Turkey's Syria invasion: Member of US Special Forces says, 'I am ashamed for the first time in my career'

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/turkeys-syria-invasion-member-of-us-special-forces-says-i-am-ashamed-for-the-first-time-in-my-career/ar-AAIAILh?ocid=spartanntp

A member of U.S. Special Forces serving alongside the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria told Fox News' Jennifer Griffin on Wednesday they were witnessing Turkish atrocities on the frontlines.

“I am ashamed for the first time in my career,” said the distraught soldier, who has been involved in the training of indigenous forces on multiple continents. The service member, whom Griffin described as "hardened," is among the 1,000 or so U.S. troops who remain in Syria.

“Turkey is not doing what it agreed to. It’s horrible,” this military source on the ground told Griffin. “We met every single security agreement. The Kurds met every single agreement [with the Turks]. There was no threat to the Turks -- none -- from this side of the border."

President Trump said the U.S. would pull its troops from northeast Syria on Sunday, a move considered a blow to the U.S.-backed Kurds by many analysts and political observers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later announced a military operation in the region that he said was to "neutralize terror threats" and establish a "safe zone."

At least seven civilians have been killed in strikes in northeastern Syria since the assault began on Wednesday, according to activists and a war monitor. Turkey later announced that its ground forces had invaded the region to fight the Kurds.

“This is insanity,” the concerned U.S. service member said. "I don’t know what they call atrocities, but they are happening.”

Griffin called it one of the hardest phone calls she has ever taken.

U.S. military officials told Fox News the president ordered the military not to get involved in the Turkish strikes, after the Kurds requested air support.

Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria are guarding thousands of captured Islamic State (ISIS) fighters, now without the help of the U.S. in the area.

The Special Forces member said the Kurds have not left their positions guarding detainees. In fact, “they prevented a prison break last night without us," the military source on the front line said. “They are not abandoning our side [yet]."

"The Turks are hitting outside the security mechanism," according to the source, who said the Kurds are "pleading for our support."

The American troops are doing “nothing," the source lamented. "Just sitting by and watching it unfold.”

Troops on the ground in Syria and their commanders were “surprised” by Trump's withdrawal decision Sunday night.

Of the president’s decision, the source said: “He doesn’t understand the problem. He doesn’t understand the repercussions of this. Erdogan is an Islamist, not a level-headed actor.”

“The Kurds are as close to Western thinking in the Middle East as anyone,” said the longtime member of Special Forces. “It’s a shame. We are just watching. It’s horrible.”

“This is not helping the ISIS fight," the military source said.

Many of the ISIS prisoners "will be free in the coming days and weeks," he predicted.

Trump told reporters Wednesday afternoon that the captured terrorists were "really bad people who should go back to Europe."

"We said to various countries, we'd like you to take your people back. Nobody wants them, they're bad," Trump said, saying that "maybe the Kurds [...] if not them, Turkey" would deal with the ISIS fighters.

"The Kurds are sticking by us," the Special Forces source stressed to Fox News. "No other partner I have ever dealt with would stand by us."

American troops were disappointed in the decisions being handed down by senior leaders, the source on the ground added.

Denny

Is Turkey a member of NATO?  And was the Turks not affected by constant bomb attacks by Terrorists from the Kurds regularly over the past two years.   Bush and Obama declare the Kurdish organization involved in the bomb attacks a terrorist organization.

It is not easy - I grant you that - but why should  the USA be involved in wars around he globe?  Trump was accused of being a warmonger in the 2016 election and his strategy all along was to bring the soldiers home to the USA and reduce tension in other parts of the world.  

I do not like what is happening  in this case and neither does a lot of the politicians - but the Turks have got the biggest army in NATO and when there is a start of a war between NATO allies, it could turn really nasty.   

There would have been consultation with NATO before that decision was taken anyway .

Denny

Is Turkey a member of NATO?  And was the Turks not affected by constant bomb attacks by Terrorists from the Kurds regularly over the past two years.   Bush and Obama declare the Kurdish organization involved in the bomb attacks a terrorist organization.

It is not easy - I grant you that - but why should  the USA be involved in wars around he globe?  Trump was accused of being a warmonger in the 2016 election and his strategy all along was to bring the soldiers home to the USA and reduce tension in other parts of the world.  

I do not like what is happening  in this case and neither does a lot of the politicians - but the Turks have got the biggest army in NATO and when there is a start of a war between NATO allies, it could turn really nasty.   

There would have been consultation with NATO before that decision was taken anyway .

Mike

It's not surprising to see you jumping to Trump's support........he can do no wrong in your eyes and the rest of the groupies who'll no doubt follow an add a bucketful of excuses to justify Trump backstabbing an ally. This is a bad, bad move.....it stinks!

It does stink. Nato is throwing the Kurds under the bus and Trump is just passively stepping aside. Doesn't make sense...something fishy here.

Denny

I am not defending anyone - stating facts I am afraid.  I dislike the one too, but facts are facts.  Must the USA be the one who cause problems in this case and then be blamed by the useless EU mob for it?        ,  

Blame the EU.....it's all their fault isn't it? Just bye the bye, what happened to loyalty, what happened to sticking with a mate after he stuck by you.

Try sticking to the content of the article, try sticking to the header.......those are the facts.

Or just be honest and say, "It's not Trump's fault, the EU is to be blamed, all Trump did was backstab a mate." 

I said clearly I believe the decision is wrong to my mind - but fact is that how many troops has the USA in Syria at present?  If the Turks attack they would be stranded in a huge minority.   The only solution would be to sent in tens of thousands of troops to stop the Turks and that would be a disaster as well.  And Turkey was going to attack - whether the US like it or not.  

That the basis for a war between NATO members?  Anyway whatever, Trump decides on will be attacked normally by the media and Democrats and in this case by his supporters as well,  

Russia would love to see the USA in continuous wars in the Mid-East, where the USA should never have interfered in the first instance in any event.   They destabilized the ME countries and the result was Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and a string of never-ending other disasters.   

Denny

Where does Russia feature in all this? What else is happening with Turkey atm? 

This article is taking the viewpoint of one soldier and putting it forward emotively and as fact.

People tend to look only at what happens now. I don't know a great deal about this but it's pretty obvious that the timing of it isn't purely down to the U.S. pulling out and their pal being vulnerable. They(Turkey) want a response from the U.S. and knowing a bit more about the larger situation will likely tell you what they want. 

Trump isn't a military man. He seems to be the guy that takes the advice from professionals on a matter.

To have an opinion one should try to fully understand the situation and also remember that Trump is being advised. 

I get the feeling that people think Trump is sitting with his feet up on the oval office desk flipping a coin to decide what to do.

What is the real contribution here - Rooinek,  A one-sided personal; attack is not the answer.  S o what is wrong in fighting the corruption that was endemic under Obama anyway?

There is obviously a big picture...and probably only a few people in the world with all the facts at their disposal. This isn't over yet. It will become apparent later.

Another piece of mindboggling leftist lies is your read?   Sorry they spread lies and you swallow it hook, line and sinker. 

Incidentally Foxnews was very critical of  the Turkey decision of Trump and was very clear by giving both Republican and Democrats chances to speak freely on the issue.   So why should he  listen to their advice on any issue?       

This part of the world has been at war with itself since man set foot on it.

The issues in this area are beyond any reasonable settlement as it pertains to religion, tribal land, political corruption, criminal activity, money and foreign power interference.

All of this issues have been address many, many times with no end game to resolve or end the conflict. Every attempt to address these issues has failed due to unrealistic demands by some parties who in fact thrive on the chaotic situation.

This folks will still be at each other in hundreds of years from now.

Much like the situation in SA nobody appears to have all the answers, only demands.

The best solution is get out and let them go at it    as DT has done.

I just wonder how everyone buys this stuff. 

CNN, Fox and everyone else was pushing/backing the US going into Iraq.

If you didn't support it, you weren't a patriot.

And it was ALL utter nonsense.

Nobody remembers Dave Kelly and nobody cared when he was suicided. It was barely reported. And I'd put money on nobody having ever been bothered by the fact that it was concluded by experts that he was murdered.  

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8181602/dr-david-kelly-not-suicide-wrists-slashed-wmd-dossier/

Yes, The Sun.

Plum

Spare me your lectures.

Oh, ok Denny.

In future, please let me know if I'm allowed to reply or not.

Lol little fishie just so confused.

If only he had more than a fish brain he may understand objectivity.

Alas, not in this lifetime.

Trad

I am not supporting anyone - but in essence do not believe in wars as a solution to anything,  It always is messy and we had to live in that mess of WW2 until 1989 with the fall of the Berlin wall and the collapse of Communism in Russia,   

In that period there was the Korean War that ended in stalemate and there are still a 65 000 US army in Korea.   Followed by the Vietnam War ending only with a US defeat,   58 000 dead,  Why was the War started by the Democrats?   Because there was rising unemployment in the USA and the Arms Industry was seen as a means to create employment and send off the jobless to die in Vietnam.

There was some minor action against Grenada under Reagen, but for the rest the US kept out of getting into war situations, while the States became dependent on oil imports from the Middle East,   In 1991 for that reason the US went into a war under George Bush whose fortune was based on the oil industry.   Bad Republican President because of that mess in the ME.  His son went into the second Iraq war for the same reason.   Lies and deception of real fact was used to start the War and the present continuous wars in the ME resulted form that distortion,  

Followed by Obama as President the situation of the ME deteriorated into a mess,  Obama got involved in the revolt in Libya and his actions led to the rise of ISIS and a return of US troops to Iraq.   He threatened to intervene in the Syria Civil War if the Syrian government use gas against the Rebels and then did nothing when usage of gas continued,  He was weak as a President and factually sold the US out in trade treaties and ended up with serious unemployment.   The normal means was to Democratic means was to start another War and Obama in fact did in Libya and Yemen in 2011.

Before the 2016 election Trump was accused of being a warmonger and a danger to the US - but he did exactly the opposite.   He urged increase of local oil production to ensure the US independence from ME oil and -

*   started with negotiations with North Korea in a bit to stop production of nuclear armament by the North Koreans and reduce US military involvement in South Korea;

*   insisted that European  members and Canada makes a larger financial and troop contribution to NATO and thus reduce US involvement and reduction of US troops in Europe;

*   refused to get involved with the uprising in Venezuela; and 

*   refused to get involved in a war with Iran, despite the attack by Iran on oil tankers in the Arab Sea and the attack on Saudi Arabia.

In essence if the Democrats  were in charge the unemployment problem in the US would have increased and their normal reason for wars would have kicked in already through attacks in Venezuela and a War with Iran.          

Those are facts reasonable people should bear in mind in the latest scenario in Syria as well.  Fact is the US economy is booming and unemployment has gone down to the lowest level in 50 years.   The reason is simple - the trade deals Obama and Bush Junior signed was used to export employment opportunities to other countries.   The involvement of the USA in wars all over the globe cost money which could rather be used to upgrade the living conditions in the USA,

Trump no doubt is not a nice person and that is part of his disposition.  In general he is unpopular in the rest of the world since he puts the interests of the USA first and in the USA is hated partly because of fear of the uncovering of endemic corruption which started under the Bushes and got worse under Obama.   That is in fact the reason for the latest inpreachment process.

In general I dislike all politicians and distrust them as well - remember a phrase I mentioned on site before - it is more honourable to be a prostitute than a politician.   That applies to all politicians over the world and also in the USA.   Remember there is a lot of politicians in the USA that made a fortune by using corruption in other countries to enrich themselves and there is a danger of that being exposed and them landing in jail as a result.   A lot of politicians were involved in the Ukraine - not only the Bidens - and their role in making money through corruption in that country will be exposed if the matter is fully investigated.   Pelosi, Podesta, Kerry, Clinton and Schiff have been involved in the Ukraine and is obviously trying to get out of the situation as to the above by diverting attention away from their own misdeeds,  

I am not supporting Trump and is unhappy with some things he does and his approach towards some of his decisions.   However, I also am objective and not in a hate campaign against him and try and look objectively at things.

 .                           

Trad

When did that beauty pageant thing happened?  Is not aware of that one - please enlighten me.  

https://wzakcleveland.com/3721755/former-miss-teen-usa-slams-donald-trump-he-doesnt-like-black-people/

Google Kamie Crawford 

Is that the basis for your statement?   Not very convincing at all I am afraid.   A statement by a state beauty queen who never got anywhere in the competition and blaming Trump for it.  The previous claim by Clinton was that Trump is anti-woman because of the Venezuelan Miss World.     

I do not believe in what is in the media or in facebook at all.   There is a huge propaganda machine claiming Trump is a racist to get the African American voters to vote for the DP and the fact is that it is really not racism at all but politics of the DP to get votes,   The sample quoted by you could well be one of those.  

Uhhh.......she won the title but not coz of lardass........

He’s racist.............you don’t have to dig deep to find evidence.

He’s only sucking up to the blacks now coz of votes................ what would it look like to have a racist president??

OK she won the title - I was wrong - when Trump was in charge and now says he is a racist.  It does not add up - it is stupid to come up with that one.  What evidence are you talking about?   There is more communication between Trump and the African American Institutions and he has made more money available to improve them than Obama did.   Since the 1960's the African Americans supported the DP overwhelmingly and what they received in return was meaningless and like all other groups their living conditions deteriorated in the last 20 years.   

The African American population unemployment rate is the lowest now than it has ever been.   No Trad - there is fear amongst the DP of losing the African American Vote - the main reason for the racist statements by them and the media supporting them.   They had a similar strategy in 2016 about him being a warmonger - which he has proven not to be. 

Best advice - stop repeating DP propaganda and start being objective.  

As you stated Trump is not a likeable person and that remains.  He is not a good politician at all - he operates on what can be regarded as business principles, which is not the norm polticians ever use, .                

What crock of BS. Let's see some proof idiot...tangible evidence, not just baseless accusations. 

Trad2 could you please explain what you call RACIST.

Every time you watch the news or read a newspaper who are the folks screaming RACIST, RACIST, RACIST.

In my experience gathered in numerous countries in which I have worked their is one common denominator.

Some people are born into that situation unfortunately and are raised and survive on claiming persecution in one form or another and spend the rest of their lives stealing, begging and using the RACIST chant whenever they can't get their way.

The democrats for example have done diddly squat for the African Americans other than count their votes and hand out welfare and food stamps.

You want to see what RACIST's look like go North my friend or claim to be from Nigeria in RSA.

Got it!

Mozart

Your last sentence really looks like Trump is encouraging a war between India and Pakistan instead of encouraging them to find peaceful solutions for the problems between the two countries  about Kashmir.     

It'll be a miracle if India and Pakistan don't end up at war.

Rooi

Without even knowing the context or when it was said,  I can tell you with 100% confidence that Trump is talking about his respect, enthusiasm, support for and communication with the military.

If you read it as him this saying that he's better at being a soldier, or a better general than generals, then you've not understood what he was saying.

It's up to you to decide if you make the interpretation intentionally or not.

"There's nobody bigger or better at the military than I am."

Again(below), looks to me like he is saying that he won't let the military industrial complex, as referred to by Carter, dictate government decisions. 

Remember how Bush's pals, one in particular, previously employed at (Halliburton) , moved to government, then the Iraq war contracts came in...And if I remember correctly, the same guy went back to the same firm after his stint in government?

How is it a bad thing to avoid such situations?

Do you really think that he got no brown envelope for that?

And let's not forget the 500 000 CIVILIANS, as I've mentioned before, and as "estimated" by the U.S. military themselves, so it's probably a higher number, that died as a direct result.

...be cause that's exactly what happens when you allow what Trump is saying below that he WILL NOT allow.

Am I reading it wrong?

"The truth is, I am beholden to no-one, nobody's gonna tell me what to do, no - no group that owns a military firm that gives military supplies. Because I know - I've heard the case where often times you wanna buy certain weapons or something and you like one but you get the other one because that one has a contact to our politicians."

And finally...