# We Have Betrayed the Kurds **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 7, 2019, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420 "2019-10-07T14:54:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/41 "2019-10-07T20:04:36Z")
The airstrikes have begun. [https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1181282104308424704?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1181282104308424704&ref\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fark.com%2Fcomments%2F10580249%2FIt-beginsGood-luck-Kurdistan](https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1181282104308424704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1181282104308424704&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fark.com%2Fcomments%2F10580249%2FIt-beginsGood-luck-Kurdistan) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/42 "2019-10-07T20:18:40Z")
This betrayal may be the final straw for Rep Senators. Trump will be in serious jeopardy if he loses their support in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/43 "2019-10-07T20:34:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > This betrayal may be the final straw for Rep Senators. Trump will be in serious jeopardy if he loses their support in the Senate. The spineless cowards would not abandon him if they found Trump in bed with their wives. [del]Half[/del] All of them would use it to appeal to the Trump base in the next campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/44 "2019-10-07T20:51:41Z")
“Trump never met a dictator he didn’t love.” My wife’s reaction to the news. Don’t worry, the Republican senators will fine a way to reconcile themselves to this too. They are terminally shameless. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/45 "2019-10-07T21:00:52Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Yep. It didn’t sound like the Secretary of Defense/Department of Defense were on the same page as the Commander-in-Chief, so it looks like the statement’s been pulled. Interestingly, the post is still on the [DoD Twitter page](https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense) as coming from a Jonathan Raff Hoffman (Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs) which links to a similar statement on [defense.gov](https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/1982590/statement-attributable-to-assistant-to-the-secretary-of-defense-for-public-affa/). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/46 "2019-10-07T21:00:54Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > The airstrikes have begun. > [https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1181282104308424704?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1181282104308424704&ref\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fark.com%2Fcomments%2F10580249%2FIt-beginsGood-luck-Kurdistan](https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1181282104308424704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1181282104308424704&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fark.com%2Fcomments%2F10580249%2FIt-beginsGood-luck-Kurdistan) ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/47 "2019-10-07T21:49:54Z")
[Eli Stokols, _LA Times_](https://twitter.com/EliStokols/status/1181313355618881537): > [@](#): > > Trump just now both minimized the number of US forces being withdrawn from Syria as “only…50 soldiers” while arguing that the move is essential so our military isn’t “bogged down,” as he claimed China and Russia want. > … > Trump also said he was elected to bring U.S. troops home: “People are extremely thrilled because it’s time to bring our people home.” > > At he was speaking, an SAO told reporters on a call that the 50-100 troops in Syria were being moved away from the border but not coming home. > … > According to the senior admin. official who just briefed reporters, 50-100 special ops forces are being moved from the border to “more secure areas” in Syria. Trump said he was elected to “bring them home” but it doesn’t seem these forces are leaving. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/48 "2019-10-07T21:54:04Z")
I agree with AK84’s, and others, assessment that the most depressing part of this administration is that Trump’s willingness to dial down America’s military interventions is routinely met with more bipartisan criticism than his violation of constitutional norms or the rule of law. Now he is completely dialing this down the wrong way, I agree, but it’s still telling that the only thing which gets him in trouble with Republicans is his foreign policy gaffes. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/49 "2019-10-07T23:47:12Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I agree with AK84’s, and others, assessment that the most depressing part of this administration is that Trump’s willingness to dial down America’s military interventions is routinely met with more bipartisan criticism than his violation of constitutional norms or the rule of law. > > Now he is completely dialing this down the wrong way, I agree, but it’s still telling that the only thing which gets him in trouble with Republicans is his foreign policy gaffes. Of course. They’re in favor of his domestic agenda, such as it is. Anti immigrant, anti science, anti equality. This is what the Republicans are. They’re happy to put up with him as long as they get their tax cuts and judges and get to shit on the poor. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/50 "2019-10-08T00:08:21Z")
What mean “we”? ---
**Author:** ![ralfy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ralfy/32/600_2.png) [@ralfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralfy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/51 "2019-10-08T00:25:19Z")
In relation to that, from 2003, referring to events in 1988: [“Iraqi Kurds remember day Saddam gassed them”](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/1424872/Iraqi-Kurds-remember-day-Saddam-gassed-them.html) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/52 "2019-10-08T00:33:39Z")
I’m just baffled. Trump shits on our allies the Kurds, then he tweets out a statement pre-emptively shitting on our ally Turkey if they shit on the Kurds. This is rhetorical bafflement; I fully understand who and what Trump is. One tires of starting sentences with “Even for Trump, this is crazy.” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/53 "2019-10-08T02:46:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s only a matter of time and 10,000 ISIS fighters will “escape”. I seriously doubt Turkey will keep them secured. > > It is deeply troubling to see the US turn our backs on an ally. The Kurds have been very reliable and deserve better than this betrayal. > > I see many Rep Senators are already speaking out. I hope they will get this terrible decision reversed. > [Syria withdrawal: Lindsey Graham blasts U.S. withdrawing troops from northern Syria posts, leaving Kurdish allies to face Turkey - CBS News](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/turkey-move-into-northern-syria-take-captured-isis-fighters-held-by-kurdish-forces-white-house-says/) A lot of the pundits seem to think Trump is going to reverse his decision. I don’t think he will, though. From his POV, the State Department has betrayed him. So he’s never going to work with them again, he’s going to make and execute his own foreign policy from now on. The show has just started. Trump knows he has an army of supporters behind him. He doesn’t need the support of any congresspeople, not at all. To the contrary, they feel that they need him. He’s not going to back down on this and he’s going to keep making capricious foreign policy decisions. I bet he closes the Mexican border completely and ends our involvement with South Korea before Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/54 "2019-10-08T03:26:07Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > A lot of the pundits seem to think Trump is going to reverse his decision. I don’t think he will, though. From his POV, the State Department has betrayed him. So he’s never going to work with them again, he’s going to make and execute his own foreign policy from now on. > > The show has just started. Trump knows he has an army of supporters behind him. He doesn’t need the support of any congresspeople, not at all. To the contrary, they feel that they need him. > > He’s not going to back down on this and he’s going to keep making capricious foreign policy decisions. I bet he closes the Mexican border completely and ends our involvement with South Korea before Halloween. Surely you mean North Korea, as the Republic of Korea currently hosts over 20K American military and their families. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/55 "2019-10-08T03:35:09Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > The airstrikes have begun. > [https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1181282104308424704?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1181282104308424704&ref\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fark.com%2Fcomments%2F10580249%2FIt-beginsGood-luck-Kurdistan](https://twitter.com/ELINTNews/status/1181282104308424704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1181282104308424704&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fark.com%2Fcomments%2F10580249%2FIt-beginsGood-luck-Kurdistan) Hey **AK84,** your version of peace has broken out. Aren’t you glad that the US told Erdogan it is cool to start bombing? The man only wants a little peace… peace… oooooooh, a little piece of Kurdistan… ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/56 "2019-10-08T03:44:01Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Cornfielded? Shuddup, I’ve done it before! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/57 "2019-10-08T03:45:46Z")
One hopes Trump will reconsider this. It does not seem to be in the long term security interests of the US. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/58 "2019-10-08T03:46:40Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Hey **AK84,** your version of peace has broken out. Aren’t you glad that the US told Erdogan it is cool to start bombing? The man only wants a little peace… peace… oooooooh, a little piece of Kurdistan… Blow up a dam. And then get angry that the water is causing damage. And blame the water. And get angry when someone suggests that staying away will do less harm Well done. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/59 "2019-10-08T03:58:08Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Blow up a dam. And then get angry that the water is causing damage. And blame the water. And get angry when someone suggests that staying away will do less harm > Well done.: If that stupid Dutch boy had just pulled his finger from the dike, Haarlem would have been better off flooded, eh? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420/60 "2019-10-08T04:53:42Z")
Yeah, but the stupid Dutch boy in the case has blown up the dikes not put his finger in them. And when he decides that we are out of the dike blowing business, has seen people get angry at him, for not bowing up more dikes . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-betrayed-the-kurds/841420.md?page=4)