Pulling 50 U.S. advisers from Northwestern Syria, 73-year-old President Donald Trump drew fire from Republicans and Democrats, blasting him for betraying the Kurds, a key part in Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] battling the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS]. Trump’s 64-year-old Senate ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was infuriated, warning Trump he could be “his worst nightmare” if he continues the policy. Trump responded Oct. 16, “he’d stay in the Middle East for a 1,000 years,” contrasting his America First policy, keeping U.S. troops out of senseless Mideast Wars. Graham complained about Trump abandoning the Kurds but the U.S. Congress refused to recognize Kurdish Independence Sept. 25. 2017. Iraq’s 73-year-old Kurdish Democratic Party Leader Massoud Barzani put his credibility—and job—on the line pushing Kurdish independence in 2017.
Former President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) all rejected Barzani’s referendum on Kurdish independence, fearing alienation from Baghdad. When Trump spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodgan Oct. 13, he was told Turkey plans clear out the Syrian border region currently controlled by Kurd’s YPG [Kurdish Protection Units] militia. Estimated 14 million Kurds live in Turkey, roughly 18% of the population. Yet Turkey found itself battling the Kurdistan Workers Party [PKK] since 1978, looking to set up an independent Kurdish state in Turkey. Erdogan considers the PKK Turkey’s mortal enemy, having sustained terrorist attacks for the last 40 years. When the Treaty of Sevrés was signed Aug. 10. 1920, less than two years after WW I, the Ottoman Empire was broken up with the Kurds getting nothing.
Leaving the Kurds without a sovereign state in 1920, the Kurds have been forced to live in the hinterlands of Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey. Barzani’s bold move to hold an independence referendum for Iraqi Kurds was met with total rejection by Obama and the U.S. Congress in 2017. Suddenly U.S. lawmakers are outraged by Trump’s move to keep 50 U.S. advisers out of harm’s way. Many lawmakers of both sides on the aisle blame Trump for Turkey’s military action against the Kurds. Trump reasoned that it would be disastrous for the U.S. to go to war against Turkey, a NATO ally. Capitol Hill Democrats and Republicans act like they’d go to war with Turkey to defend the Kurds, something they wouldn’t do Sept. 25, 1917 when Barzani pleaded to U.S. for independence. Criticizing Trump’s recent move looks purely political for lawmakers now blaming Trump for a failed policy.
Penning a letter to Erdogan Oct. 16, Trump told the Turkish strongman, “don’t be a fool,” referring to his current military operation against the Kurds. “Don’t be a tough guy,” Trump told Erodgan, warning him that if her gets too violent with the Kurds there would be repercussions, including economic sanctions. Trump took steps to protect U.S. troops, removing them from the crossfire between Turkey and the Kurds. Unlike certain members of Congress, Trump doesn’t think the Turks battle with the Kurds is the U.S. business. Going to war with a NATO ally like Turkey would be unthinkable. Sending Erodgan a letter puts him on notice that he would receive only limited backing for his military operation in Northwestern Syria. Yet if you listen to Democrats and Republicans you’d think that Trump betrayed the Kurds, when all he did was make sure U.S.non-combat forces were safe during the Turkish operation.
Contrary to what’s said on Capitol Hill or the media, the Kurds don’t need U.S. protection, beyond the arms-and-military aid. Kurd’s YPG militia knows how to deal with Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria or any other hostile forces. No one in Kurdish leadership, including its Commander Sipo Hemo, expects or wants the U.S. to go to war with Turkey. Trump’s politically incorrect letter to Erdogan proves that he won’t let Turkey get away with too much against the Kurds. When Trump tells Erdogan “don’t be a fool,” he’s talking about keeping casualties to a minimum. “Let’s work out a good deal!” Trump told Erdogan. “You don’t want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don’t want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy—and I will,” Trump said. Trump let Erdogan know there are limits to his operation against the YPG.
All the talk in the media and Capitol Hill about Trump betraying the Kurds defies common sense, knowing the U.S. would not do battle with Turkey, a NATO ally. Removing 50 U.S. non-combat troops from the region had no adverse impact on whether or not Turkey went into Syria to clear out Kurdish strongholds. Trump’s critics insist he gave Erdogan the green light to march into Kurdish controlled territory in Syria near the Turkish border. Calling Erdogan “a friend of mine and I’m glad we didn’t have a problem because frankly, he’s a hell of a leader and he’s a tough man,” Trump told supporters in Texas. “He’s a strong man. And, he did the right thing,” Trump said, referring to his military operation to get Kurds away from the Turkish border Kurd’s YPG militia knows that the U.S. does not support encroaching on the borders of sovereign states in the region.
