In politics, a good rule of thumb is to conceal your emotions. Passion in and of itself can be good but when unbridled tends to lead to bad policy. People respect opinions on current events more when political positions are explained without resorting to visible anger or sadness. We need not be wholly stoic, but emotions should be restrained, controlled, and directed towards a specific goal. Otherwise, it is unprofessional and can appear unhinged.
That being said, I am royally tee-ed off at the shameless cowardice of Donald Trump.
Late last night, the White House put out a statement that surprised and shocked the world. It announced that the US would be moving troops out of northern Syria in preparation for the coming Turkish invasion. This announcement blindsided the Pentagon, the Senate, the Kurds, and pretty much everyone else who was not Erdogan. The move was swiftly criticized by the Pentagon, the Senate, the Kurds, and pretty much everyone else who was not Erdogan or a staunch isolationist.
This move is flawed for a variety of reasons. To start, it surrenders the US position in Syria. The instability caused by the coming Turkish incursion will inevitably cause ISIS to return to prominence. This will lead to more innocents dying and, ultimately, more US involvement in the future. The stated reason for moving troops, to avoid conflict, falls apart with even a cursory glance at what is bound to be the future state of affairs. More nations involved in the Syrian conflict will only cause more instability, not less.
The move also hurts American prestige abroad. Though he talked big about strongmen around the globe, the President’s position on authoritarians had, in policy, been rather typical of other presidencies. This move changes that. By kowtowing to Erdogan, Donald Trump has shown that America will no longer stand up for western values around the globe. Other nations will soon follow the horrific principle being set by this retreat.
Lastly, and most importantly, this retreat represents a grave betrayal of one of our strongest allies in the region, the Kurds. The Kurdish people, and their military forces, are the only moral side in the Syrian civil war. They have helped us in the fight against Bashir al Assad. They have assisted us in the war against ISIS. And they have helped to keep Turkish aggression at bay.
In return, Donald Trump has thrown them to the wolves. Erdogan has made no secret of his hatred for the Kurdish people, and letting him invade northern Syria will lead to a massacre not seen in the region since the Armenian Genocide. The Kurds have faithfully supported the US for decades, and President Trump has repaid their loyalty with a shameful breach of trust.
If the Kurds do survive what comes next, they will forever be wary of US offers of aid and cooperation. They may even turn to other powers for assistance (i.e. Russia). In an attempt to placate his dictator buddy and look more isolationist for the base, Donald Trump has damaged American legitimacy in the Middle East. I fear the next President will not be able to easily repair this damage.
President Trump’s cowardice does not stop at the Syrian border. Halfway around the world, Hong Kong is fighting for its freedom against a tyrannical government determined to stamp out civil liberties in the city. The people of Hong Kong have been in a near-constant state of protests and rioting for weeks now, and the Trump White House seemed to be completely oblivious to what was happening.
A recent transcript of a call between Donald Trump and Xi Jingping sheds light on his silence on the matter. In the call, President Trump promised Xi that he would remain silent on the Hong Kong issue while trade negotiations progressed. In an attempt to further his own petty trade conflict, Donald Trump remained silent on oppression in one of the freest cities on the globe. He even went so far as to congratulate China on the 70th anniversary of their founding. Instead of lamenting a dictatorial regime that murdered millions of their own, he tweeted congratulations to their most authoritarian ruler in decades.
This is astonishing and despicable.
Donald Trump has been called many things. These actions merely add the word ‘coward’ to the list. There are people around the world who look to America for guidance. Instead, President Trump has given them reasons to distrust us. There is hope, however. Someday, Donald Trump will be gone. In his place will be a new President with a clean slate. Whoever he or she is, I hope they will work to repair the damage caused by President Trump’s tepidness.
To the people of Hong Kong, and to the Kurds; I hear you. Decent Americans hear you. Someday, sooner rather than later, I promise the American government will hear all of you. Do not lose faith. We will return.