CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY APRIL 9, 2018
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, SENATOR GEORGE MCGOVERN SAID “COME HOME AMERICA.” HE WANTED U.S. TROOPS OUT.
NOW COMES PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAYING MUCH THE SAME ABOUT AMERICAN TROOPS IN SYRIA.
THE WASHINGTON FREE BEACON’S AARON KLIEGMAN HAS LISTED FIVE REASON WHY NOW IS NOT A GOOD TIME FOR AMERICAN FORCES TO LEAVE SYRIA. THEY ARE:
1) ISIS IS STILL IN SYRIA AND CONTINUES TO POSE A THREAT. IF WE LEAVE, THEY WILL EXPAND.
2) PRESIDENT OBAMA ORDERED A PREMATURE PULLOUT OF U.S. FORCES FROM IRAQ WITH DISASTROUS RESULTS.
3) WITHDRAWAL WOULD UNDERMINE TRUMP’S IRAN POLICY AND ALLOW IRAN TO HAVE ITS WAY AS THE DOMINANT FORCE IN THE REGION.
4) WASHINGTON WOULD FURTHER LOSE ITS ABILITY TO INFLUENCE EVENTS, CEDING CONTROL TO HOSTILE AUTHORITIES.
5) THE U.S. WOULD ABANDON THE KURDS – AGAIN – TO A VIOLENT FATE, INCLUDING FROM TURKEY. THE KURDS IN SYRIA, NOTES KLIEGMAN, HAVE BY FAR BEEN WASHINGTON’S MOST EFFECTIVE PARTNER IN FIGHTING ISIS ON THE GROUND.
I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF LONG WARS, BUT THERE IS A GREATER COST TO PREMATURE PULLOUTS. I’M CAL THOMAS IN WASHINGTON.
