Trump visits US Troops in Iraq, addresses pull out of Syria

Trump visits US Troops in Iraq, addresses pull out of Syria

Javier Manjarres
Javier Manjarres
|
December 26, 2018

President Trump and First Lady Melania surprised the nation, the world, when they showed up to visit U.S. servicemen and women stationed in Iraq.

Trump had recently cancelled his Christmas vacation trip to Palm Beach and was expected to stay in Washington during the ongoing government shutdown, but according to the president himself, the trip to the Middle East was planned 3 weeks ago.

Reporters ask Trump about any possible effects his decision to pull out of Syria could have with troops in Iraq.

Trump said that he pulled out because he had given generals on the ground enough time to engage the enemy, and believed that it was time to bring U.S. military personnel home.

“We've knocked them out.  We've knocked them silly,” said Trump. 

Q    Mr. President, what effect will your decision in Syria to pull out the 2,000 troops have here in Iraq?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, you know, we can do things from Iraq that -- we can take over some of the slack.  But, as you know, we've knocked out about 99 percent of the caliphate.  It's time to bring them back. 
 
I told the generals -- about a year and a half ago, I said, "Let's get out of Syria."  And they said, "Sir, can we have some more time?"  I said, "Yep.  You've got another six months.  Let's get out of Syria."  I've said it for a long time.  And then -- and other places, too, I was talking about.  But let's talk about Syria. 
 
I said, "Let's get out of Syria.  Let's bring our young people home."  And they said, "Sir, could we have six more months?"  I said, "Yep.  You've got six more months.  Let's go."  And I gave them six months.  Then I said, "Let's get out."  And they said, "Sir, could we have six more months?"  I said, "Yep.  You've got six more months." 
 
And then they said again, recently, "Could we have more time?"  I said, "Nope.  You can't have any more time.  You've got enough time." 
 
We've knocked them out.  We've knocked them silly.  I will tell you that I had some very good talks with President Erdogan, who wants to knock them out also.  And he'll do it.  And others will do it, too, because we're in their region; they should be really sharing the burden of cost, and they're not. 
 
And now they're going to be doing it.  And if they don't, they're going to go in, and they'll go into places like Turkey and Russia and Iran and Iraq and lots of other places. 
 
So, these people are going to have to start doing a lot of their own work, and they're going to have to start paying for it, because the United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world.  We don't want to do that.  We want to protect our country.  These people want to protect our country.  They've been here a long time.

Israel

When asked about if his troop pull-out of Syria could possibly jeopardize Israel, Trump said that he had already spoken to Prime Minister “Bibi” Netanyahu, and that the $4.5 billion dollars in aid the U.S. sends to Israel was more than enough.

We're going to take good care of Israel.  Israel is going to be good.  But we give Israel $4.5 billion a year.  And we give them, frankly, a lot more money than that, if you look at the books -- a lot more money than that.  And they've been doing a very good job for themselves.

  About the criticism that, by leaving Syria, you might increase jeopardy for Israel, how do you respond?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I don't see it.  And I spoke with Bibi.  I told Bibi.  And, you know, we give Israel $4.5 billion a year.  And they're doing very well defending themselves, if you take a look. 
 
But we'll be there for Israel.  We'll always be there for Israel.  I'm the one that moved the embassy to Jerusalem.  You know, nobody was willing to do that.  All these Presidents came and went.  They all said they will do it.  They never did it.  Many, many Presidents said they were going to move the embassy to Jerusalem.  They never did it; I did it.  Big difference. 
 
So that's the way it is.  We're going to take good care of Israel.  Israel is going to be good.  But we give Israel $4.5 billion a year.  And we give them, frankly, a lot more money than that, if you look at the books -- a lot more money than that.  And they've been doing a very good job for themselves.

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Javier Manjarres

Javier Manjarres

Javier Manjarres is a nationally renowned award-winning political journalist and Publisher of Floridianpress.com, Hispolitica.com, shark-tank.com, and Texaspolitics.com He enjoys traveling, playing soccer, mixed martial arts, weight-lifting, swimming, and biking. Javier is also a political consultant and has also authored "BROWN PEOPLE," which is a book about Hispanic Politics. Follow on Twitter: @JavManjarres Email him at Diversenewmedia@gmail.com

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