Trump's Syria plan reveals a master strategist in the White House

[mystery-ak]

October 16, 2019
Trump's Syria plan reveals a master strategist in the White House
By Richard Jack Rail

It's just too delicious.  President Trump ordered U.S. special forces out of Syria to a chorus of howling Democrats and all the old, experienced hands at State and, supposedly, the military.  (I had doubts as well.)  Democrats yelled that all hell was about to break loose.  The Pentagon pulled its hair.  Europe trembled and blanched.  The Mideast girded for something awful.

Everybody thought we had to keep our troops around so the Turks wouldn't invade Northern Syria and kill off all the Kurds.  Everybody wanted them to negotiate with the Kurds and figured the only way to do that was little by little, by getting allies to reason with Turkey and hem and haw and maybe buy her off as in times past.  Meanwhile, we had to keep the two ancient enemies, Kurds and Turks, apart.

Negotiations would ever happen only if our troops stayed.

more
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/10/trumps_syria_plan_reveals_a_master_strategist_in_the_white_house.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

FTA

Everybody thought we had to keep our troops around so the Turks wouldn't invade Northern Syria and kill off all the Kurds.  Everybody wanted them to negotiate with the Kurds and figured the only way to do that was little by little, by getting allies to reason with Turkey and hem and haw and maybe buy her off as in times past.  Meanwhile, we had to keep the two ancient enemies, Kurds and Turks, apart.

Negotiations would ever happen only if our troops stayed.

Trump saw the situation differently.  […]

The actual result hasn't been quite what everyone expected.  ErdoÄŸan suddenly understood the box he was in when Trump authorized Treasury secretary Mnuchin to prepare sanctions against Turkey.  By themselves, sanctions haven't succeeded much in that part of the world.  But in concert with the departure of the U.S., they became a scary signal that Turkey was all by her lonesome.  Having steadfastly refused to negotiate, ErdoÄŸan now nervously rang up Trump and asked for an emergency conference.  Trump sent Vice President Pence and national security adviser O'Brien to mediate negotiations with the Kurds.

These are the long sought negotiations, brought about by U.S. troops leaving.

[massadvj]

I think the scarier scenario for Erdogan was the new alliance between the Syrian Kurds and Syria (and therefore Iran).  Turkey cannot afford a war with that alliance, and will have to bow out gracefully.  The only problem is that the new alliance strengthens Syria, and by extension Iran and Russia.  But in the long run the area will be more stable than before.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I think the scarier scenario for Erdogan was the new alliance between the Syrian Kurds and Syria (and therefore Iran).  Turkey cannot afford a war with that alliance, and will have to bow out gracefully.  The only problem is that the new alliance strengthens Syria, and by extension Iran and Russia.  But in the long run the area will be more stable than before.

Iran really isn't any stronger with a unified Syria.  Nearly all the gulf states would prefer to see a regime change in Iran ….  I believe it will happen, just can't see the "when". 

[aligncare]

I think the scarier scenario for Erdogan was the new alliance between the Syrian Kurds and Syria (and therefore Iran).  Turkey cannot afford a war with that alliance, and will have to bow out gracefully.  The only problem is that the new alliance strengthens Syria, and by extension Iran and Russia.  But in the long run the area will be more stable than before.

Iran is definitely worrisome. But as a grave threat Russia—sans the Soviet Union—isn’t the biggest problem facing America today, it’s China. The Middle East is an unnecessary drain on the treasury and I think President Trump saw this problem and has set about reordering America’s priorities to better deal with the actual threat coming from China’s growing worldwide influence and hegemony.

[Absalom]

Master strategist in the WH? Perhaps a kin of Von Clausewitz? Who knew???
Anyway this endless blather about this Kurd and that Kurd reminds of Occam's Razor;
that the simplest explanation is always the best one.
The Kurds are nothing more than another middle eastern tribe and hardly friendly
towards western values.
For those new to history, in 1915, they organized and carried out the Genocide
of 1,500,000 Armenian Christian Men, Women and Children, as their Ottoman 
Masters ordered. So much for those poor Kurds.

[TomSea]

There were some negotiations already and the sides could not agree at least, per that safety zone.

https://ahvalnews.com/safe-zone/turkey-not-satisfied-us-proposal-safe-zone-northern-syria

But I can see it now, the Kurds are going to decide to go to the negotiations table.

[TomSea]

Kurds go to Russia/Assad/Hezbollah/Iran side.

Turkey upset with us, could go into the same orbit as well.



Russia more powerful, Iran more powerful,  Assad perhaps more powerful.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Iran is definitely worrisome. But as a grave threat Russia—sans the Soviet Union—isn’t the biggest problem facing America today, it’s China. The Middle East is an unnecessary drain on the treasury and I think President Trump saw this problem and has set about reordering America’s priorities to better deal with the actual threat coming from China’s growing worldwide influence and hegemony.

We need to keep an eye on Iran ... without overinflating its influence and power. Their economy is crumbling.  If our wonderful EU allies would join us, change would come more swiftly in Iran.  And remember, Russia gave Israel the green light to bomb Iranian and Hezbollah strongholds/weapons in Syria with the only codicil being not kill Russian soldiers and if they can help it, any Syrians.  Iran has no real alliances of consequence. 

And I agree, @aligncare China is the enemy we need to keep two eyes on.

[Right_in_Virginia]

So much for those poor Kurds.

Oh, enough with the "poor Kurds" nonsense.  Kurds are genetically programed to fight and, thanks to us, they are better trained and better equipped than ever and would give Turkey a beating they'd not forget if the two forces ever engaged in sustained guerilla warfare.

Besides, the Kurds are mercenaries.  They fight to advance their own goals and enrich their own pockets.  Their alliances are only as good as someone else is helpful.  What do you think would have happened if Syria/Russia ironed out a self-governing land deal that required the Kurds to kill the American soldiers in Syria?

I think there would have been a lot of dead Americans.

[Absalom]

Oh, enough with the "poor Kurds" nonsense.  Kurds are genetically programed to fight and, thanks to us, they are better trained and better equipped than ever and would give Turkey a beating they'd not forget if the two forces ever engaged in sustained guerilla warfare.
Besides, the Kurds are mercenaries.  They fight to advance their own goals and enrich their own pockets.  Their alliances are only as good as someone else is helpful.  What do you think would have happened if Syria/Russia ironed out a self-governing land deal that required the Kurds to kill the American soldiers in Syria?
I think there would have been a lot of dead Americans.

--------------------------------
Think whatever you wish about the Kurds, as opinions are inexpensive.
They are another Asian mountain tribe of the 10th century.
As for their military prowess, if they had any they would have created
a nation/state by now.