slatten49 wrote:
A frantic, unhinged, โno way itโs realโ letter from President Donald Trump to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is authentic, the White House confirmed to TPM Wednesday.
Dated three days after Trump essentially gave Turkey a green light to invade Northern Syria, the tone in Trumpโs Oct. 9 message to Erdogan sounded a lot different than the formal announcement a few days earlier.
โDonโt be a tough guy. Donโt be a fool!โ Trump pleaded with Erdogan. โI will call you later.โ
The letter came the same day that Turkey began its invasion of Northern Syria. Fox Business Networkโs Trish Regan first obtained the document.
โLetโs work out a deal!โ Trump wrote to Erdogan. โYou donโt want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I donโt want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economyโand I will.โ
The unusual tone continues, with Trump urging Erdogan, โDonโt let the world down. You can make a great deal.โ
Near the end of the note, Trump tells the Turkish president: โHistory will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way. It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things donโt happen.โ
The Kurds have long been the United Statesโ partner in the fight against the Islamic State, and Trump has faced bipartisan outrage for what some have characterized as a โbetrayalโ of the ethnic group. The House voted 354-60 to condemn the withdrawal on Wednesday, including 129 Republicans.
Critics also worry that the quick U.S. withdrawal could endanger the gains made against the Islamic State; hundreds of IS prisoners have reportedly escaped from detention amid the chaos. Trump hiked tariffs on Turkish steel imports Monday, among other potential measures, but Erdogan has thus far rejected calls for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Russian and Syrian forces have filled the void.
A frantic, unhinged, โno way itโs realโ letter fro... (
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