IF TRUMP BELIEVES ERDOGAN, HE MUST STILL BELIEVE IN THE TOOTH FAIRY

Trump complains that presidential harassment has been with him ‘from the beginning’ as he doubles down on his belief that Turkey will complete the mission to destroy ISIS

By George Martin

Daily Mail
December 24, 2018

Donald Trump has complained of being 'harassed from the beginning' as he defended his decision to pull US troops out of war-torn Syria.

In a Twitter rant on Sunday, the President also claimed he had received assurances from Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that his country would plug the gap left by American troops - and continue the campaign against ISIS.

Trump has faced widespread criticism for the shock decision last week - with many fearing the withdrawal could lead to a resurgence of ISIS.

The President tweeted on Sunday that 'harassment has been with me from the beginning

'“The President has been remarkable. I do not doubt that he will thrive in this new environment, and he will be a constant reminder of what populism is.” Thank you to Tammy Bruce and Steve Hilton. Presidential Harassment has been with me from the beginning!' Trump wrote.

He also voiced his support for President Erdogan's ability to tackle ISIS, saying 'he's a man who can do it'.

'President 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!' Trump added.

The surprise announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump last week that Washington would withdraw its roughly 2,000 troops has upended a pillar of American policy in the Middle East.

Trump declared last Wednesday that his administration has won the war against the ISIS terror army, even though the Pentagon has said the group still has 30,000 soldiers in Iraq and Syria.

Critics say it will also make it harder to find a diplomatic solution to Syria's seven-year-old civil war.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed on Sunday to coordinate to prevent an authority vacuum from developing as the United States withdraws from Syria, the Turkish presidency said.

In a phone call between the two leaders, Erdogan also expressed satisfaction with steps taken by Washington regarding combating terrorism in Syria and said Turkey was ready to provide any type of support, the presidency said.

After the withdrawal announcment on Wednesday, Trump's defence chief Jim Mattis said he would be stepping down on Thursday - in an apparent show of defiance against the decision.

The timing of his announcement was unmistakably linked to the president's announcement Thursday of a troop pullout from Syria that the two men disagreed about.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Erdogan is the last person Trump ought to trust. Trump apparently doesn’t realize Erdogan had an ulterior motive for wanting our troops out of Syria. The Kurds have been our closest allies against ISIS, bearing the brunt of the fighting against the Islamic caliphate in both Iraq and Syria. Our withdrawal will free Erdogan’s army to resume its slaughter of the Kurds, including Kurdish women and children, who are hated with a purple passion by the Turks.

And one thing has been crystal clear to everyone except Trump. Erdogan will do whatever he can to make Turkey the dominant power in the Middle East. That’s why he’s been fighting against the ISIS caliphate. And he wants to make sure neither Iran or Saudi Arabia stand in the way of his ambition. But first he needs to get American troops out of the Middle East.