By Dustin Rowles | Politics | April 7, 2017 |
By Dustin Rowles | Politics | April 7, 2017 |
If you’re a liberal, the political response to Donald Trump’s decision to order a military strike in Syria has been … weird. Hannah gave a great overview of the diplomatic mess Trump’s decision puts us in, but assuming that we all survive the fall out, will Donald Trump pay a price politically?
It’s a confusing situation, because a military response to Bashar al-Assad’s regime is something that President Obama supported, but he couldn’t get the support of the Republican Congress, which now supports Donald Trump, even though Donald Trump didn’t support military intervention in Syria until yesterday, and most of his alt-right base still does not support military intervention.
Though by no means the unanimous response, the moderate and liberal camp generally supports the action, but not the way in which it was executed.
I support stopping Assad's atrocities, but it's unnerving that Trump changed his position on striking Syria 180 degrees in only 24 hours.
— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) April 7, 2017
Obama went to Congress, and the Republicans denied him.
Former senior U.S. intelligence official: This is almost exactly the strike plan Obama readied in 2013.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) April 7, 2017
Trump went around Congress, and establishment Republicans are celebrating the very action they opposed when Obama sought it.
.@POTUS's strikes in #Syria send impt msg US won't stand by as #Assad, aided by #Russia, slaughters innocent Syrians https://t.co/aWTeS9N7PK
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) April 7, 2017
"Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished" Proverbs 11:21 #SyriaChemicalAttack
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 7, 2017
Statement from @SenJohnMcCain @LindseyGrahamSC saluting US Armed Forxes & saying @POTUS "deserves the support of the American people" pic.twitter.com/zKw88HmRPW
— Brooke Singman (@brookefoxnews) April 7, 2017
This is an action, in fact, that Hillary Clinton probably would have supported. Meanwhile, most Democrats seems supportive of the strike, but believe that Congress should have made the decision.
.@SpeakerRyan, Congress must do its duty & come back into session at once to debate use of military force in Syria. https://t.co/hcxcyN9UUC pic.twitter.com/eJNO4D6Gor
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) April 7, 2017
I think ultimately we’re wary of any action that Donald Trump takes, and we’re all suspicious of ulterior motives, because while Trump ordered a military strike, his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has suggested that this in no way changes our policy toward Syria. Trump is trying to have it both ways. It’s also confusing because Donald Trump supposedly ordered the strike for humanitarian reasons in response to Assad’s use of chemical weapons on civilian women and children. And yet, Donald Trump denies those very same people from seeking refuge in the United States.
So?
Two things Trump must answer:
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) April 7, 2017
1. Is he still opposed to Syrian refugees
2. Tell us how missile strike fits into larger strategy in Syria.
Meanwhile, Russia is angry, which confuses the issue surrounding whether Trump and Putin are in bed together, which may be the point? To distract us from the Russian collusion story? Or maybe it’s political cover?
BREAKING: Russia says it is suspending deal with United States to prevent mid-air incidents over Syria in response to U.S. strike.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 7, 2017
Or maybe Donald Trump was genuinely moved by images he saw of women and children dying in the chemical attack. Or maybe he just wants to show off his new toys with China’s leaders in town?
The strangest twist of all, however, is that Trump’s decision to attack Syria has pissed off his most ardent supporters: White nationalists. Bannon’s people.
A military strike on Syria would mark the beginning of the end for @realDonaldTrump.
— NotRicky Vaughn🌹 (@RickyVaughnX1) April 6, 2017
Trump campaigned on not getting involved in Mideast. Said it always helps our enemies & creates more refugees. Then he saw a picture on TV.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 7, 2017
I guess Trump wasn't "Putin's puppet" after all, he was just another deep state/Neo-Con puppet.
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) April 7, 2017
I'm officially OFF the Trump train.
Trump campaigned on not getting involved in Mideast. Said it always helps our enemies & creates more refugees. Then he saw a picture on TV.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) April 7, 2017
Sources telling me U.S. attack in Syria planned for tonight, we must stop! #NoMoreWar https://t.co/lgonnxRF4x
— Mike Cernovich 🇺🇸 (@Cernovich) April 6, 2017
Milo Yiannopoulos has also described the airstrikes as “FAKE and GAY.”
Meanwhile, some of the white nationalists are now throwing their support behind Tulsi Gabbard, a Hindu Congressman and Democrat from Hawaii, who strongly opposed the attack.
Tulsi Gabbard in statement warns that Trumps air strike might lead to "a possible nuclear war" with Russia
— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) April 7, 2017
The take home? Up is down, left is right: Dogs and cats living together … mass hysteria! Turns out, there’s a lot of nuance when it comes to foreign diplomacy.