Betrayal

JACOB DENNINGER: Earlier this month, Turkey launched an invasion into northern Syria, targeting Kurdish forces there. President Donald Trump cleared the way for this invasion by moving U.S. forces out of Turkey’s way following a call with Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Turkey is targeting a Kurdish militia known as the People’s Protection Units, or YPG. These Kurdish forces have been steadfast allies of the United States in the fight against ISIS, a fight in which the Kurds have sustained heavy casualties. 

President Trump betrayed them anyway. They had our back, and Trump abandoned them to be slaughtered. 

In addition to being morally repugnant, Trump’s betrayal of our loyal allies also benefits ISIS. Kurdish forces currently guard thousands of ISIS prisoners. As Kurdish troops are forced to abandon their guard posts to defend themselves against the Turkish invasion, thousands of these ISIS operatives are likely to escape, say U.S. officials. Hundreds already have.  

Even staunch Trump allies, including Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), recognize the president’s decision to abandon the Kurds will “ensure the re-emergence of ISIS.” The president may have campaigned on defeating ISIS, but he is helping them instead. 

Trump claims he decided to abandon our Kurdish allies in order to end endless wars and bring our troops home. That strains belief. He didn’t bring any of our troops home, he just ordered them to a different part of Syria. Meanwhile, he is sending another 1,800 troops to Saudi Arabia. 

I don’t know the real reason President Trump abandoned the Kurds, but by doing so, he has helped ISIS, threatened our national security, and betrayed our loyal allies and our nation’s values. He is unfit to be commander-in-chief. 

Jacob Denninger is a sophomore in the College and Government major from Massachusetts.