Intel officials say ISIS could regroup after U.S. 'betrayal' of Kurds in Syria
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON — A sustained Turkish military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria — which President Donald Trump appears to have permitted — would vastly increase the threat to Americans from the Islamic State militant group, which remains intent on attacking the West, current and former intelligence officials tell NBC News.
The immediate concern, officials say, is what will happen with the 12,000 ISIS fighters currently being guarded by the American-backed Kurds . The ISIS prisoners are the world's largest concentration of terrorists . If those fighters are set free, officials fear a replay of what happened in Iraq between 2010 and 2013, when the core group who founded ISIS were released or escaped from detention after U.S. forces left the country.
Some of the very people who broke out of Iraqi prisons helped turn ISIS into a movement that not only seized territory in Iraq and Syria, but also orchestrated and encouraged terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States.
Asked what would happen if ISIS fighters escape and pose a threat elsewhere, Trump told reporters Wednesday, "Well they are going to be escaping to Europe, that's where they want to go. They want to go back to their homes."
Trump also said the U.S. was "taking some of the most dangerous ISIS fighters out. Two U.S. officials confirmed to NBC News late Wednesday that the two U.K. men known as “the Beatles” have been taken into U.S. military custody after the Turkish incursion posed a security threat to their detention, as first reported by the Washington Post .
“The Beatles” are accused of having participated in the ISIS executions of Western hostages, including American journalist James Foley. A DoD official confirms “two high value ISIS individuals” were moved from Syria. The Pentagon negotiated the transfer with the SDF to ensure the “odious individuals are secure.”
The official also said the two are "being held in U.S. military custody pursuant to the law of war."
More broadly, current and former officials say, a large Turkish military incursion into northern Syria will have the effect of removing the single greatest source of counterterrorism pressure against ISIS — a Kurdish force that has been crucial to defeating and containing the terror group.
Asked about the risks, U.S. intelligence officials chose their words carefully Wednesday, not wanting to say anything publicly that appears to criticize Trump's policies. But they did not dispute what one of the top counterterrorism officials in the government told NBC News last month — that ISIS remains a dangerous threat , and that reduction of counterterrorism pressure on the group would "set the conditions for potential reemergence in a very powerful way."
"They are absolutely still a viable external operational threat globally," the official, who chose not to be identified, said.
Just days before Trump ordered U.S. troops to withdraw from the border region of northern Syria, a bipartisan team appointed by Congress, the Syria Study Group, issued a report warning that an American pullout would take the pressure off the terrorists.
"There's ample evidence ISIS is still very much active, it has access to tremendous resources, its brand still has international appeal," said Dana Stroul, co-author of the Syria Study Group report and a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank.
"We know that ISIS is looking for opportunities to reconstitute and certainly the lifting of pressure on ISIS is likely to provide the organization with that opportunity."
The report said that ISIS had lost its grip on territory in Syria and Iraq but had "morphed into an insurgency with the will, capability, and resources to carry out attacks against the United States."
Apart from ISIS, al Qaeda-linked groups and other extremists are active in Syria, taking advantage of the chaos of the country's civil war, according to the report.
"Areas of Syria have become safe havens for al Qaeda and its fellow travelers and home to the largest concentration of foreign terrorist fighters since Afghanistan in the 1990s," the report said.
Current and former officials also expressed frustration over what they see as a profound betrayal of the Kurdish force — which fought under the rubric of the Syrian Democratic Forces — that lost thousands of men fighting to defeat the ISIS caliphate on behalf of the United States.
"I've worked directly with the SDF and had many fighters from the group I grew to trust with my life," a former CIA officer told NBC News. "Now, I realize they are all going to be killed or detained after we betrayed them — killed with weapons we gave to Turkey."
Tom Donilon, who was President Barack Obama's national security adviser, told Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC, "We have given a green light to the Turks to come and fight our allies. … It's a real stain on the reputation of the United States."
Some analysts see it differently, pointing out that U.S. backed Kurdish forces are linked to the PKK, a Kurdish military group that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. Turkey has been fighting the group for decades, they say, and there was always going to be a day of reckoning, unless the U.S. planned to keep troops in Syria forever.
The former CIA officer said in response: "They trusted us and believed us. If we didn't intend to honor our promise, we should not have made it."
The White House declined to comment, but referred NBC News to a previous statement by Trump:
"Turkey has committed to protecting civilians, protecting religious minorities, including Christians, and ensuring no humanitarian crisis takes place — and we will hold them to this commitment. In addition, Turkey is now responsible for ensuring all ISIS fighters being held captive remain in prison and that ISIS does not reconstitute in any way, shape, or form. We expect Turkey to abide by all of its commitments, and we continue to monitor the situation closely."
Tags
Who is online
70 visitors
The gist of all of this is that we totally fucked the Kurds.
Actually the gist is that not only did we F up the Kurds, but we will reep what we sow. Welcome home American ISIS terrorists.
The gist of all of this is-----Turkey, Russian and Assad have won.
In three years the Trump has accomplished what America's adversaries could never accomplish.
Don't matter. The stable genius with the infinite wisdom is still selling Chinese made MAGA hats.
What is sad is that they won without trying. They won by just calling the "master negotiator" and sounding mean. The most pathetic thing in the world. Trump truly sucks at everything except conning retards.
I disagree. I believe this is the Trump plan all along. I also believe there is much more to the Khashoggi murder. It may be tied together. Trump is a 'puppet'.
Nah, he is just retarded.
Guys can we stick on the topic, please...
As a New Yorker, I for one am worried about terrorism... and there are now over 10,000 hardened ISIS prisoners who will be coming home.
It's all just beyond comprehension Perrie. Our national security has been compromised by the release of these ISIS fighters, and at the voting booth.
What part of "Uphold and defend.......against all enemies foreign and domestic" do our GOP friends not grasp?
Fly,
I am utterly baffled and so angry I can't even put it into words.
I don't know what has happened to this country. In all fairness, there has been push back by many members of the GOP, but apparently it is not enough. Apparently "Uphold and defend.......against all enemies foreign and domestic", will only matter when it comes home to roost, and we will have lost our allies in the region. Watching the local Kurd families is heartbreaking after all they have done for us.
He is both.
Probably both-- the Draft-Dodger-in-Chief is a retarded puppet!
(What he needs is a good old-fashioned Minny Rally")
The big question to everyone on Newstalkers....... WHY NOW?
Why at this point in time did Trump, without talking to the DOD, or NSA, decide now was the time to pull American forces out?
This operation did exactly what it was suppose to get done, very inexpensively by comparison to other alliances of recent years. Our only obligation was to provide the Kurds the weapons, training and to keep Turkey on the sidelines. Why now was it so important to pull out of this alliance? To save Trump's hotel in Istanbul? To deflect attention to the bad news for Trump coming out of the Ukraine call? WHY NOW?
You think they are all US citizens? Or are you saying our border and immigration security sucks?
Most of them are from Iraq, Turkey, or Syria. The bigger concern for the Kurds is them rejoining the fight in Syria. Currently they are at the flank of the Kurdish resistance.
So the world is not willing to take back their 2,000 ISIS/ISIL prisoners. What else is new from NIMBY?
So we are doing the heavy lifting for our "allies" yet again.
So the SDF isn't doing that great of a job with the prisoners, nor the 70,000 to 100,000 plus family members that go with them. If this were in the US the Democrats would faint, and call for their immediate release.
This is strictly a case of the world not doing it's damn job. But the US, but Trump, but Trruuummmmppppp!!!!!!
I doubt Turkey wants the job either since part of their reason for entering Syria to set up a safe zone for Syrian refugees that Europe doesn't want.
Again the NIMBY's speak. 6 billion to cover 3.6 million refugees. Small sum, and not nearly enough, to keep them out of sight out of mind.
So what is everyone's solution- besides bashing Trump that is? Every day is world bash Trump day for whatever. That will not fix anything. Trump's problem is he is actually trying to fix things. The world hates that.
Fox News is reporting that hundreds of ISIS prisoners have now escaped Kurdish prisons are a result the action taken by Neo-Con President:
There is evidence of war crimes being committed, civilians being targeted and ISIS prisoners escaping;
But we have to defend the Saudis oil refineries...….. That's more important than the lives of the Kurds or the rise of ISIS/ISIL....
How about now Wally...…? Are you convinced?
They will never be, they are like my dad, hopeless. They could watch Trump shoot their significant other in the head, and if he told them he didn't do it, they would say he didn't do it.
No remaining credibility Thrawn..... I've got another one saying it's more important to protect the Saudi refineries to maintain stable oil prices. They put the stability of oil prices over the lives of those that bled to defeat ISIS/ISIL.
You think that's rich....I read a comment from someone on NT this morning that says all the Kurds are Maoist, atheist commies, so who cares if the Turks take them out.
You seem to be unaware of attacks such as these:
On May 14,2019, the Houthis carried out a drone attack that targeted the Saudi East–West Crude Oil Pipeline. ... On August 26, 2019, Houthi rebels fired a total of 10 Badr-1 ballistic missiles at the Jizan airport in southwest Saudi Arabia. The retaliatory attack led to dozens of killings and injuries.
Thank you, Senator McCarthy, and when Turkey finishes with those atheist Maoist commies, it can attack China and have Turkey changed into a glass-floored parking lot.
Bet he wouldn't put a tariff on them.
Fox news poll out today, 51% support impeachment and removal. I think shitting on the Kurds was the last straw for many republicans.
totally agree. congress needs to impeach that fuck up while the blood in the water is still fresh. there is no way any trump ass licker in the senate can defend this action by POS/POTUS. I have 2 nephews that fought along side the kurds in iraq, and they are fucking livid. no more involvement in the ME? looks like israel is on it's own now. tough shit.
Not just the Kurds .and Israel. All of our allies-- many who have been allies for years-- now have to worry.
They can be deserted by the Draft-Dodger-in-Chief on the spur of them moment.
That is because Trump is the "Chosen One" and if he can so easily throw his loyal staff members under the bus to save his own a$$, what can any of our allies expect from him, no matter how loyal they have been to the US, or for how long they have helped defend our troops and other countries.
I don't think for one millisecond that Trump would not throw one of his own kids, or even his wife, under the bus to save his own skin. And if they think he won't, they may have a very rude awakening one day.
The only life that matters to Trump is his own.
JMOO
I've done my time at the point of the spear...... I know what it means to have allies.
Can you say yes to both of those statements. I'm betting no.
I read other polls show support for impeachment up to 58% now. FoxNews polls generally emulate Rassmussen polls and are on the pro right side.
add 15 points to that Rasmussen poll and consider it was done by asking mostly conservatives
Most polls at least make an effort to be accurate.
But over the years I have noticed that one is different-- Rasmussen always gives much more favourable numbers to Republicans/Conservatives (I always ignore Rasmussen now-- they're just not accurate)
So we can count on your support to impeach the next Democratic president when they do something the majority doesn't like in some poll?
Is that the new standard? That should promote stable governments.
That is what we have elections for. If you don't like Trump vote him out of office. Of course that would mean getting an electable Democratic candidate out of the insane exploding clown car that is running ever further left.
If Trump is so detested it shouldn't be hard to find someone with a pulse to beat him.
Sure, knock yourself out.
Let's see, we trained and supported the Afghani "Freedom Fighters" and then abandoned them. That turned out well. The Taliban is still the beggest threat to security inb that region.
I wonder what these abandoned Kurds will become?
Our record of dangling the carrot then abandoning the most recent ones doing our dirty work continues.
Dave,
This is the second time we have done this to the Kurds. Bush 1 did this to them, too.
btw.. Reagan trained the Mujahadeen which became the Taliban, because of his paranoia about Russia. We created our own monsters. And after watching Chernobyl, now I know he can't claim that he cause the collapse of Russia. They rotted out from the inside. We invent our own history as much as they do.
I decided against that term. Until that was put together with my post I didn't think many would recognize and connect the dots.
Reagan used the term "Freedom Fighters" and I can not find a video of it. UVA has a good source to his library and cataloged speeches, I just could not find this one.I don't want to get too deep in to Reagan and Soviet Union discussions and as there are tons worthy of their own discussions.
Yes, Perrie, you are right about that.
JMO, this go around is at least 1 magnitude different/worse.
The Kurds threw everything they had at this effort. Arguably, they are the ones, who physically on the ground beat ISIS. We dangled our usual carrots and now it is AMF and my version of AMF does NOT include the words "My Friend".
I believe the fall of the USSR was due to some degree to their endless war-- with ongoing YUGE casualties-- in Afghanistan.
They've taken ayuge number of casualties-- and Trump has stabbed them in the back.
The guy is the worst kind of sleaze-- betraying allies for fought and died for a mutually beneficial cause.
Impeachment & removal from office is too good for him-- but hopefully at least that will happen.
Part of it. Don't forget the flight to Red Square by Mathias Rust
I give a most of the credit to Pope John Paul, Lech Walesa and Gorbachev for ending the Cold War.
The Senate will prevent it, but I would venture that his chance of re-election might evaporate somewhat.
not even a little bit.
the crazier the left gets the less likely they are to keep the house.
cheers
That would depend on how much Trump can depend on how much McConnell and his wife can talk her family into helping, and help from China and SA in election meddling now that Trump is making nice with them.
They did. Sure we supplied them and provided air support as well as JSOC, but the Kurds, especially the Kurdish women (a special hat off to them), were the ones who did the down and dirty work. They were the ones running ISIS out of their positions, they were the ones securing escape routes at Sinjar. They were the ones keeping ISIS prisoners. The Kurds spilled the blood and we took the credit.
And we fucked them. Pure and simple, Donald Trump threw our most reliable (and relatable) ally in the ME under the bus. The man has absolutely no honor.
You are wrong.
Cheers.
LOL so ya say...
too funny
Many will end up dead-- murdered by our"NATO ally" Turkey.
The rest will do what they've always done-- fiercely fight the Turks and anyone else who tries to exterminate them.
We will never be rid of this stain.
This, and the many, many other stains that Trump has smeared on the US and its people. I have to wonder how many of our true allies will trust America and consider the US a viable ally from here on.
What does your question and my comment have in common in regards to war?
Nothing. Obviously, you comprehension is somewhat lacking in this case.
With allies like that, who needs enemies?
Why is Trump so eager for war?
US To Send 3,000 Troops To Saudi Arabia
The new deployment means that, since May , the US has sent an additional 14,000 members of the armed forces into the region.
Just did.
So now not only did fat fuck disgrace our nation by giving a green light for our allies to be slaughtered, he also pushed them firmly into the arms of our enemies.
How many men did you abandon on the battlefield?
There's something to be said about just leaving all those countries alone and let them kill each other off. As Ebeneezer Scrooge said in A Christmas Carol, it will reduce the excess population. Of course the only problem is that they're not happy until they can kill everyone, including us.
I feel that way.