We have achieved peace in our time
Today is a dark day in American diplomacy.
Donald Trump, who cursedly holds the title of president of the United States, threw the Kurds onto the tender mercies of their enemies the Turks. The blowback was swift and immediate, as US forces engaged in a pell-mell retreat in the face of advancing Turkish troops. American bases were abandoned in such haste that bombing strikes were called in to destroy anything of value. (Kremlin propaganda outfit RT then went into the bases, crowing about how weak America is.)
Faced with recriminations from all sides of the political divide, Trump sent his lickspittles Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo to agree a ceasefire between the Turks and the Kurds.
Oh, something was agreed all right: America's abject surrender to the Great Turk.
Forgive me, but when did Turkey, which has depended on America's security blanket since the middle of the 20th century, become a power which could dictate humiliating terms to the world's only empire?
The surrender to Reccep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish president/sultan, was so abject and so complete that even supine, milquetoast, weathervane Sen. Mitt Romney took to the floor of the Senate to excoriate Trump. In the face of such a Neville Chamberlain betrayal of a loyal ally, even normally fearful Republicans will be forced to choose sides, knowing that Trump's days are numbered, one way or another.
First, Trump crossed the intelligence community. Now he's forcing the military to retreat in ignominious dishonor, abandoning allies with whom they fought and bled. Any delusions he may have had that the military would ever participate in any putschist fantasies of his have just gone up in smoke. These aren't conscripts; they're professionals who have dedicated their careers to standing shoulder to shoulder with America's allies. The Kurds are straight out of central casting, the French Maquis and the Polish Home Army rolled into one. Their betrayal by America will be an everlasting stain on this nation; no amount of "Trump doesn't speak for us" will wash it away.
There can be no doubt that as Trump faces his fate, he's burning everything about him. He's going to exact as much revenge as he faces prison as he can. The Kurds will suffer with physical death; we will suffer with the death of our prestige, our influence, our sacred honor. I hope the tax cuts and sticking it to the Other were worth it for his voters. I, for one, will never forget, and never forgive.