ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

Last week President Trump significantly escalated the US military presence in Syria, sending some 400 Marines to the ISIS-controlled Raqqa, and several dozen Army Rangers to the contested area around Manbij. According to press reports he will also station some 2,500 more US troops in Kuwait to be used as he wishes in Iraq and Syria.

Not only is it illegal under international law to send troops into another country without permission, it is also against US law for President Trump to take the country to war without a declaration. But not only is Trump’s first big war illegal: it is doomed to failure because it makes no sense.

President Trump says the purpose of the escalation is to defeat ISIS in Raqqa, its headquarters in Syria. However the Syrian Army with its allies Russia and Iran are already close to defeating ISIS in Syria. Why must the US military be sent in when the Syrian army is already winning? Does Trump wish to occupy eastern Syria and put a Washington-backed rebel government in charge? Has anyone told President Trump what that would to cost in dollars and lives – including American lives? How would this US-backed rebel government respond to the approach of a Syrian army backed up by the Russian military?

Is Trump planning on handing eastern Syria over to the Kurds, who have been doing much of the fighting in the area? How does he think NATO-ally Turkey would take a de facto Kurdistan carved out of Syria with its eyes on Kurdish-inhabited southern Turkey?

And besides, by what rights would Washington carve up Syria or any other country?

Or is Trump going to give up on the US policy of “regime change” and hand conquered eastern Syria back to Assad? If that is the case, why waste American lives and money if the Syrians and their allies are already doing the job? Candidate Trump even said he was perfectly happy with Russia and Syria getting rid of ISIS. If US policy is shifting toward accepting an Assad victory, it could be achieved by ending arms supplies to the rebels and getting out of the way.

It does not appear that President Trump or his advisors have thought through what happens next if the US military takes possession of Raqqa, Syria. What is the endgame? Maybe the neocons told him it would be a “cakewalk” as they promised before the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Part of the problem is that President Trump’s advisors believe the myth that the US “surge” in Iraq and Afghanistan was a great success and repeating it would being the victory that eluded Obama with his reliance of drones and proxy military forces. A big show of US military force on the ground – like the 100,000 sent to Afghanistan by Obama in 2009 – is what is needed in Syria, these experts argue. Rarely is it asked that if the surge worked so well why are Afghanistan and Iraq still a disaster?

President Trump’s escalation in Syria is doomed to failure. He is being drawn into a quagmire by the neocons that will destroy scores of lives, cost us a fortune, and may well ruin his presidency. He must de-escalate immediately before it is too late.

Copyright © 2017 by RonPaul Institute. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit and a live link are given.

robmull Loc: florida

I'm beginning to think Ron Paul is attempting to oust John McCain out of the most valuable RINO position, ACP. Trying to jam the entire UCA {"Unaffordable Control Act"}, all at one time {rather than the 3 slower stages}, through Congress, would certainly cause the hostile "RESISTANCE" minority Congress (D), to filibuster and stagnate the single-part "bill," to their-hearts/bowels-content; (D)estroying President Trump's (R), promise to America. Hummmmmmmm. And the ISIS thing, that apparently General "Mad-Dog" Mattis, {the "Marine Monk"}, decided would be the best, most effective way to be the warmhearted messenger for Allah to enable the "72 virgin" trip, doesn't meet Paul's superior military training and battle strategies; or something. Now, what could that "something" be??? Hummmmmmmmmm, again. What IS that "crushing" noise I keep hearing? GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PRESIDENT "45" DONALD J. {BORN AGAIN} TRUMP (R); JUST LIKE THE WEATHER!!!

ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

robmull wrote:
I'm beginning to think Ron Paul is attempting to o... (show quote)
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I take it robmul that you disagree with both Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Rand Paul who state that the best way to defeat ISIS is to stop arming them in the first place.

http://theantimedia.org/rand-paul-gabbard-arming-terrorists/
http://theantimedia.org/tulsi-gabbard-plan-refugee-crisis/

How about the US supplied large arms that was recently found by Syrian forces in an East Aleppo bunker. How much responsibility does the US and it's NATO bear in providing arms, training, and logistical support to the Al Qaeda terrorists that we are supposedly fighting against?

https://www.rt.com/news/354653-syria-rebels-weapons-us/


Oh, and while we are at it, why don't we crack down on Saudi Arabia which funds, trains and recruits the terrorists that are causing most of the problems in the first place.

http://www.newsbud.com/2017/02/20/saudi-arabia-the-united-states-and-the-special-terror-relationship/

Finally, If you are interested in the true story of what is occurring in Syria, watch the video below, and listen to the speakers at this press conference. Turn to non-corporate/government sponsored news sources like NewsBud (http://www.newsbud.com/) or the Corbett Report (https://www.corbettreport.com/). Listen to what a native Syrian have to say on this issue (google Syriangirlpartisan) https://youtu.be/aHdknYHZAE4. Then make up you own mind as to who is telling the truth, and who is the real liar on this issue.

ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

robmull wrote:
I'm beginning to think Ron Paul is attempting to o... (show quote)
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What gives the United States the right to send troops into a foreign country against the will of that country and it's leader?

What if Syria were to send it's army into the USA to combat a perceived enemy of Syria? How would you feel?

We as a nation espouse the belief that each country is a sovereign nation, and should be allowed to take care of it's own affairs. They have asked for assistance from Russia and Iran to combat their ISIS threat. They did not ask for our help, and do not want our help.

On December 9, 2016, the permanent mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations presented a panel of speakers who explained in detail what is really happening right now in Aleppo, Syria, and how the western media has intentionally distorted events in Syria over the last 5 years. Panels members include Dr. Bahman Azad, member of the coordinating committee for the Hands Off Syria and Organization Secretary of US Peace Council, and Eva Bartlett, independent Canadian journalist, Donna Nassor, professor and lawyer also part of US Peace Council, and Sara Flounders cofounder of the International Action Center.

I suggest that you watch this Press Conference

Aleppo Truth: Incredible Press Conference at the United Nations
https://youtu.be/ebE3GJfGhfA

PeterS

You are asking too many questions. Trump only thinks one tweet at a time...

pafret Loc: Northeast

Ron Paul asks some excellent questions, we were unable to accomplish any stemming of ISIS under Obama, while the Russians and Syrian government cleaned up our mess. It was Obama's mixed allegiances that allowed the growth of ISIS in the first place. Creating a power vacuum is never smart. Also, whose interests impel us to interject more American troops? Are we trying to facilitate the Saudi's oil pipe line?

crazylibertarian Loc: Florida by way of New York & Rhode Island

I guess it was during the 1960s that it became a dogma of the Republican Party to invade countries around the world to settle their internal affairs. I've agreed with Pres. Trump on just about everything until this. Let's hope we get out soon.

ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

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That makes two of us!

Alber

ACP45: Is Trump planning on handing eastern Syria over to the Kurds, who have been doing much of the fighting in the area? How does he think NATO-ally Turkey would take a de facto Kurdistan carved out of Syria with its eyes on Kurdish-inhabited southern Turkey? This question is very interesting. The Kurds have a part of Iraq as automous territory and there are Kurds in Turkey and in Iran. Turkey, with Erdogan is a problem, not a very good ally, threatening to side with Russia. The Kurds is a peeble on the shoe of Turkey and could be the same on Iran, an enemy of 'the USA. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Besides, giving a home to the Kurds could stabilize the situation for Turkey. The Kurds have a population in Syria so the USA is helping them. Maybe this is the moment of the Kurds. This people have been figthing for many years for the land where they live. It is a history as that of Israel's. The Kurds would be an ally in the area, as good a Israel and they would be gratefull to the USA. It was a great mistake to keep Iraq in one piece with Shiites, Sunnites and Kurds. Divide and conquer, use them against themselves. Cortes in Mexico used the Tlaslcaztec against the Azctec to subdue the territory. The USA defeated Sadam Husseim but to maintain control over Irak they would had to apply Sadam's ways and that was not possible. The USA have the means to win the war but maintain the peace is a different question.

ACP45 Loc: Rhode Island

Alber wrote:
ACP45: Is Trump planning on handing eastern Syria ... (show quote)
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Good points. No easy answers. While I agree with you on the issue of the Kurds, we should be using diplomatic means, not military force in Syria. I do not believe that the US should continue to be the world's policeman, nor can we afford it. We cannot solve our own problems in this country, let alone fooling around with the sovereignty of another nation.

norte

I keep saying that anyone who paid attention should not be surprised by Trump. People deluded themselves one way or another. I had no doubt that Trump would want to flex his machismo at first opportunity, nor did I doubt that Trump would repeatedly go back on his word time and time again. The man has no philosophical, ethical or moral foundation or guidance. Coupled with his military fetish, of course he was going to want to blow stuff up without a plan.