Indeed, she can provide some balance by being a Democrat who is in favor of Trump's recent foreign policy moves. Instead, the message is that their bipartisan opposition to Trump's moves on National Security when this not true. Folks like AOC strongly support bringing troops home now.

with the Kurdish population? Kurds who are in danger of genocide BECAUSE we told them we'd help them protect themselves from a murderous Erdogan?

Does this bumptious, 29-year-old by any chance think we should help remove noncombatants at least to places of safety before we leave ourselves?

And if so, why are US taxpayers the only ones paying for this?

I don't think we need to be the "world's Policeman." I also have a hard time turning a blind eye to genocide because it's somehow "not my problem."

To paraphrase Jacob Marley, "Mankind is our business."

If Dubya hadn't launched that disastrous war in Iraq, much of this instability would have never happened.

Bush bears much of the blame, and escaped any punishment for his crimes.

But at a certain point, when does the huge cost of having the biggest military machine crush us all?

The US spends more than anyone, more than the budget of the 2nd through 8th countries combined in a list of military budgets, but every increase is promoted as necessary.

And this focus on military power projection is bankrupting the country.

I think allocating so much of our resources to the military is not healthy. But again, I have a hard not stepping up when we can. It’s one reason why building and maintaining alliances is so important.

And perhaps more importantly, we need to work towards non-military solutions.

We can't leave the Kurds high and dry. Sorry AOC. Without the Kurds we would have ISIS in control of Iraq and Syria, or we would have to do another full on invasion. They are doing the fighting for us. We can't abandon them, regardless how much we want to leave Syria.

Sorry AOC, but you are wrong on this one unless you can guarantee their security (which may be possible).

feel we should have made them, but we did and we have to come through. Suddenly abandoning people who agreed to partner with us to die, and making up despicable excuses for it, is TRUMPSTER behavior.

Profound betrayals are no more acceptable when they're ours than when they're theirs.

Commitments that are slowly ruining the country.

Commitments that make it possible for politicians to say that we cannot afford single payer, and decent infrastructure, and living wages.

This year was the worst yet for the American backed government.

How long to “fix” Syria?

Can you give us an estimate? 20 or 30 year ‘bout do it?

Last edited Sat Dec 22, 2018, 06:53 PM - Edit history (1)

....not being consulted?

Iraq, both of them, Syria, Afghanistan and Vietnam. The war on terror creates more terror.

That being said,

I mean, given the posting history of the OP we know for certain that it is, but the idea that 'Supports Bringing Home Troops from Syria/Afghanistan' is meant to be a bad thing. It's just...it's just unbelievable.

going back to the stone age or elder statesmen or women.

I couldn’t find where she said she wanted to “immediately” bring the troops home. Are you suggesting/assuming that her advocating for an end to the unauthorized wars must mean that she supports a Trump-style “immediate” withdrawal?

I did not read any caveats in her statements. She has been very clear. But, if you can find a single statement from AOC opposing Trump's moves in bringing home troops now, then be my guest. However, I can save you the trouble. There are not any. Stop trying to water down AOC's commitment to peace.

Just say you’re against anything Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez because she isn’t falling lock and step into the line you want her in and leave it at that.

Schumer gets attacked for being namby-pamby and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gets attacked for not being namby-pamby.

Her statement does NOT advocate an “immediate” withdrawal. Ted Lieu, however, expressly approves of Trump’s decision to withdraw our troops from Syria. Does Lieu not inspire the same outrage in you? Do discuss . . . with yourself. (Link to Lieu’s statement: https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-lieu-statement-withdrawal-us-forces-syria )

...why Mexico is not paying for a wall. Trump never said that Mexico was going to pay for the wall on Day 1! AOC’s quote speaks for itself.

Link to tweet

He, and others, are conflating the Syrian Civil War, where WE HAVE NOT COMMITTED BOOTS ON THE GROUND, and the fight against ISIS.

As to Syria, where Ted Lieu and others should have spoken out, is when Trump opted not to join the various diplomatic negotiations on resolving the Syrian Civil War. In addition, they have failed to join any of the ceasefire/peace talks for Yemen.

I wrote a more detailed answer here -
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211580922

None of us want troops in Syria or anywhere else. However, we ARE in these places and an irresponsible pull-out by Individual -1 tells our allies they can't trust what we say and honor our commitments.

The argument you're trying to make is illogical, unless she supports his actiions.

It is more nuanced in his own words. Now, again, feel free to post actual quotes from their official positions or interviews this past year. My point is that some folks, even some folks on the left, support Trump's views on trade, tariffs, the Federal Reserve, and troop withdrawals.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/bernie-sanders-trump-is-right-that-us-cant-stay-in-syria-forever-but-americans-cant-pull-out-tomorrow

Bernie Sanders: Trump is right that US can't stay in Syria forever, but Americans can't 'pull out tomorrow'

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., agreed with President Trump that American involvement in Syria needs to end, but said Trump’s statement that the U.S. will leave soon is off-base.

Sanders said on CNN’s “State of the Union” the U.S. cannot stay in Syria forever but the idea that American forces can leave “very soon,” as Trump said, isn’t possible.

“It's not a yes or no,” Sanders said when he was asked if he agreed with Trump’s statement in a speech Thursday.

“I think we absolutely do not want to get involved in this terrible civil war in Syria, which is so destructive, so destabilizing to the entire region. But, I don't know that you can pull out tomorrow.”

To me, you're saying she supports his actions. Is that true?

That would be consistent with a public statements on the subject. I did not read any caveat from her saying, "...unless Trump does it, then never mind." But, if you can find a statement from her opposing Trump's troop withdrawal, then please feel free to post.

Patience. AOC has got this. Her platform is very ambitious, and she is no Trump—she wouldn’t throw the Kurds out to be slaughtered to make a political point

Wow.

What an interesting POV.

And what makes it especially embarrassing for the OP is...

Some of the target audience thought it was meant to actually give her credit for something.

Leaving our allies in the lurch is an even bigger mistake. And it goes on and on!

Go ahead. Tell us the names.

The Kurds put themselves on the line because we promised to have their backs.

masters tell him.

Withdrawing or agreeing we should, now, abruptly is wrong as you say.

....of "not tipping off the enemy"?

They require better leadership than what they have. Individual 1 is making the Coast Guard work without pay, meanwhile hes issuing orders via Twitter.

I'm not against pulling the troops out I'm just against looking like fucking idiots while doing so.

...that trump had to do something to try to get back in his good graces.

It's like real, patriotic Americans are fighting a war on two fronts - Moscow and Washington.

Erdogan and Putin are thrilled. The Kurds, not so much.

The result? America's shame. We know why trump is doing this. I don't know why some on the left agree with his decision other then not being able to separate the emotional opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and looking at our mission in Syria as a separate and honorable endeavor, especially our promise to the Kurdish people.

might as well do it cold turkey. I only support helping in wars against NATO countries and
maintain non-intervention policy for everything else in the world. I have yet to have someone explain me how it was not a mistake but brilliant move to get involved in Vietnam war, korean war, iraq war, Afghanistan war, Kosovo, Lybia, etc. US has never been a moral compass when it comes to wars, we are much better off by not getting involved. AOC is correct, we need a radical change to our foreign policy - we need to work closely with our NATO allies but we should not be leading anything when it comes to military due to our abysmal record.