ISIS Defeated?

[Dill]

(02-01-2019, 03:46 PM)Stonyhands Wrote: His policy is peace in the Middle East and not wasting anymore US Soldiers lives and US dollars on a never ending war in Afghanistan.

Generalities. That's everyone's policy. 

With reference to those actually in power, this is a policy question. What is the PLAN for peace in the Middle East and getting out of Afghanistan?  What the specific goals in the process and the steps taken towards them. How does Syria fit into any larger Middle East strategy, and how does an abrupt pullout, which surprises Trump's own advisors and secretaries, accomplish that--especially when it turns out not to be a pull out?  It is with respect to already articulated policy that presidents generally explain their actions.  So what is Trump's Middle East/Syria policy?

(02-01-2019, 03:46 PM)Stonyhands Wrote: Color me surprised that a General rebuked any plans on drawing down our military presence.  

Why are our Troops still in Syria?  Why is this such a shocker to you?  What exactly has Trump tried to do in his time as President that wasn’t dragged out or fought every step of the way? With the exception of confirming General Mattis to his position.  Why would this be any different? 

You think generals want to keep troops in combat for no good reason?  Their judgments don't respond to military necessity?

It is still a "shocker" to me that our troops are still in Syria because in December, Trump announced he was pulling the out NOW, starting the day of the announcement. Our allies in the region have set plans for working with the US over the coming months, so this announcement took them completely by surprise. And it took our NSC advisor, Bolton, and our Secretary of State, Pompeo, and our Secretary of Defense by surprise as well.

We are still there because one of these gentlemen resigned and the others sat Trump down and explained what the costs of an immediate pull out would be. Then over the next week they traveled to Turkey and Jordan and Iraq to reconnect with leaders of those countries and their needs, not to mention our other allies on the ground.  Perhaps this is what you mean by "dragged out and fought every step of the way" knowledgeable officials trying to avert disaster as Trump "keeps his promises." 

(02-01-2019, 03:46 PM)Stonyhands Wrote: It’s not exactly unheard of for disagreements in policy between a commander in chief and those in positions such has General Mathis.  Obama didn’t always see eye to eye with his Generals either and there were many disconnects during his presidency.

...and yes many would say General Mattis is liberal or leans more to that direction than he does toward being a conservative.

It is EXACTLY "unheard of."

We are talking about a president who doesn't take his daily intel briefings and then announces a pull out with no preparation or advance warning, leaving his own administration and chaos and damage control mode.  NO OTHER PRESIDENT HAS DONE THIS.

Mattis has registered for no political party. But you think there must be some "liberal" in the guy if he resigns to protest an out-of-control president's actions?  Are Pompeo and Bolton liberals? They didn't resign, but they were just as shocked.  The Republican dominated Senate just voted to rebuke Trump's plan to withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan. This is about competence and national interest, not party.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkZmYa7t1pU