Selling a decision to withdraw troops from a place where they were never supposed to be in the first place is preposterous. The president has implacable enemies in the house and Senate, they are called Democrats. The president has very unreliable allies in both those Houses and they are called Republicans. The president did not take the steps that virtually every president in this situation would have taken to at least give his allies in Congress a heads up and, where possible, secure their assent.
The failure to enlist Congress, the circumstances in which it was announced, the fact that it is on the eve of impeachment, the reaction of our allies in Europe, the implications for enlisting Muslims to fight and die against crazed Moslems, the impact on the Kurds, and the fact that the egotistical old lions in the Senate don't think that it is "preposterous" that he come to them and kiss rings, suggests this matter was bungled even if we approve on the merits.
When you’re in command... COMMAND! If you’re a subordinate, you FOLLOW ORDERS!
Nate, you’re a reasonable guy, I’ve been following your posts for years, so this isn’t meant as a negative.
President Trump has to call it the way he sees it. The politics that resulted in our troops being there are so convoluted that no one person could ever truthfully explain why they’re there. Recent events revolving around the Congressional corruption that is being uncovered at every turn has to leave reasonable doubts in everyone’s mind concerning our representation.
Congress have sidestepped their constitutional responsibility for too many years; they need to re-engage. If they cannot “declare war”, then whatever operation they “concoct and condone” should include specific national security objectives, include all of the funding, and very importantly contain conditions for victory and “AN EXIT STRATEGY” all signed by Congress. Then, Congress should get out of the Commander-in-Chief’s way. Consult with him as necessary, but allow him to achieve the objectives as outlined.
The trouble is, the world has become a much more complicated mess post WW2 and Cold War. I didn’t make the mess, you didn’t make the mess... it’s just the way it has worked out over the decades.
The way I see it, we have a couple of options: Congress needs to re-engage and put some skin in the game, or end up in a never-ending string of failures... Korean War, Vietnam War, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and now Syria... Each of these involved some kind of treaty or coalition... too many opportunities for graft and corruption... sacrificing our best and brightest... and, unfortunately, for better or worse, blaming the President.
The President called it the way he sees it. Congress can fall back on their specific objectives, including all of the funding, and very importantly the conditions they established for victory and “THEIR EXIT STRATEGY”. Absent that, I’ll go with the President’s leadership in this one. I just can no longer afford to trust Congress.
Good seeing your posts, Nate. Keep up the good work.