. partners - and his empowerment of U.S. adversaries - as reasons for his departure.

A fulminating phalanx of Republican hawks, led by onetime rival and now usually loyal ally Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said that Trump is empowering Moscow, Tehran, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and the remnants of the Islamic State while abandoning U.S. allies in the region and around the world.

Centrist Democrats are echoing their talking points, and even war-weary liberals say Trump has imperiled national interests by rushing into a policy without a serious plan for pulling troops out and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

They all point to the approval Trump is getting from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

For some presidents, the lonely path in Washington would be an uncomfortable one. But to Trump, it's a sign that he's on the right track.

"I think it’s a healthy backlash because politicians aren’t popular, and when politicians attack Trump it allows him to position himself as something other than a politician," said a former Trump White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the president.

When the Washington establishment is against Trump on an issue like Syria, this former White House official said, "it’s usually the opposite that’s happening around the rest of the country."

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Syria
KEYWORDS: isis; islam; mideast; syria; trumpgwot
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To: lodi90

I hope they are happy when their budgets are slashed next year.


That was my thought when the mob at the UN were snickering at his comments...GO find your own city AND funding. Get the UN out of the USA


21 posted on 12/21/2018 11:48:52 AM PST by my job (MAGA...winning...hugely)
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: Trump.Deplorable

Sorry wrong thread, I have no idea how I did it


23 posted on 12/21/2018 11:49:05 AM PST by Trump.Deplorable
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To: MNDude

Excellent presentation of the Ministry of Propaganda.
They sure do stick to the script.


24 posted on 12/21/2018 11:50:35 AM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here of Citizen Parents__Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: MNDude

Is there a direct link to the video without the show?


25 posted on 12/21/2018 11:51:18 AM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: Trump.Deplorable

LOL! It likely still applies to this.


26 posted on 12/21/2018 11:51:43 AM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I know we have 2000 troops there. Who else is there?


27 posted on 12/21/2018 11:52:55 AM PST by marajade
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To: Wilderness Conservative

I am ambivalent on the Syria pull out. I can see both sides of the argument.

But I totally understand POTUS’s position. He campaigned on withdrawing and the Deep State has fought him for every inch on policy.

Many of the same people now screaming about this withdrawal have spent THREE MONTHS hen-pecking POTUS on the Muslim Brotherhood “journalist” and interfering in Trump’s ME policy with the Saudis. Deep State and the military brass have earned none in my book and in fact has shown great disloyalty in POTUS in refusing to implement his policies.

Loyalty is a two way street. If people in Trump’s admin disagree they are free to resign. If they stand with America hating Democrats like Mattis has done I will not forgive.


28 posted on 12/21/2018 11:52:58 AM PST by lodi90
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

So if our allies support what’s going on in Syria, then they should send their own troops over there to fix the problem.


29 posted on 12/21/2018 11:56:42 AM PST by Durbin
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To: VanDeKoik
That tiny number of troops were not the lynchpin of anything over there.

They are there as a tripwire, in other words bait, just to make it easier for us to go back in force.

How would you like to be carrying a rifle in Syria knowing you were there to be the worm on a hook?

30 posted on 12/21/2018 11:57:43 AM PST by seowulf
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To: lodi90

So, we’re supposed to stay there until WhT? ISIS is all dead? Then what? Change of Mission Statement? We’re supposed to stay and drive the Russians out next?


31 posted on 12/21/2018 12:01:29 PM PST by To-Whose-Benefit? (It is Error alone which needs the support of Government. The Truth can stand by itself.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Bring them all home and right to the MEXICAN BORDER!!!!!


32 posted on 12/21/2018 12:05:32 PM PST by LibFreeUSA
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Trump is wrong on this Syria thing. If anything he should have increased troops. We have one hell of larger troop deployment to friendly Countries to keep stability.


33 posted on 12/21/2018 12:20:09 PM PST by Logical me
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To: MeganC

Poll of Trump voters showed 93% support his decision. Not alone.


34 posted on 12/21/2018 12:22:48 PM PST by Trumpisourlastchance
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Trump is making a much needed mockery of Congress. Executive power which includes most of the Swamp has been unchecked while it implements the prog agenda.

Immigration, budget, trade, war are Congressional Constitutional duties that have been fobbed off on the president. If Congress does not like what Trump is doing on these matters they can reclaim their Constitutional powers and start using them.

Congress writes vague laws that empower the the President and then use the SC to extend the scope of those laws.


35 posted on 12/21/2018 12:23:43 PM PST by FreedomNotSafety
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

President Trump’s decision to pull our folks out of Syria and a 50% draw down from Afghanistan, coupled with General Mattis’ resignation, prompts me re-post this 7 1/2 minute video I did 9 years ago. It was one of my first efforts and, due to the software I had at the time, is technically rather crude.

That said, the message is even MORE timely than it was in 2009 as, since then, more American kids have come home missing limbs, their sight, suffering from PTSD...or in flag draped boxes. It’s past time to stop this insane policy of sending OUR kids to fight other peoples’ wars...while other men (and more often than not, THEIR KIDS) remain safe at home and grow rich making the arms and other war materiel. (If you need to know more about THAT problem, I’ve posted two related links on THAT subject.)
There was a wry bit of humor circulating during the Vietnam debacle: “War is a good business. INVEST YOUR SONS!”
IT’S LONG PAST TIME TO STOP THIS!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkyEtw8lBtI&t=5s

EISENHOWER’S WARNING: (2:47) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=padyyQlr7LI

GENERAL SMEDLEY BUTLER (Recipient of 2 Congressional Medals of Honor!): (53:00 but you’ll “get it” in under 10.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI3lckqaSk0


36 posted on 12/21/2018 12:36:24 PM PST by Dick Bachert (Why are damn near ALL the SEX FIENDS Democrats?)
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To: lodi90

Notice the military is siding with the Democrats.
…………………………………………………………………….
Be careful when you say “The Military!” What do the “grunts” say?


37 posted on 12/21/2018 4:54:26 PM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: Wilderness Conservative

they would give the orders to shoot every one of us and those orders would be carried out.
……………………………………………………….
ummmmmmmmm I disagree.


38 posted on 12/21/2018 4:56:28 PM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Might mean he was given credible evidence the rebels actually staged a chemical attack or two and don’t deserve out backing....


39 posted on 12/22/2018 2:44:35 AM PST by trebb (Those who don't donate anything tend to be empty gasbags...no-value-added types)
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To: Mollypitcher1
Ever hear of the Ludlow Massacre? It could happen again anywhere on a bigger scale. The PTBs would do it to us before they open up on Antifa types.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_Massacre

40 posted on 12/22/2018 12:29:45 PM PST by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative.)
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