General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs Trump following Putin's lead on the Kurds?
Only thing which makes sense imo.
flying_wahini
(6,646 posts)lapfog_1
(29,223 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,192 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)from Wikipedia
In December 2015, Trump stated in a radio interview that he had a "conflict of interest" in dealing with Turkey because of his property, saying "I have a little conflict of interest, because I have a major, major building in Istanbul
From Newsweek (today): https://www.newsweek.com/ivanka-trump-tweet-thanking-turkey-erdogan-attending-istanbul-trump-towers-launch-syria-controversy-1463536
Trump's businesses interests in Turkey may have prompted, or at least influenced, his decision to allow Erdogan to go ahead with his military offensive.
Ryan Lizza, Politico's chief Washington correspondent explained on Twitter that situations like this "is why presidents divest."
"It is crazy that a president is making national security decisions like the one tonight when he has lucrative business relationships at stake in the country that will benefit," Lizza added.
John Sipher, who spent 28 years working for the CIA, expressed his frustration at Trump's announcement. "At least the Trump Administration is consistent," he said on Twitter. "We are about screwing our allies, partners and friends. Don't trust America, even if you shed blood on their behalf. If you want favors build a Trump tower."
Johnny2X2X
(19,114 posts)These evil despots are leading Trump and the US.
Trump is surely benefiting personally from this though. The US, not so much.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Syndicate and their new Hotels in Istanbul that opened over the Weekend. Oh BTW,Vlad is running our Foreign Policy if anyone has any doubt.
dchill
(38,532 posts)He'd shave right here.
cilla4progress
(24,766 posts)(my 1st): #putinisourpresident. Also: #the25thamendmentishereforthis
Caliman73
(11,744 posts)Remember that Russia and Turkey are backing different sides in the Syrian conflict. Turkey has had it in for the Kurds since way before Syria. The thing keeping Turkey from attacking them has been US backing. I could see Putin okaying the situation, but this would not be a Russian operation since the Kurds had effectively taken out ISIS which had been causing Asad's forces some difficulty.
Trump is trying to get something from Turkey.
rockfordfile
(8,704 posts)Caliman73
(11,744 posts)The sanctions on Turkey are appropriate, but Graham saying he will push to suspend Turkey from NATO sounds like a definite Russian angle.
Typically Turkey and Russia are on opposite sides of any given situation which is why I initially said that Russia is not driving this. Turkey has wanted to eradicate the Kurds for a long long time, before Trump was in office, but the US has always had the back of the Kurds.
GoCubsGo
(32,088 posts)Do bears shit in the woods?