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Now that Trump has decided to have our troops hastily abandon northern Syria and our allies the Kurds to their fate, ISIS members are escaping from prisons and regrouping very quickly.
This reemergence of ISIS is a direct result of Trump’s decision to betray our allies — and many experts say it even meets the constitutional definition of treason.
Former GOP congress Joe Scarborough spoke frankly about Trump’s “aiding and abetting ” the enemy on his MSNBC show, Morning Joe:
“Republicans believe, as do most foreign policy experts in Washington—around the world, that Donald Trump is aiding and abetting ISIS. They believe Donald Trump is aiding and abetting Russia. They believe Donald Trump is aiding and abetting Iran. They believe Donald Trump is aiding and abetting Assad in Syria. They believe Donald Trump, in this one move, is aiding and abetting just about every country on the face of the Earth that consider themselves to be our greatest enemies.”
Scarborough isn’t the only one likening Trump’s actions to treason. Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe tweeted that Trump’s hasty retreat from Syria should be considered giving “aid and comfort” to the enemy which is the very definition of treason:
If some of the 10,000 ISIS fighters are released by Turkey’s imminent attack on the Kurds as a predictable result of Trump’s insane pullout, our president will have given “aid and comfort” to an enemy with whom we are at war under the AUMF. Read Article III of the Constitution.
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) October 9, 2019
(The AUMF that Tribe is referring to is the Authorization for Use of Military Force which authorizes the U.S. Armed Forces to be used against those that are associated with the attacks on 9/11.)
To better understand these arguments of treason, follow the timeline of Trump’s decisions regarding Syria:
Trump made a promise on the campaign trail to pull American troops out of Syria, and he attempted to keep that promise by announcing a U.S. military withdrawal from the area in December of 2018 and promising a “safe zone” to Turkey’s President Erdogan. The move cost him his Defense Secretary James Mattis and a senior national security advisor Brett McGurk.
Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019
According to McGurk, the “safe zone” that Erdogan wanted would effectively extend the Turkish border roughly 20 miles into Syria.
Still, the United States was able to persuade the Kurds to take down their defenses and agree to a “security mechanism”. The SDF removed their military fortifications and withdrew their heavy weapons. They did so with the assurance that the United States would protect them from an invasion.
Based on our confidence in the #US efforts in the Security Mechanism agreement, we implemented all our commitments to remove military fortifications between Tal Abyad & SereKaniye, withdraw combat forces with heavy weapons, risking a security vacum as a result of the agreement.
— Coordination & Military Ops Center - SDF (@cmoc_sdf) October 7, 2019
In early October, Trump decides that he is pulling U.S. support and leaving the Kurds high and dry. The decision comes after a phone call with Erdogan, and it takes Trump’s advisors by surprise, according to Vox.
The operation is hasty. The “safe zone” border is left unprotected from an invasion by Turkey, and the “high value” ISIS detainees are not secured.
As predicted, Erdogan moves into Syria and devastating reports from the area start flooding to the rest of the world. The atrocities that are being committed against the Kurdish people is being called “Operation Peace Spring.” The Daily Sabah reports that “652 mortar shells” have been dropped on “civilian settlements”. By Erdoğan’s count, 18 civilians have been killed and 147 injured in the attacks, the majority of the casualties being children.
A convoy that contained civilians and journalists was hit on Sunday afternoon, at least 14 people are believed to be dead in the attack. Kurdish politician, Hervin Khalif, has been executed by “jihadist” fighters.
The “high-value” detainees and hundreds of ISIS supporters escaped from the camps that were being held by Kurdish fighters. Trump attempted to blame the loss on the Kurds:
Senior U.S. administration official says there's no evidence the Kurds released ISIS prisoners.
"That has enraged our forces in Syria," the official says. "Incredibly reckless and dishonest thing to say."
SDC confirms: "We didn't release any prisoners and will never do that." https://t.co/wiIVW3GSOh
— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) October 14, 2019
Why did one phone call from Turkey’s president spark a change in U.S. foreign policy? Was it because of his financial ties to Istanbul? Was it to appease Putin? Was it because he is completely inept?
Whatever the reason, the decision has only intensified the condemnation of his presidency and cost him several GOP allies.
Mr. President, your decision regarding Syria is having grave consequences to our national security and that of our allies and partners.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 10, 2019
The hashtag “TrumpBetrayedOurAllies” was trending on Twitter over the weekend while Trump was busy tweeting about “WORLD PEACE” and playing golf. His display of callousness as U.S. allies were dying had people taking to the streets and demanding his immediate removal from office:
Hey Donnie: spontaneous protests against the Trump crime family breaking out across the country. @realDonaldTrump @senatemajldr @LindseyGrahamSC Time’s running out. Resign now or be impeached. #ImpeachTrump #DitchMitch #SlamGraham https://t.co/doHWEcM0Qi
— john ennis (@stop_bitching_u) October 13, 2019
Lets all applaud these heroes!
White House protests getting bigger and louder.WATCH: White House protesters chant ‘impeach Trump’ loud enough for aides to hear - https://t.co/GywLT5Tujx
— Dr. Robert Fortuna (@psychdr100) October 13, 2019
Happening now: Thousands of protesters in cities and towns across the country are demanding that Congress do their jobs and #ImpeachNow! The American people have seen, heard, and suffered enough. ⁰⁰Next steps to join the movement: https://t.co/siGwlsHkAG pic.twitter.com/s1zGvrNx7q
— By the People 🍑 Sun Oct 13 Mass Mobilization (@by_the_ppl) October 13, 2019
All that is needed now is for Congress to heed the call and remove Trump from office before he helps more of our enemies and does more irreversible damage to this country.