Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Rep. Costa Blasts Trump's Decision to Abandon Kurds
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 6 years ago on
October 7, 2019

Share

Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno said Monday morning that President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria “is disgraceful and deeply harmful to our national security.”

“There is simply no justification for this abrupt and startling abandonment of our responsibilities and principles. The American people will be less safe because of it.” — Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno)
Said Costa in a news release: “Not only does this open the door to ISIS regrouping and resuming its horrendous acts of violence, but it also sends the message that the United States will not stand by those who fight at our side. By leaving our Kurdish allies at the mercy of President Erdogan of Turkey, a leader with a clear track record of human rights abuses, we are betraying the ideals of our nation and the core principles that have long underpinned our national security strategy.
 “There is simply no justification for this abrupt and startling abandonment of our responsibilities and principles. The American people will be less safe because of it.”

Republicans Question Trump’s Decision

Leading Republicans also criticized Trump for making a decision that likely would endanger America’s Kurdish allies in the region.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield said Monday in an appearance on “Fox & Friends” that he had been briefed by the president about the decision. But he also voiced his concerns.
“I want to make sure we keep our word for those who fight with us and help us,” he said of the Kurds. “If you make a commitment and somebody is fighting with you, America should keep their word.”
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called Trump’s decision “a disaster” in light of Erdogan’s threats to launch a military operation across the Syrian border against the Kurds.
Graham said that he would call for Turkey’s suspension from NATO and introduce sanctions against Ankara if the Turks attack Kurdish forces.
“This decision to abandon our Kurdish allies and turn Syria over to Russia, Iran, & Turkey will put every radical Islamist on steroids. Shot in the arm to the bad guys. Devastating for the good guys,” Graham wrote in a tweet.

Trump: ‘Ridiculous Endless Wars’

There are about 1,000 U.S. troops in northern Syria, and a senior U.S. official said they will pull back from the area — and could depart the country entirely should widespread fighting break out between Turkish and Kurdish forces. For the moment, the U.S. troops are not leaving Syria, officials said.

If the Turks go too far, Trump tweeted, “I in my great and unmatched wisdom” will destroy their economy.
Since January, U.S. officials have tried to broker the creation of a “safe zone” in northern Syria to provide a security buffer between the Turkish military and Kurdish forces, but Turkey has repeatedly objected to its slow implementation.
Trump defended his decision, acknowledging in tweets that “the Kurds fought with us” but adding that they “were paid massive amounts of money and equipment to do so.”
“I held off this fight for almost 3 years, but it is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home,” he wrote.
If the Turks go too far, he tweeted later, “I in my great and unmatched wisdom” will destroy their economy.
(Associated Press contributed to this report.)
 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

DON'T MISS

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

DON'T MISS

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

DON'T MISS

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

DON'T MISS

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

DON'T MISS

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

DON'T MISS

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

UP NEXT

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

UP NEXT

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

UP NEXT

Were Cuts in Rooftop Solar Payments Legal? CA Supreme Court Hears Arguments

UP NEXT

Fresno Rainbow Pride Marks 35th Year with Saturday Parade and Festival

UP NEXT

New CA Bill Would Streamline Solar Conversion for Dry Farmland

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Fermin Solorzano

UP NEXT

Kings River Conservancy Names New Leader, Plans to Expand Public Access

UP NEXT

Sunnyvale Pitmaster Smokes Fresno BBQ Competition for Golden Ticket to World Championships

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

9 hours ago

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

9 hours ago

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

10 hours ago

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

10 hours ago

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

10 hours ago

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

10 hours ago

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

12 hours ago

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

13 hours ago

What Do Valley Leaders Say About Trump’s Threat to Yank High-Speed Rail Funding?

13 hours ago

Were Cuts in Rooftop Solar Payments Legal? CA Supreme Court Hears Arguments

13 hours ago

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

The nonprofit supporting Fresno State’s ag specialty college unveiled its first corporate sponsor Thursday supporting students and tea...

8 hours ago

8 hours ago

Fresno State’s Ag College Is Growing. A New Corporate Sponsor Will Help Them

9 hours ago

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

9 hours ago

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

9 hours ago

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

9 hours ago

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

10 hours ago

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

10 hours ago

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

Webster, GV Wire's Adoptable Pet of the Week, June 5, 2025
10 hours ago

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend