Trump Does Putin's Bidding (Again) (Twice)

There were two more Putin- friendly actions by his puppet, Individual 1 Donald "Rump" Trump today.

Catching his State and Defense Departments badly off guard, Rump casually announced via Twitter (of course) that American troops would be pulled out of Syria:

We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018

Not surprisingly, defense and intelligence analysts, and members of his own party, have taken strong issue with Rump's fanciful claim.  Regardless of how one might feel about our presence there, a precipitous withdrawal would seriously undermine the anti- Assad forces we've been supporting, ceding all leverage in the region to Russia, Turkey's autocrat Erdogan, the murderous Assad regime and Iran, while allowing ISIS to escape destruction. It also sends a strong signal to would- be allies:  the U.S. is not to be trusted and will abandon you.  But, more significantly, Rump again seems determined to act in Russia's best interests while ignoring the advice of his intelligence and diplomatic professionals (see also Khashoggi murder, North Korean nuclear program, etc.).  Imagine that!

Also, knowing how Rump likes to distract by "flooding the zone," consider the timing of the Syria announcement with this:

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has notified Congress of its intention to terminate the sanctions imposed on Oleg Deripaska's companies...https://t.co/CiNMjoNJJB

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) December 19, 2018

Deripaska, of course, is a shady Russian oligarch with ties to Putin who, at one time, hired felonious influence peddler Paul Manafort as an "adviser."  Terminating the sanctions would be a major boost for the struggling Russian economy, as Deripaska controls the second largest aluminum company in the world, Rusal.  The action would go into effect in 30 days unless Congress blocks it (we believe it will).

It's no secret or surprise that Rump is continuing to conduct transactions benefitting Putin at every opportunity.  Even when his actions are frustrated, he's eager to show his handler in Moscow that he's trying.  Maybe that'll get him asylum there and a dacha someday.