The United States has three options in Syria — send in thousands of troops and win militarily, hit Turkey very hard financially with sanctions or mediate a deal between Turkey and the Kurds — US President Donald Trump said asserting that American troops left the region only after defeating the Islamic State.
“We defeated 100 per cent of the ISIS caliphate and no longer have any troops in the area under attack by Turkey in Syria. We did our job perfectly! Now Turkey is attacking the Kurds, who have been fighting each other for 200 years,” Trump said in a tweet Thursday night. He added that the third option— of negotiating a deal between Turkey and the Kurds— would be his choice.
“Perhaps the last one, I hope. I hope the last one. Of the three, I hope it's going to be the last one,” he said, adding that sending the troops again would be their last option.
“The last thing I want to do is bring thousands and thousands of soldiers in and defeat everybody again. We've already done that,” he said.
“So what we have is two choices: You have the choice of bringing in the military and defeating everybody again, or you have the choice of financially doing some very strong things to Turkey,” Trump said, adding that they hoped to mediate.
“We had a big victory. We left the area. I don't think the American people want to see us go back in with our military,” he said, adding that the US may take some tough measures.
“I don't think we want to go back in. Let's see what happens,” Trump said.
Biden slams Trump's decision to bring back, troops
Former vice president and 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden said that Trump sold out the courageous Kurds and Arabs who fought with America to smash ISIS's caliphate.
Biden, on Thursday also called for Trump's impeachment. It was the revelation that the President asked Ukrainian President Voldyrmyr Zelensky to investigate Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine to expose him of corrupt activities, that led to the Democrats to start an impeachment inquiry.
Biden added that the US "does not endorse" Turkey's operation. According to Biden, Trump has betrayed US brave troops, who sacrificed alongside them [Kurds].
"Donald Trump sold out the Syrian Democratic Forces the courageous Kurds and Arabs who fought with us to smash ISIS's caliphate and he betrayed a key local ally in the fight against terrorism," Biden said.
Talking about Trump's impeachment inquiry, Biden, at a campaign rally in New Hampshire, said, No President in American history ever dared engage in such unimaginable behaviour. With his words and with his actions, President Trump has indicted himself. By obstructing justice and refusing to comply with the congressional inquiry, he has already convicted himself." He further said that Trump violated his oath of office, betrayed this nation, and committed impeachable acts.
As to Trump's decision to bring back troops from Syria, Biden said, “There was no process. No consultation with our military, our diplomats, or our allies. Trump got rolled, plain and simple because he has no idea what he's doing .”
With PTI inputs
