Steve King Stands By Trump In Abandoning American Allies

Iowa Congressman Steve King proved yesterday he will stand by Donald Trump even when the President’s actions lead to the slaughter of American allies.

King was one of only 60 Republican congressmembers to side with Trump during a House vote Wednesday on a resolution to condemn Turkey’s invasion of the country, a vote that was seen as a rebuke of Trump’s foreign policy decision.

The House voted in favor of the resolution 354-60. Of the 354 votes to condemn Turkey’s attacks against Kurdish people in Syria, 129 were cast by Republicans, including Republican House leadership.

Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell and Joni Ernst have all voiced concerns about Trump’s decision to abandon a vulnerable U.S. ally.

As someone who has served in uniform in the Middle East, I believe strongly that we need to work with our partners to continue the fight against ISIS. Achieving an enduring peace and stability in the region is in our nation’s interest. pic.twitter.com/RTApEBSekX

— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) October 17, 2019

“Regarding the actions by Turkey and Syria: They are dangerously alarming,” Ernst said. “As someone who has served in uniform in the Middle East, it is very concerning to see that we really have left behind and abandoned a strategic partner, the Kurds, who stood by our men and women in uniform in the fight to defeat ISIL.”

Since Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria, it has been reported dozens of Kurdish allies and at least 11 civilians have died.

King himself spoke out on Twitter in defense of the Kurds, even suggesting that they should have their own sovereign state, going further than many other American politicians. But when it came to take a vote on the matter, King chose symbolic loyalty to Trump over the longtime American ally.

Turkey's “Peace Spring” Syrian incursion against the Kurds won't secure peace in the region, but an independent Kurdistan may be the only way to eventual peace. Long the world's largest group of stateless people, their fearless fighters have earned it. https://t.co/Pyb2raAIrr

— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) October 10, 2019

The House resolution King voted against states the Syrian Kurds “fought courageously with the United States against the brutality of ISIS throughout Syria, liberating nearly one-third of Syrian territory from ISIS’ so-called ‘caliphate.’” 

It states the Senate and House of Representatives oppose the decision to end certain efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces and calls on Turkish President [Tayyip] Erdogan to cease military action in Northeast Syria.

The resolution King voted against also asks the United States to continue supporting Syrian Kurdish communities “through humanitarian support, including to those displaced or otherwise affected by ongoing violence.”

Trump himself has tried to undo the damage caused by his decision to pull troops from Syria.

He wrote a letter to Erdogan Oct. 9, telling the Turkish president, “Let’s work out a good deal! You don’t want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don’t want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy – and I will.”

The letter went on to say: “History will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way. It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don’t happen.”

Erdogan reportedly “received the letter, thoroughly rejected it and put it in the bin.” 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said today he wanted to pass a resolution with stronger language than the House version, including language about continued American presence in the region.

By Paige Godden
Posted 10/17/19