Thread: Vets, what is your opinion on the Syrian pullout?

Originally Posted by Casper

Noticed that there is much talk about how many Vets, past and present disagree with how we pulled out of Syria, so l thought it might be interesting to see what the Vets here think.
Thanks

We should have never been there to begin with.

Pulling out the small handful of people we have is the correct decision.

The bias of your poll responses is noted.

Originally Posted by Moon

The military always gets pissed when they aren’t allowed to do the job they think they are there to do. The simple fact is that 50 Americans weren’t going to do much when Turkey decided to move into Syria, unless you think they should be used as human shields.

We’ve pulled out of ugly places before. Vietnam, Beirut, Mogadishu for example.

Even in peacetime it happens. When I was in the Philippines during the earthquake in 1990, we had the capability and the manpower to get to some of the places with severe damage and where Americans were involved. Because of politics, we weren’t allowed to go help until a few days later. I don’t know if we could have saved anyone, but it was a bit frustrating flying some of the bodies back to our base for transport to the US.

The same thing happened during Katrina. The governor of Louisiana refused the help of our 82nd Airborne who were standing by before the hurricane even hit. The fact that we cannot deploy our military to help the American people because of political hate is one of the worst atrocities in this country. Whether it is to help in catastrophes, secure our border, or even help our allies in natural disasters is absolutely ridiculous. You would think our military if deployed in emergencies were going to start shooting our citizens or allies. There can be nothing more insulting or ridiculous.

As far as policing the Middle East that could actually be more ridiculous than not using our military when the people of this country or allies need help in natural disasters. I would love to see our military deployed in Puerto Rico after the hurricane to help rescue, feed and build shelters for these poor people. But know we are screeched too thin thinking we can actually fix the Middle East.

Originally Posted by Rogue Valley

Have to change the topic don't ya?

What Trump did here is indefensible so the best you can muster is a diversion to .... wait for it .... Obama.

Whooda thunkit?

It's valid in that the outrage you're showing here was absent there, showing your position to be partisan. That said, I'm still wondering why you're upset. You love war and people dying. There hasn't been a war you haven't cheered for so I'm wondering why this is the exception.

Originally Posted by Moot

The wife of a US soldier that served in the ME wrote an open letter to the Kurds....

A letter to Kurdish soldiers from a US military wife (opinion) - CNN

I don't particularly care about what some military spouse wearing her husband's rank has to say.

Originally Posted by Casper

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda, ...the fact is we were there.

It kept Turkey in check and the mission had not been completed. Now not only are the Kurds no longer our allies in the region, thousands of IIIS fighters are free to continue their terror.

If you say so, are you a Vet? If not then the question was not directed to you

11 years, last 5 in USEUCOM.

Originally Posted by Fishking

I don't particularly care about what some military spouse wearing her husband's rank has to say.

Then don't read it.

Originally Posted by Casper

Noticed that there is much talk about how many Vets, past and present disagree with how we pulled out of Syria, so l thought it might be interesting to see what the Vets here think.
Thanks

The poll is terrible, leaving syria was the right thing to do, however giving the first option of trump being a genious already poisons the poll, the reality is trump long wanted to leave syria, being fought in every direction, and the only reason he ordered the exit was because he had no easy way out, it was between fighting turkey to protect the kurds shattering the second most powerful member of nato, or letting the kurds go saving the nato alliance.

However russia and syria were more than eager to fight isis, they had already done so for a long time west of the euphrates, and neither was thrilled to have turkey on syrian soil. So I believe in this case with turkey throwing a wrench in everyones plans trump chose the least worst option, if we wnt to war with turkey we would strengthen russia far more than anything else as it would not only cause nato to lose it;s second biggest power but force turkey to the russian sphere as an ally allowing russia to control the bosphorous strait.

Originally Posted by VanceMack

Phosphorous tends to burn like a mother****er and doesnt stop at clothes lines or even surface tissue. Willie Pete doesnt get dispersed like a spray...its spread like shrapnel. You cant tap it out or smother it. I'm not saying what that is nor am I saying what it isnt...but that certainly doesnt look like any WP burn damage on an individual I have ever seen...except perhaps if someone found a large chunk of it burning and took their shirt off and sat around it to get a tan.

I could be wrong......but I dont think so.

Willy pete is so nasty that it burns badly, and when burned out can re ignite again when taking off clothing or bandages, so bad that it is forbidden against civilians or even insurgents, the only lawful use is against actual military targets. Ol willy pete makes napalm look humane as with napalm you can atleast shed your clothes with a hope of surviving, willy pete will burn much longer and often stay dormant until re exposed to oxygen.