Before the ink was dry on sanctions against Turkey, Donald Trump has lifted them.  Flanked by Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Trump announced that the U.S. had brokered a permanent cease-fire in northern Syria.  He made no mention, nor apology to the Kurds in the area.  Despite Turkish President Erdogan’s invasion of Syria, Trump was ready to reward the Turks, when just days ago he said he could crush their economy with sanctions.  The president seemed to declare victory in the region and wash his hands of it at the same time, remarking, “Let someone else fight over this long blood-stained sand.”  Russia and Turkey have gladly accepted the invitation.

The Washington Post writes:

He took credit for the cease-fire and suggested the agreement would save tens of thousands of Kurdish lives in the region — even though one day earlier, Russia and Turkey agreed to a plan to push Syrian Kurdish fighters from a wide swath of territory just south of Turkey’s border, cementing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s preeminent role in Syria as U.S. troops depart and America’s influence wanes.

https://twitter.com/TitusNation/status/1185712283118292992

The Wall Street Journal reports:

While Mr. Trump portrayed the outcome as an opportunity to withdraw U.S. troops and improve stability in northeastern Syria, critics among both Democrats and Republicans have said it amounts to the abandonment of Kurdish fighters who have been longtime U.S. allies and cedes influence over the area to Russia, which is sending troops into the region.

Watch the full address above.

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