Trump And Turkey

[ludwig]

This is what Donald Trump tweeted in relation to Turkey and the situation with the Kurds..

// 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!). //

I just wondered what people made of that. Is it supposed to be a joke, or is he being serious, and which of those two alternatives would be preferable?

[Spicerack]

I'm surprised ichi didn't 'put us in the picture' with his info re Turkey and Syria.

[ichkeria]

I don’t think one can really respond meaningfully to questions about Trump tweets.
Since that outburst he’s had a complete volte face: withdrawing US troops from NE Syria to create a vacuum for invading Turkish troops and praising the US relationship with Turkey.
And yet the US withdrawal looks pretty low key so far.
And even that position may well be out of date now who knows.
If he has some sort of master plan simply to confuse everyone then it seems to be working.

[Spicerack]

He withdrew the troops before he sent this tweet. So it was a sort of a volte face.
Do you think Turkey should move in as they appear to be on the brink of doing?

[retrocop]

//Exactly what is he referring to?//

I assume the sanctions currently imposed on N.Korea and Iran.

[ichkeria]

If Turkey attacks Kurdish forces one effect will be to force the latter to abandon or at least seriously downgrade its operation to guard 1000s of IS prisoners in Kurdish camps.
Trump is all over the place: and almost certainly all talk.
All he’s really saying is that the US won’t actually help Turkey. Fundamentally Trump doesn’t want to get involved in anything.

[Spicerack]

Not a bad policy, some might think, ichi.

[ludwig]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-49983357

[Spicerack]

People should have more interest in these threads now. Will Russia be drawn in?

[Gromit]

Good news for Shamima Begum.

The Kurdish fighters are guarding hundreds of ISIS prisoners. And now the Turks are bombing the Kurds to clear them from the area. When they leave the prisoners will escape. Which will please the CIA and the Pentagon who trained and funded them.

[Spicerack]

I said something kind of similar, gromit. (posted a thread abput it)
I was called an idiot. ;-(

[Gromit]

Didn’t see your earlier thread Spicey, but it is one of those rare occasions when we agree. A lot of Republican Senators are unhappy with the decision too.

[retrocop]

I believe they've been and gone and done it. I am sure it was just announded on LBC that Turkish troops have entered Syria. No link alas yet.

[ludwig]

This is all very interesting, but of course the main point of my question was to wonder what people made of Trump's use of language here, rather than his actual foreign policy.

In particular, mention of his 'great and unmatched wisdom' and to 'totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey'.

They sound like phrases a tinpot African or Arab dictator would come out with. Not even the so-called Trump haters can be bothered commenting any more beyond a cursory - yeah, that's Trump, he's stupid.

It seems nothing that comes out of the Whitehouse surprises us any more. Sad!

[retrocop]

https://news.yahoo.com/latest-official-turkish-troops-invade-070256448.html;_ylt=AwrJS9Y0AJ5dA1gArzlLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTByZmVxM3N0BGNvbG8DaXIyBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--

[Spicerack]

It drives the MSM crazy, Ludwig. I find it amusing.

[Spicerack]

Someone should start a new thread about the 'war'.

[ichkeria]

His tweets are largely meaningless. And I’d guess that if we had any sense we’d simply ignore them. I suspect that’s largely what other world leaders do anyway

[ludwig]

// I suspect that’s largely what other world leaders do anyway //

Yeah obviously, but I was interested in what Trump supporters made of them. I still haven't had a proper answer.

[naomi24]

//in my great and unmatched wisdom//

When he comes out with guff (and he knows it’s guff) like that he makes me laugh. Funnier still are those who are always so eager to take the bait he dangles.

[ludwig]

//Funnier still are those who are always so eager to take the bait he dangles. //

So you think he deliberately pretends to be a bit unhinged just to wind people up? It's possible I suppose. Strange thing for a president to do though don't you think?