Ex-NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark questioned Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria, floating the idea that Trump was blackmailed by the Turkish president or received a pay-off.
Said Clark on CNN's New Day: “Well I'm very concerned because there doesn't seem to be any strategic rationale for the decision. And if there's no strategic rationale for the decision then you have to ask, why was the decision made? People around the world are asking this and some of our friends and our allies in the Middle East are asking, did Erdogan blackmail the president? Was there a payoff is or something? Why would a guy make a decision like this? Because all the recommendations were against it.”
Ex-NATO Supreme Allied Commander @GeneralClark: "I'm very concerned" about the US withdrawal from Syria because "there doesn't seem to be any strategic rationale for the decision."
"Did Erdogan blackmail the president? Was there a payoff is or something?" https://t.co/UQv2VD93oo pic.twitter.com/QAwWNjkOY3
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) December 24, 2018
Trump has, of course, been tweeting about the withdrawal of 2,000 troops which has left his military advisers and allies around the world baffled, and prompted the departure of Defense Secretary James Mattis.
I just had a long and productive call with President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey. We discussed ISIS, our mutual involvement in Syria, & the slow & highly coordinated pullout of U.S. troops from the area. After many years they are coming home. We also discussed heavily expanded Trade.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018
President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria….and he is a man who can do it plus, Turkey is right “next door.” Our troops are coming home!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
