By Kevin Price, Editor at Large, TTU.
President Trump’s decision to pull US forces out of Syria is being described as abrupt, but he has said he would do this for quite some time. The announcement seems to have caught many in the media and politics by surprise. But planning for this has been underway for a while.
The Security Studies Group was asked in early 2018 to draft a plan for US withdrawal, with a focus on working with allies in the region. The concept was to work with Sunni tribes similarly to the Anbar Awakening in Iraq during the period known as The Surge. As ISIS was pushed out, the plan would be to arm and train local communities into militias and police forces so they could protect themselves. Kurdish forces, that had been so helpful in the fight against ISIS, were also expected to continue as security for their own region.
This situation shows how wide the politics of personality is in the US today. People are gladly putting personalities before policy, which leads to an end of meaningful debate and a lack of accountability for those politicians with a huge following.
SSG’s plan further anticipated working with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other regional powers to provide resources and security assistance to this effort. This followed the President’s stated desire that those who live in the neighborhood should have “skin in the game.” Once ISIS was defeated, the goal was to ensure Iran could not solidify a land bridge to the Mediterranean Sea and to implement applicable United Nations Security Council Resolutions relating to Syria.
There are organizations and politicians, like SSG, that have been consistent in their view of support for US withdraw in Syria.
U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) took to the Senate floor to object to legislation that would prolong the conflict in Syria and hinder their rebuilding process.
“The vast majority of strong Trump supporters — who loathed it when Obama made similar policy overtures and announced his plans in advance — have been silent when the President did the exact same thing as his predecessor.”
In his brief remarks, Dr. Paul thanked President Trump for bringing American troops home from the war-torn country, a decision Paul has long advocated for as part of his efforts to restore a focused and constitutionally sound foreign policy. Dr. Paul also called for a shift to diplomacy instead of new sanctions.
“Today, President Trump announced that we have won the war against ISIS in Syria. Our troops are coming home. Thank you, Mr. President. The Syrian Civil War is largely over, but Syria’s a mess and desperately needs reconstruction. These sanctions will delay and possibly prevent reconstruction of Syria and the beginning of a healing time. Now is the time for diplomacy. There are many actors, including Russia, Iran, Turkey, the U.S., and others, but this is the time for diplomacy, not for new sanctions. So I object,” Dr. Paul said on the Senate floor.
In another speech on the Senate floor earlier today, where he also called for greater oversight of the Deep State, Dr. Paul addressed the Washington mentality that has weakened our national security and led politicians to keep U.S. troops perpetually tied up in conflicts all over the world, saying, “Most of the voices around here like to stay everywhere for all time, and they believe that it doesn’t work unless you go somewhere and stay forever.
In contrast, Dr. Paul observed that President Trump “has the courage to say, ‘We won in Syria, and we’re coming home.’” On multiple occasions, Dr. Paul has encouraged President Trump to focus on an America-First policy, which would include bringing troops home from multiple locations in the Middle East, including Syria and Afghanistan.
“The Security Studies Group was asked in early 2018 to draft a plan for US withdrawal, with a focus on working with allies in the region. The concept was to work with Sunni tribes similarly to the Anbar Awakening in Iraq during the period known as The Surge.”
Paul is still a minority voice in the GOP on the subject.
Paul’s colleague, Lindsey Graham (R-SC), released a statement, arguing:
“If these media reports are true, it will be an Obama-like mistake made by the Trump Administration. While American patience in confronting radical Islam may wane, the radical Islamists’ passion to kill Americans and our allies never wavers.
“After visiting Syria earlier this year, it is abundantly clear the approximately 2,000 American troops stationed there are vital to our national security interests.
“An American withdrawal at this time would be a big win for ISIS, Iran, Bashar al Assad of Syria, and Russia. I fear it will lead to devastating consequences for our nation, the region, and throughout the world.”
“Progressive politicians and the media are calling Trump’s actions “a retreat” and “destabilizing,” while having little to no problem when Barack Obama took similar actions.”
He went on to say that this action could pave the way for another September 11th.
The vast majority of strong Trump supporters — who loathed it when Obama made similar policy overtures and announced his plans in advance — have been silent when the President did the exact same thing as his predecessor. Even Trump himself repeatedly called out Barack Obama for discussing future policy actions — including significant withdraws that could destabilize a region and actually strategically help the enemies of the US with such important information — is doing the exact same things. The silence of Trump supporters on the hypocrisy is deafening.
But those in the Trump camp are not the only ones showing hypocrisy. Progressive politicians and the media are calling Trump’s actions “a retreat” and “destabilizing,” while having little to no problem when Barack Obama took similar actions.
This situation shows how wide the politics of personality is in the US today. People are gladly putting personalities before policy, which leads to an end of meaningful debate and a lack of accountability for those politicians with a huge following.
Kevin Price is host of the nationally syndicated radio show, the Price of Business. It is one of the longest running shows of its kind in the country. He is a syndicated columnist. Price is also a multi-award winning journalist, twice receiving the prestigious George Washington Honor Medal in Communications.
