In a fairly blunt warning to the NATO ally, US President Donald Trump vowed to “obliterate” the Turkish economy if he thinks it’s stepped out of line in Syria. He then told Ankara to “watch over” ISIS fighters in the US’ absence.
“If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!)” the president threatened via tweet on Monday – an odd turn of phrase for what otherwise seemed like a dire warning to a supposed ally.
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over…
Trump called for Turkey to join “Europe and others” in “watch[ing] over the captured ISIS [Islamic State] fighters and families” just hours after announcing the US would finally pull out of northern Syria on Monday. The announcement triggered howls of fury from hawks in Congress and the media, as well as sudden experts in Middle Eastern politics who cried that leaving Syria would abandon the Kurds to be torn apart by Turkey.
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
….the captured ISIS fighters and families. The U.S. has done far more than anyone could have ever expected, including the capture of 100% of the ISIS Caliphate. It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory. THE USA IS GREAT!
The Pentagon “does not endorse a Turkish operation in Northern Syria,” a Pentagon statement issued on Monday clarified, stating “the US Armed Forces will not support, or be involved in any such operation.”
It warned that “unilateral action creates risks for Turkey” and advised the country to work in cooperation with its NATO allies, lest the region be “destabilized.”
Yannis Koutsomitis
✔@YanniKouts
While Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG militia an extension of the banned terrorist group PKK, the US has been arming and protecting the Kurds for years – and, as Trump pointed out in his earlier announcement, paying them “massive amounts of money and equipment.”
ALSO ON RT.COM‘Time to get out of these ridiculous endless wars’: Trump orders US pullback from Syrian border before Turkish operation beginsThe Kurds have begged for US protection from Turkish “invasion” and “occupation,” wary of Ankara’s plans to resettle some 3.6 million Syrian refugees currently living in Turkey in a “safe zone” in the northeast. While Turkey had originally negotiated with the US regarding the creation of the safe zone, Ankara warned last month that if Washington continued to stall the process it would establish the zone alone. Damascus, meanwhile, has slammed both states as illegal occupiers.
The US has repeatedly clashed with its NATO ally Turkey over its refusal to toe the line by alienating US rivals. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared last month that he has no intention to stop purchasing oil and natural gas from Iran despite the increasingly draconian sanctions imposed by Washington, and refused to cancel the purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems despite US threats of sanctions and kicking Turkey out of the F-35 fighter jet program.
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I admire his courageous ultimatum but I am sorry to say his buddy Erdogan has already finished Turkish economy over the past 15 years, and nearly nothing left intact to trump to obliterate.
I agree about Turkey could be used as trojan horse for Russia.
This seems to be retribution to the Neos, con/lib for their impeachment attempts. Funny funny… You come after me and I end your pet project for the Zios. Nasty body blow for the USZOG lackeys know as Congress.
Insane or Presidential? since you asked, Insane . Tя☭mp is doing crazy stuff abroad deflect from his domestic issues
Perhaps he means he will attack Assad or Iraq again.
The Kurds are not a sovereign nation, and therefore lack international standing. Legally, the Palestinians have more standing, but I don’t see Haley, Rubio, or Graham voicing concerns for their slaughter. Nothing but hypocritical zionist lackeys!
Turkey is a Troijan Horse they are trying to sell to Moscow.
Very plausible, though I don’t think Putin and Lavrov are buying. Wasn’t it Turkey that shot down a Russian Su-24 for momentarily breaching its airspace, with the bailed-out pilot shot and killed as he parachuted to the ground?
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