Praemonitus, Praemunitus –
We Stand on Guard for Thee – WTF Version
Trump removed some US troops from Syria – not all (he said all) just those who were standing between Turkey and the Kurds. Turkey is annihilating the Kurds. Russia is helping Turkey. Turkey has the second largest military among NATO nations.
ISIS/ISIL wanted to use Syria as their home. The US didn’t want to commit ground forces in large numbers. Instead, they looked for a local force that could do the job with US support. That would be the Kurds. But Turkey has been trying to eliminate the Kurds for decades – enough to total two centuries depending how you read history – and in outright war for the past 31 years.
One of the things the US had to do was put a formation – call it a wall on Turkey’s southern border – between Turkey and the Kurds. That way, the Kurds could defeat ISIS without being eliminated by Turkey. The US said to the Kurds: you go do our work; we’ve got your back. This is the US force that Trump has removed – not all US troops in Syria, just this small, important force.
Canada was in Syria – on the ground and in the air – with the full approval of Parliament. Look up Operation Impact. Canada helped but the Kurds did the heavy lifting.
This Trump-ordered action benefits ISIS, Turkey, Russia, and Iran. No matter what happens, Russia will benefit. Of the four beneficiaries, only one is – nominally – an ally. Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952. They are not a founding member.
I have worked with Turkish exchange officers. I have sat at the NATO table representing Canada and the officer representing Turkey sat at the same table. Seating at the head table had meaning. From left to right across the head table: US, Turkey, UK, chairman, host nation, Canada, Netherlands unless the Greeks – another NATO member – were present in which case Greece sat to the right of Canada.
Turkey doesn’t like Greece. In 1974, a unit of the Canadian Airborne Regiment stood their ground in the path of a full-scale Turkish invasion of Cyprus – an effort to decimate the Greek Cypriots. This is called peacekeeping. This is why peacekeepers must be combat capable troops. Small Canadian force in a hot engagement with a big Turkish invasion. Three Canadians died. The Green Line held. Today, Turkey occupies about a third of Cyprus. That is deemed illegal by the international community. Cyprus has de jure sovereignty but not de facto sovereignty. Just like Ukraine.
There is no good reason why Turkey should be allowed to remain in NATO – except for their geography, except for their perfect positioning on the south-east flank, except for the wall that they could be in keeping Russia out of the Mediterranean, and except for keeping them from becoming a Russian ally. So, we put up with them. And we lie to ourselves.
US military casualties in Syria: six killed. Canadian Forces casualties in Syria: four killed. Kurdish casualties: 11,000 killed. ISIS/ISIL? Eliminated except for the ten thousand-plus who the Kurds were holding captive until yesterday. They are now unguarded. They are free. The Kurds are busy defending themselves against Turkey backed by Russia. The Americans have left the Kurds back door ajar.
Casualties in the coming weeks? Turks – several. Kurds – all of them. Russians – zero. And, one American.
Which one American? The one at the root of the problem, the one who cannot keep a promise, the one who has no concept of history, the one with no integrity, the one who cannot plan past Friday, the one who cannot tell the truth, the one who cannot be trusted, the one who is responsible, the draft dodger, our NORAD ally. Yeah, that one. To be eviscerated on the floor of the Senate if there is any justice.
Stuart Syme
Pat Hampson says
Possibly, those who believe Trump is a “stable genius” :) constitute a significant percentage of US voters. If this is the case, Canadians should prepare for the worst. Nothing is sacred in the Trump world and re-election is a possibility; should this occur, we should remember that the US disputes our claim to the Northwest Passage.
Prepare for Trump to state; “Canadians are a great nation, I know some of them very well, I personally met their Prime Minister; he is a great man, I like him but he won’t sign my new trade deal so we will have to invade Canada to help them understand that I am a ‘Stable Genious’.”
OR, “The US will build a wall to prevent Canadian refugees entering the US and taking advantage of our stable system”. Ha, Ha, Ha. Personally, I am too stable to believe theses scenarios.
Fred Steele says
This was truly right on. It should be noted on MSNBC tonight it was said Turkish forces fired on American troops. This is not over and the lawless thug in the White House who is somehow indebted to Putin announced the withdrawal on Putins Birthday. History should name Trump as “Cut and run Donald”
Stuart Syme says
Thank you, one and all, for your participation and encouragement.
With few exceptions, every author needs an audience. You purge my anxieties, enrich my thinking, and give flight to my fingers. Thank you.
Bonnie Thompson says
Echoing other comments, Thank you Stu. You bring into the light what most people don’t follow and seldom understand
pat whalley says
Very informative. We should be very worried about what is happening just miles from our home. It really is unbelievable that this dictatorship is being allowed to continue for so long.
I was shocked that this ignoramus ever got elected but it has been one unbelievable action following another since he took power. He really seems determined to lead his country and Canada, by our proximity, into WW3. It really seems hard to believe that nobody has tried an assassination before now, I honestly thought that possible from the moment he took office.
If it wan’t so scary it would be laughable that this one person is allowed to bully his way through life, eliminating anyone who gets in his way.
Pat Rossiter says
Well said Stu. The US has been an unreliable ally for many years. Ask the Montagnards. Ask any number of previously supported South or Central American governments. Hell, ask any Vietnamese, even the ones from the Communist Party. They knew the Americans would leave eventually and leave their “allies” to the tender mercies of their sworn enemies. When we went on exercises in NATO in Germany we used to joke that if war did break out we’d initiate negotiations with the Russians, trading the US forces to them, and taking the East German and Hungarians onto our side. Eventually the US will need more Canadian water than we are willing to give. NORAD and NATO won’t mean anything then.
Stuart Syme says
Unfortunately, Pat, those who haven’t been there will be slow to grasp the truth of the joke. The truth flies in the face of the American self-aggrandizement – the refrain of every song and speech.
The reality is that they are handicapped by their recruiting pool, their one-man-one-job training and employment, the up-or-out promotion policy, political interference in infrastructure and equipment, centralized command and control, an inordinate reliance on technology, and their unwillingness/inability to move after dark. But, they do have an unmatched capability to move thousands of troops over thousands of miles in a matter of hours and have a coke machine outside of every tent by sundown. Occasionally, they can arrive in theatre before CNN.
Karen Syme says
I have never paid much attention to politics. Life, family, friends and the practice of kindness and aesthetics seem to be enough. Yet…I have paid attention to the Trump thing. Why? I watched the Canadian debate of the heads of the parties who are seeking our votes to govern us. I will choose who to vote for based on what they said. The standard is high. Here is what they are not: They are not betraying our long-time allies, they are not waging economic war through tariffs, they are not completely ignorant of history or of the functioning norms of our government and most importantly they have not and will not emasculate our law enforcement, security and justice systems.
For this reason I have confidence in the Canadian candidates to different degrees but it will make no difference if one man is allowed to destabilize his own country and take the rest of the world with him. I can not participate in the US political system so I am feeling helpless in the face of this horrific future that is beginning to dawn on some. I feel like most europeans must have during the thirties and more particularly 1939. As Canadians we need a leader of courage, not appeasement. Look what Chamberlain accomplished. My dilemma is that courage is revealed by being tested through events. How do I know which candidate has the mettle to lead us effectively? Well there are no guarantees in life with the exception of a leaking faucet ordered from Wayfair.
Karen Syme says
Just so there is no confusion, Wayfair guaranteed the faucet and replaced it at no charge immediately.
Lee Ann Wilson says
I have taken the time to read this article and I must say… Thank you Stuart. I and (I’m sure) most Canadians reflect your review on the crisis in Syria and across our Boarder (USA). It’s very unnerving. It’s so unbelievable. I feel panicked/burdened and at a loss as one single human in Canada that can’t do anything about this… Overwhelmingly Concerned!
Gail Blidook says
Thank you, Stuart, for reporting on this crisis. Ken and I have been following this heartbreaking news and are grateful for your information and comments. If this doesn’t convince U.S. voters, House and Senate that their moron-in-chief is unfit to lead, then what will?