"Trump did not Betray the Kurds"

[TBoneTX 45,571]

6 hours ago, luckytxn said:

I still mourn my Nephew who gave his all. I loved him and he asked to go with him to the recruiters as when he was young he loved seeing me in uniform. I still hate I didn't talk him out of it and my sis in law still hates me after 10 years.

Some eyes in this thread are probably getting wet, reading this.  Don't blame yourself, Bro.

[Dashinka 24,629]

7 hours ago, OriZ said:

Because everywhere they go they're met with resistance, they are the largest persecuted nation-less minority in the world today...something like 30 million people, which is why I think there are strong ties with Jewish people and most Jews can identify with them very well. So they pretty much got squashed any time they tried.

We can thank the Europeans for that during the post WWI period.  I agree they should have their own self-governing area, but unfortunately, the tribal infighting between them, the Turks, the Iraqis, the Persians, etc., is tough to overcome.

[Dashinka 24,629]

5 hours ago, OriZ said:

Not sure who the "we" are but Trump is a coward, yup. 

So what should have a courageous President Trump done given all the factors involved here?  From what you are saying, we should have left the troops in place, then with a Turkish attack we should have fully committed a response showing Erdogan he was going to be ousted.  Of course that would bring in the Russians who don't want to lose access to the Mediterranean.  Seems like a recipe to all out war.  I understand the sympathy for the Kurds that are not part of the PKK, but in this fractured part of the world (I will say again, thanks Europe), it really seems like a rock and a hard place for any leader regardless of their level of courage.

[luckytxn 2,264]

6 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Some eyes in this thread are probably getting wet, reading this.  Don't blame yourself, Bro.

Apologize. I won't bring him up again and was just trying to show the sacrifices involved. What's done is done.

 

[OriZ 3,157]

3 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

So what should have a courageous President Trump done given all the factors involved here?  From what you are saying, we should have left the troops in place, then with a Turkish attack we should have fully committed a response showing Erdogan he was going to be ousted.  Of course that would bring in the Russians who don't want to lose access to the Mediterranean.  Seems like a recipe to all out war.  I understand the sympathy for the Kurds that are not part of the PKK, but in this fractured part of the world (I will say again, thanks Europe), it really seems like a rock and a hard place for any leader regardless of their level of courage.

The US is the one who should be giving Turkey ultimatums, not the other way around. Like I said, when you bow down to Putin, back down from Erdogan, and then make empty threats(what was announced yesterday is a joke...way too little and way too late) you're a coward. I also more than once included European leaders in that. None of them have a backbone. It seems the west is back to just burying the head in the sand minding "its own business" while letting Russia, Iran and Turkey dominate, not realizing it will end up blowing up in its face. The truth is, and this is especially true for the middle east, the only way to fight fire is with fire, otherwise you get burned one way or the other.

Edited October 16, 2019 by OriZ

[Dashinka 24,629]

32 minutes ago, OriZ said:

The US is the one who should be giving Turkey ultimatums, not the other way around. Like I said, when you bow down to Putin, back down from Erdogan, and then make empty threats(what was announced yesterday is a joke...way too little and way too late) you're a coward. I also more than once included European leaders in that. None of them have a backbone. It seems the west is back to just burying the head in the sand minding "its own business" while letting Russia, Iran and Turkey dominate, not realizing it will end up blowing up in its face. The truth is, and this is especially true for the middle east, the only way to fight fire is with fire, otherwise you get burned one way or the other.

Ultimatums are nothing if they are not backed up, and I doubt anyone in a position of power in Europe, or the US is really willing to start a hot war with Turkey and essentially Russia.  It would be interesting though, two NATO members at war with each other.  The thing that has to happen first though is the US assets need to be removed from Turkey.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/world/turkey-nuclear-bombs-hostage-syria

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,376]

I agree for the most part on us not sending billions all over the world and being the worlds police.

 

However having a strong and secure Israel, seeing as how it is an island of sanity in a sea of whack job countries, is a vital national interest to our country.  Irrespective of it being a jewish country and not saying it is perfect. 

[TBoneTX 45,571]

8 hours ago, luckytxn said:

Apologize. I won't bring him up again and was just trying to show the sacrifices involved. What's done is done.

No apologies necessary, man -- sympathies and understanding to you.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Just now, TBoneTX said:

No apologies necessary, man -- sympathies and understanding to you.

Thanks but shouldn't be angry anymore. I went fishing a few days ago at a spot at the ####### I shouldn't have where I taught him to fish and went a few times with him and it hurt still. Just need to stay away from that spot but it has gotten me some nice reds and drum there so hard to resist.

[TBoneTX 45,571]

Bring someone else with you to that spot, for multiple reasons.

[luckytxn 2,264]

1 minute ago, TBoneTX said:

Bring someone else with you to that spot, for multiple reasons.

Yeah but all the kids in family are grown and gone but yeah I need to bring the wife but she refuses to pay for a license. She is stubborn that way but lately she has hinted she may when she found out she can go crabbing too and she loves doing that a lot. Never seen anyone that can eat their weight in crabs like she can.

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

It's a terrible thing. The Kurds were getting persecuted and killed long before we went there. We couldn't stay forever. I think there was more to the timing of the withdrawal than has been made public.  I am a vet and I have two sons serving in the Air Force. Both have done deployments in the Middle East. Honestly I would be more than happy if they never had to go back. Let someone else do the policing. If that makes us appear week I can live with that...

Edited October 17, 2019 by boris64

[luckytxn 2,264]

4 hours ago, boris64 said:

It's a terrible thing. The Kurds were getting persecuted and killed long before we went there. We couldn't stay forever. I think there was more to the timing of the withdrawal than has been made public.  I am a vet and I have two sons serving in the Air Force. Both have done deployments in the Middle East. Honestly I would be more than happy if they never had to go back. Let someone else do the policing. If that makes us appear week I can live with that...

They have hated each other long before we arrived and the Kurds were happy to get a ton of money and arms and training. That was pissing the Turks off as I can imagine. Wish we could just get out and never ever return to that chit hole. My father and many family was Air Force so god bless you and the family. My sister came back last year from her 6th deployment. She is an Army physicians assistant. Enough is enough.

[Ban Hammer 13,421]

[Ban Hammer 13,421]