In Victory For Putin, Trump Shuts Down Support For Syrian Rebels
This is what it looks like when someone gives away the store.
We are starting to see exactly how Donald Trump’s relationship with Russia is impacting US foreign policy.
According to a new report in the Washington Post, Donald Trump is ordering the shutdown of the CIA’s covert program to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels who are fighting against the Assad government.
As the Washington Post notes, “the program was a central plank of a policy begun by the Obama administration in 2013 to put pressure on Assad to step aside.”
The Washington Post report included quotes from officials who said that the move by Trump is clear evidence of Trump’s attempt to work with Russia.
One current official quoted the Washington Post said that Trump’s decision is a massive concession to Moscow, saying that “Putin won in Syria.”
The move is a clear overture to his Russian counterpart who has long wanted the US to end its support for moderate rebels who oppose Assad.
Assad is an ally of Russia and over the last several years the Russian military has operated in Syria in support of the Assad regime. Though publically Russia claims they are in Syria to fight ISIS, international observers note that much of the Russian military’s activities in Syria have nothing to do with the terror group.
You can read the full Washington Post report here.
[image via Twitter screenshot]
