U.S. House Republicans to seek sanctions on Turkey over Kurd offensive

HumblePi said:

[h=1]U.S. House Republicans to seek sanctions on Turkey over Kurd offensive[/h]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twenty-nine of President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives announced on Thursday they would introduce legislation to impose sanctions against Turkey, underscoring lawmakers unhappiness about its assault on Kurdish forces in Syria.
A day after Republicans and Democrats announced similar legislation in the Senate, the lawmakers - including Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican Whip Steve Scalise and other party leaders - said they wanted a strong response to Ankara’s aggression.
U.S. House Republicans to seek sanctions on Turkey over Kurd offensive - Reuters
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Know what this means? It means the GOP are going against Trump, that's why this move by the GOP to impose sanctions on Turkey may be a turning point for Trump. Congress sanctioned Turkey in 2017 for holding a Andrew Brunson, a U.S. citizen, prisoner. That was a rare public break between Trump and Erdogan. Trump very reluctantly sanctioned Turkey again this past July because Turkey bought Russian-made air defense system.
“So what happens is we have a situation where Turkey is very good with us, very good, and we are now telling Turkey that because you have really been forced to buy another missile system, we’re not going to sell you the F-35 fighter jets," Trump said. "It’s a very tough situation that they’re in, and it’s a very tough situation that we’ve been placed in, the United States.”
“With all of that being said, we’re working through it, but it’s not really fair,” Trump added. “Because they bought a Russian system, we’re not allowed to sell them billions [of dollars worth] of aircraft. It’s not a fair situation.”
Trump doesn't have the slightest clue about U.S. geopolitics. He sees an opportunity to make $ by selling F-35's and that's all he sees. He doesn't 'get it' that for Turkey to be buying air defense from Russia, who is not a NATO ally, is not how it should work.

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HumblePi said:

[h=1]U.S. House Republicans to seek sanctions on Turkey over Kurd offensive[/h]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twenty-nine of President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives announced on Thursday they would introduce legislation to impose sanctions against Turkey, underscoring lawmakers unhappiness about its assault on Kurdish forces in Syria.

A day after Republicans and Democrats announced similar legislation in the Senate, the lawmakers - including Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican Whip Steve Scalise and other party leaders - said they wanted a strong response to Ankara’s aggression.

U.S. House Republicans to seek sanctions on Turkey over Kurd offensive - Reuters
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Know what this means? It means the GOP are going against Trump, that's why this move by the GOP to impose sanctions on Turkey may be a turning point for Trump. Congress sanctioned Turkey in 2017 for holding a Andrew Brunson, a U.S. citizen, prisoner. That was a rare public break between Trump and Erdogan. Trump very reluctantly sanctioned Turkey again this past July because Turkey bought Russian-made air defense system.

“So what happens is we have a situation where Turkey is very good with us, very good, and we are now telling Turkey that because you have really been forced to buy another missile system, we’re not going to sell you the F-35 fighter jets," Trump said. "It’s a very tough situation that they’re in, and it’s a very tough situation that we’ve been placed in, the United States.”

“With all of that being said, we’re working through it, but it’s not really fair,” Trump added. “Because they bought a Russian system, we’re not allowed to sell them billions [of dollars worth] of aircraft. It’s not a fair situation.”

Trump doesn't have the slightest clue about U.S. geopolitics. He sees an opportunity to make $ by selling F-35's and that's all he sees. He doesn't 'get it' that for Turkey to be buying air defense from Russia, who is not a NATO ally, is not how it should work.

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We defeated 100% of the ISIS Caliphate and no longer have any troops in the area under attack by Turkey, in Syria. We did our job perfectly! Now Turkey is attacking the Kurds, who have been fighting each other for 200 years....

....We have one of three choices: Send in thousands of troops and win Militarily, hit Turkey very hard Financially and with Sanctions, or mediate a deal between Turkey and the Kurds!

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) | Twitter

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Turkey has been planning to attack the Kurds for a long time. They have been fighting forever. We have no soldiers or Military anywhere near the attack area. I am trying to end the ENDLESS WARS. Talking to both sides. Some want us to send tens of thousands of soldiers to....

....the area and start a new war all over again. Turkey is a member of NATO. Others say STAY OUT, let the Kurds fight their own battles (even with our financial help). I say hit Turkey very hard financially & with sanctions if they don’t play by the rules! I am watching closely.

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So many people conveniently forget that Turkey is a big trading partner of the United States, in fact they make the structural steel frame for our F-35 Fighter Jet. They have also been good to deal with, helping me to save many lives at Idlib Province, and returning, in very.....

.....good health, at my request, Pastor Brunson, who had many years of a long prison term remaining. Also remember, and importantly, that Turkey is an important member in good standing of NATO. He is coming to the U.S. as my guest on November 13th. #ENDENDLESSWARS

We may be in the process of leaving Syria, but in no way have we Abandoned the Kurds, who are special people and wonderful fighters. Likewise our relationship with Turkey, a NATO and Trading partner, has been very good. Turkey already has a large Kurdish population and fully....

....understands that while we only had 50 soldiers remaining in that section of Syria, and they have been removed, any unforced or unnecessary fighting by Turkey will be devastating to their economy and to their very fragile currency. We are helping the Kurds financially/weapons!

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Barnacle said:

So ... I take it NATO is gonna fall apart now that every NATO country will be "forbidden" to sell arms to their NATO buddy Turkey ...

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Mycroft said:

You haven't been listening to Trump lately, have you?



Trump is telling Congress they have three choices.

Since Trump has already threatened to "devastate their economy", it sounds to me like the GOP are supporting Trump.

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HumblePi said:

[h=1]U.S. House Republicans to seek sanctions on Turkey over Kurd offensive[/h]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twenty-nine of President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives announced on Thursday they would introduce legislation to impose sanctions against Turkey, underscoring lawmakers unhappiness about its assault on Kurdish forces in Syria.

A day after Republicans and Democrats announced similar legislation in the Senate, the lawmakers - including Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican Whip Steve Scalise and other party leaders - said they wanted a strong response to Ankara’s aggression.

U.S. House Republicans to seek sanctions on Turkey over Kurd offensive - Reuters
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Know what this means? It means the GOP are going against Trump, that's why this move by the GOP to impose sanctions on Turkey may be a turning point for Trump. Congress sanctioned Turkey in 2017 for holding a Andrew Brunson, a U.S. citizen, prisoner. That was a rare public break between Trump and Erdogan. Trump very reluctantly sanctioned Turkey again this past July because Turkey bought Russian-made air defense system.

“So what happens is we have a situation where Turkey is very good with us, very good, and we are now telling Turkey that because you have really been forced to buy another missile system, we’re not going to sell you the F-35 fighter jets," Trump said. "It’s a very tough situation that they’re in, and it’s a very tough situation that we’ve been placed in, the United States.”

“With all of that being said, we’re working through it, but it’s not really fair,” Trump added. “Because they bought a Russian system, we’re not allowed to sell them billions [of dollars worth] of aircraft. It’s not a fair situation.”

Trump doesn't have the slightest clue about U.S. geopolitics. He sees an opportunity to make $ by selling F-35's and that's all he sees. He doesn't 'get it' that for Turkey to be buying air defense from Russia, who is not a NATO ally, is not how it should work.

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FinnFox said:

We did that, full-stop selling any military stuff to Turkey - and Finland isn't NATO country.

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Airyaman said:

Well, I see your problem: you believe what Trump tweets is true....

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Mycroft said:

I believe what Trump tweets is what he wants to say.

In this case, the GOP is supporting what he has said. There is no question about that.

But here's another question: Do the House and Senate Dems want sanctions? Or do they want to go with Trump's first option..."end tens of thousands of soldiers to the area and start a new war all over again"?

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Airyaman said:

Only a few hundred soldiers were moved, what are you talking about?

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Mycroft said:

I'm talking about what Trump has said he wants to do and what the members of the House and the Senate...from both Parties...want to do. The GOP wants sanctions. What do the Dems want?

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Airyaman said:

Have you not been keeping up? The blowback against Turkey is bipartisan.

Congress set for showdown with Trump over Kurds | TheHill

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Mycroft said:

We'll see what this "showdown" looks like when Congress gets back to work from their vacation.

Trump has thrown out a few options and he supports sanctions.

What will Congress do? Will they follow Trump's lead and go with economic warfare? Or will they follow Graham's lead and increase troops?

Or will they just sit with their thumbs up their ass and talk about how stupid Trump is?

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Airyaman said:

Where does Graham want to increase troops to? First I've heard of this. All I've seen is that he wants to sanction Turkey.
Lindsey Graham Prepares Sanctions Over Trump's Betrayal of Kurds

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“I think Lindsey would like to stay there for the next 200 years and maybe add a couple a hundred of thousand people every place, but I disagree with Lindsey on that,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “But I will tell you that I do agree on sanctions, but I actually think much tougher than sanctions if [Erdogan] doesn’t do it in as humane a way as possible.”

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Key among the president’s critics is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who in a statement this week warned that there exists a veto-proof majority in the Senate that backs a continued U.S. military presence in northern Syria. “A precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would only benefit Russia, Iran, and the [Bashar al-] Assad regime. And it would increase the risk that ISIS and other terrorist groups regroup,” McConnell said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.

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Mycroft said:

We already know that Graham is a Middle East hawk. Appears McConnell is one, as well. But most lawmakers are talking about sanctions...which is what Trump wants, though Trump would go much further than sanctions.

I guess we'll see where Congress finally put their mouths and their money when they get back to work next week.

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Mycroft said:

We'll see what this "showdown" looks like when Congress gets back to work from their vacation.

Trump has thrown out a few options and he supports sanctions.

What will Congress do? Will they follow Trump's lead and go with economic warfare? Or will they follow Graham's lead and increase troops?

Or will they just sit with their thumbs up their ass and talk about how stupid Trump is?

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Barnacle said:

Are you sure?

"Following the Turkish attack on Syria, Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne decreed that the government will not approve any new arms export permits to Turkey or any other country waging war.
..
The freeze on new permits does not mean a halt to Finnish arms exports to Turkey, as current contracts will still be honoured. These sometimes include deliveries spaced out over 3-4 years, for instance. Meanwhile not all licenses necessarily result in actual sales and deliveries.

Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen says that Finnish authorities are looking into whether it would be possible to reconsider any licences that have already been granted but that "cancelling permits is not simple". ..."

Finnish arms exports to Turkey have grown quickly | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi

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Airyaman said:

How could he go much further than sanctions? Again, you are placing way too much trust in a person who lies alot. He hasn't lifted a finger since Turkey started this attack. There are already dozens of Kurds dead.

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Mycroft said:

We can start with cutting off $154 million in aid that we give to Turkey each year. If they don't get the message by then, we can cut off all imports from Turkey. That'll come to more than $10 billion each year. Not to mention that sanctions will affect the trade that every other country does with Turkey.

Trump is correct. We can devastate their economy.

Anyway, when it comes to threats of action...whether military or economic...Trump doesn't lie. He absolutely will take the action if it becomes necessary and when the timing is right. He always gives the other side a chance to avoid the action.

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Barnacle said:

So ... I take it NATO is gonna fall apart now that every NATO country will be "forbidden" to sell arms to their NATO buddy Turkey ...

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Mycroft said:

We can start with cutting off $154 million in aid that we give to Turkey each year.

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Mycroft said:

If they don't get the message by then, we can cut off all imports from Turkey.

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Mycroft said:

That'll come to more than $10 billion each year. Not to mention that sanctions will affect the trade that every other country does with Turkey.

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Mycroft said:

Trump is correct. We can devastate their economy.

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Mycroft said:

Anyway, when it comes to threats of action...whether military or economic...Trump doesn't lie. He absolutely will take the action if it becomes necessary and when the timing is right. He always gives the other side a chance to avoid the action.

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Airyaman said:

Good luck with your trust in the most dishonest person to ever occupy the WH.

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TU Curmudgeon said:

Well, it most certainly is likely to mean that American arms manufacturers' arms sales are going to go down and that the arms sales from non-American arms manufacturers are going to go up.
This will definitely be a good thing for the US economy - won't it?

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Barnacle said:

I don't know how it works in the US, but if it works like in Finland - see post #7 - we will still be supplying Turkey with arms for years.

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