Trump’s Incoherent Syria Policy Is About To Be Tested

[Crabtownboy]

Donald Trump’s comments about Syria during a joint press conference today with King Abdullah of Jordan gave us no insight into the Trump administration’s policy toward Syria. That assumes, of course, that it has one.

But it did give us a potentially alarming glimpse into the haphazard way policy is formed in Trumpland.

And the actions he takes or declines to take in response to the latest Assad atrocity will tell us a lot about whether Trump is willing to take lock horns with Russia when they are on different sides of a serious foreign policy dispute.

Recent statements coming out of the Trump administration strongly suggested that the United States had softened its “Assad must go” policy. Secretary of State Tillerson said last week that “the longer-term status of President Assad will be decided by the Syrian people.”

On the same day that Tillerson made that statement, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said, “our priority is no longer to sit there and focus on getting Assad out.” Haley sounded the same theme on one of the Sunday talk shows, saying that Assad “is not going away.”

If these statements reflected the direction of the Trump administration’s policy, it appears that pictures coming out of Syria have caused Trump to change it:

“That was a horrible, horrible thing. And I’ve been watching it and seeing it, and it doesn’t get any worse than that. And I have that flexibility. And it’s very very possible, and I will tell you, it’s already happened, that my attitude towards Syria and Assad have changed very much.”

Trump’s Incoherent Syria Policy Is About To Be Tested | The Huffington Post

 

[Baptist Believer]

This appears to be President Trump's first major test in foreign policy. I don't have much confidence in him, but hope to be pleasantly surprised. We have managed to avoid the widespread use of chemical weapons for nearly 100 years and I hope the President can send a clear message to Syria that will shut this down ASAP.

 

[carpro]

This appears to be President Trump's first major test in foreign policy. I don't have much confidence in him, but hope to be pleasantly surprised. We have managed to avoid the widespread use of chemical weapons for nearly 100 years and I hope the President can send a clear message to Syria that will shut this down ASAP.

What do you recommend?

 

[Baptist Believer]

What do you recommend?

I don't have access to the intelligence agency reports, information on Russian support for Assad, an overview of military strength and capabilities, nor a strong understanding of all of the forces in play on the ground in Syria.

I have no recommendation since I do not have most of the necessary information, nor an understanding of feasible options. However, the President SHOULD be well-informed. I hope he has solid advisors who understand foreign policy and a State Department and intelligence services that can give him good information.

 

[carpro]

I don't have access to the intelligence agency reports, information on Russian support for Assad, an overview of military strength and capabilities, nor a strong understanding of all of the forces in play on the ground in Syria.

I have no recommendation since I do not have most of the necessary information, nor an understanding of feasible options. However, the President SHOULD be well-informed. I hope he has solid advisors who understand foreign policy and a State Department and intelligence services that can give him good information.

I get it. Now you're set up to condemn whatever he does.

 

[carpro]

Donald Trump’s comments about Syria during a joint press conference today with King Abdullah of Jordan gave us no insight into the Trump administration’s policy toward Syria. That assumes, of course, that it has one.

But it did give us a potentially alarming glimpse into the haphazard way policy is formed in Trumpland.

Well, let's examine your hero, the zero's policy.

He drew a red line and dared Syria to cross it and use chemical weapons. They did it anyhow. Then what did Obama do?



Former President Barack Obama did not retaliate against the Assad regime in 2013 after clear evidence of chemical weapons use against civilians.

Chemical weapons use in Syria has once again come to light after the Assad regime likely dropped chemical weapons on hundreds civilians in rebel held territory Tuesday. The attack killed nearly 60 people, and injured hundreds of others. Videos from the scene of the attack show the ground littered with the bodies of suffocated women and children.

The scene is reminiscent of the Assad regimes 2013 Sarin gas attack in the Damascus suburbs which killed nearly 1000 people. Prior to the attack Obama appeared at the White House podium to declare “We have been very clear to the Assad regime … that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized.”

Read more: Flashback: Obama Dared Assad To Use Chemical Weapons, Then He Did

So he used Russia to broker an "agreement".

The result:

John Kerry, referring to Syria, stated in 2014 that"we got 100 percent of the chemical weapons out."

So, this can't be happening. Obama already fixed it.

Or did he just get gamed by the Russians and the Syrians both?

 

[Baptist Believer]

I get it. Now you're set up to condemn whatever he does.

Wow. You really have a problem.

Can you shut down the childish attacks and interact with others like a grownup?

 

[carpro]

Can you shut down the childish attacks and interact with others like a grownup?

Sure. There has been no "attack".

You insist Trump has to do something. But you have no idea what.

You're simply setting yourself up to condemn whatever he does. that's your game. why would anybody expect you to change now? I certainly don't.

Looks like you're the one that needs to grow up and stop your incessant whining about "attacks" when that is your own favorite debate tactic..

So tell us, what did you mean when you said "I hope the President can send a clear message to Syria that will shut this down ASAP."

What "message" did you have in mind? That's a strong statement, so surely you have something in mind?

 

[Baptist Believer]

Sure. There has been no "attack".

So there was no gas attack?

You are certain?

What are your sources?

You insist Trump has to do something.

False assertion. I have said nothing of the sort, unless you mean "send a clear message" is a something. Like it or not, we are a superpower and have the world's most powerful and adept military. We don't have the option of simply ignoring things unless we want to be irrelevant in the world. Historically, isolationist policies make for a less peaceful world, so that course has enormous risks.

But you have no idea what.

I have some ideas, but I don't have enough information to know if they would be good choices. That's why we are supposed to elect knowledgeable and competent leaders to the Presidency, who know how to assemble a team of advisors who will present facts and uncomfortable truths so that our President and other leaders can make sound decisions.

I'm not sure we have that, but we are going to find out, possibly sooner than later.

You're simply setting yourself up to condemn whatever he does. that's your game.

No, that's your game. I realize you assume everyone else is just like you, but that's not true.

,,,why would anybody expect you to change now? I certainly don't.

You are deluded.

Looks like you're the one that needs to grow up and stop your incessant whining about "attacks" when that is your own favorite debate tactic..

Right...

So tell us, what did you mean when you said "I hope the President can send a clear message to Syria that will shut this down ASAP."

What "message" did you have in mind? That's a strong statement, so surely you have something in mind?

That's not a strong statement. I did not suggest a course of action except to send a message. That message could be given in many ways, including words and economic and military policy and actions, depending on all of the variables that are unknown to me.

You seem to have trouble comprehending the words of people with whom you have decided are against you.

 

[carpro]

Hillarious!

Just keeping running backwards and whining.

I wouldn't recognize you any other way.

 

[carpro]

You seem to have trouble comprehending the words of people with whom you have decided are against you.

Another comment a left wing eliteist would make.

 

[FollowTheWay]

Another comment a left wing eliteist would make.

Most of what you say makes no sense. That makes you an excellent Trump supporter. Just one of the deplorables..

 

[carpro]

Most of what you say makes no sense. That makes you an excellent Trump supporter. Just one of the deplorables..

If you weren't so dense , I would explain it to you. But it would be a waste of valuable time for a "deplorable".

We deplorables can never thank Hillary enough for applying that label to so many people. Without a doubt, it helped send her packing. Thank God.

 

[Use of Time]

Speaking of Syria. Here we go.

 

[Marooncat79]

The US has now bombed Syria. Surely, as believers, we are seriously praying about this situation

 

[Squire Robertsson]

And the previous administration had a coherent Syria Policy?

 

[carpro]

And the previous administration had a coherent Syria Policy?

Incomprehensible would be more like it.

 

[Brent W]

And the previous administration had a coherent Syria Policy?

They did not. We will see if this one can. So far, we just sent about $60 million dollars worth of missiles into Syria and Assad is no closer to being removed and tried for war crimes.

 

[InTheLight]

They did not. We will see if this one can. So far, we just sent about $60 million dollars worth of missiles into Syria and Assad is no closer to being removed and tried for war crimes.

Is that our Syrian policy?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[carpro]

Is that our Syrian policy?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

I hope not.

It is not our job, nor our responsibility, to rid the Middle East of another tyrant or bring him to trial.

No one in the world would appreciate it if we did. Iraq is a pretty recent example.