Trump is following the example of his predecessors who bowed to the overwhelming desire of the American people not to see the lives of young US troops lost in endless squabbles between European or Middle East nations.

Just look at how reluctant the USA was to be drawn into World Wars I and II. Only exceptional aggression against themselves drew them in ultimately - fortunately for we British and others.

Can't really blame them myself, regardless of Kurd/Turkish position.

And Vietnam was their own mess-up not Europe's at least after France's disastrous campaign.

Edited by Jamesey (08 Oct 2019 9.31pm)

I partly agree in that the vast majority of modern foreign interventions end up being complete disasters. So I too would prefer that they didn't happen to begin with. However, once you're working along allies, persuading them to effectively take down their defenses one month because we're 'in it together', then throwing them to the wolves on a whim the next, it's not really something that can be defended.

If the Kurds in those areas are massacred it will be down to Trump's weird fawning, subservient attitude to authoritarian leaders, not military advice given to him, or the will of the people. This was the usual off the cuff decision making of realities on the ground that he clearly didn't spend 5 seconds thinking about.

Turkey were pushing back against the USA and cancelling defence contracts. Presumably threatening defence jobs in the US. Everyone feels bad for the Kurds but it has to be wondered how much they are going to be the victims of a clash between domestic jobs and foreign policy. If there is to be a defence of Trump in this - I wouldn't think that this kind of thing is unusual in the case of many US overseas involvements - under several presidents.

If it's that important why have us or other countries not sent troops out there.
These fights have been happening for ages over land and religeon.
We had ours 500 years ago.
You had yours 150 years ago.
Trump promised this in his manifesto and has delivered.
If he hadnt and more boys got dead you would be shouting about that.
He cant do more than he promised.

Trump is a coward and spineless rat for his callous betrayal of the Kurdish people.

He runs foreign policy like a real estate deal except people get killed when you withdraw military support.

Any republican not seeking re-election has condemned this, and even lap dog Lindsey has. Moscow Mitch remains stoic though, the cowardly little weasel.

There is no way to see this as anything other than a betrayal and ultimately harming American foreign policy goals in the future.