The situation in northern Syria is a mess. President Trump signaled that he was removing some 1,000 or so troops from the region. The local Kurdish forces are holding scores of ISIS fighters who could break free; there was an attempt at a detention center recently. The foreign policy gurus, former military, and Republicans on the Hill are not happy with the decision. The Turks wasted no time with their offensive. Julio Rosas made a good point on today’s episode of Triggered that the Battle of Fallujah was made 100 times worse because we went in, then retreated in the face of radical Islamic propaganda, and so when we have to go in again—they were all dug in and lead to more casualties. That’s what we risk here with the ISIS fighters. The Trump administration all but destroyed all the land gains made by ISIS. We smashed them. With the Turkey invading, we could be dealing with a resurgent ISIS situation again. In the meantime, Bashar al-Assad hasn’t been removed from power and the Russians, Assad allies, remain in the region. The Kurds also helped in our effort to smash ISIS, which is why there’s so much uproar. For one U.S. special forces soldier in the region, this decision forced him to speak out. He told Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin that this is the first time in his career that he’s felt “ashamed.”
In the meantime, the Kurdish forces in the region have not abandoned their posts, they’re begging with Washington to intervene, and this soldier has alleged that Turkish troops are committing war atrocities.
I just spoke to a distraught US Special Forces soldier who is among the 1000 or so US troops in Syria tonight who is serving alongside the SDF Kurdish forces. It was one of the hardest phone calls I have ever taken.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
"I am ashamed for the first time in my career."
This veteran US Special forces soldier has trained indigenous forces on multiple continents. He is on the frontlines tonight and said they are witnessing Turkish atrocities.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
"Turkey is not doing what it agreed to. It's horrible," this military source on the ground told me.
"We met every single security agreement. The Kurds met every single agreement. There was NO threat to the Turks - NONE - from this side of the border." "This is insanity," the concerned US service member told me. ""I don't know what they call atrocities but they are happening."
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
This American soldier told me the Kurds have not left their positions guarding the ISIS prisoners. In fact "they prevented a prison break last night without us."
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
"They are not abandoning our side (yet)."
The Kurds are "pleading for our support." We are doing "nothing."
Troops on the ground in Syria and their commanders were "surprised" by the decision Sunday night.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
Of the President's decision: "He doesn't understand the problem. He doesn't understand the repercussions of this. Erdogan is an Islamist, not a level headed actor."
Acc to this US soldier on the ground tonight in Syria: "The Kurds are as close to Western thinking in the Middle East as anyone. "It's a shame. It's horrible." "This is not helping the ISIS fight." Re: ISIS prisoners: "Many of them will be free in the coming days and weeks."
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
Acc to this US soldier on the ground tonight in Syria: "The Kurds are as close to Western thinking in the Middle East as anyone. "It's a shame. It's horrible." "This is not helping the ISIS fight." Re: ISIS prisoners: "Many of them will be free in the coming days and weeks."
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
This US Special Forces soldier wanted me to know: "The Kurds are sticking by us. No other partner I have ever dealt with would stand by us."
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
Disappointed in the decisions coming from their senior leaders.
“The Kurds are sticking by us. No other partner I have ever dealt with would stand by us,” he said to Griffin. “He [Trump] doesn't understand the problem. He doesn't understand the repercussions of this. Erdogan is an Islamist, not a level headed actor,” he added.
We'll see what happens.