A former national security adviser for President Obama is giving his successor some kudos for his foreign policy.
“The Trump administration has had some success in defeating ISIS, which I think is commendable,” said Jim Jones during an interview with The Hill.TV.
That's not all. He added that the Trump White House "has to be given credit for at least reversing the ISIS presence.”
Jones coupled his praise of Trump with some criticism of his old boss. Obama's "red line" warning for Syria was a "mistake," Jones said. In that infamous speech in 2012, Obama said the U.S. was placing a red line in the sand. If Syria encroached it, they would feel our wrath. Well, Syria did just that. The military attacked rebel-controlled areas of the Damascus with chemical weapons, killing 1,500 civilians. It was horrific and an obvious breach of that "red line," but the U.S. failed to follow through on its threat. There would be no military retaliation.
Even a liberal New York Times contributor called it Obama's "Worst Mistake."
Contrast that with Trump's response to Bashar al Assad's second use of chemical weapons against his own people. When we found evidence to suggest Assad had been behind the latest attack, Trump promptly ordered airstrikes on Syrian military sites. A majority of Americans supported the aggressive action.
Over the weekend, the U.S. requested that Israel and other Western nations help rescue White Helmet workers from Syria. The White Helmets are credited with saving thousands of people in rebel-held areas.
RT@USUN: In an int’l partnership > 400 White Helmets were evacuated from Syria
— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) July 22, 2018
“We couldn’t be more thankful for their bravery & selflessness, tirelessly risking their lives to rescue victims of Assad’s regime. We pray for a day when they can return to a peaceful & free Syria.” pic.twitter.com/14s8aXSoVY