Tension, fighting and war have taken place in the Middle East for centuries. But in modern times, we’ve seen more “endless wars” in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. Now we are seeing this type of fighting in Syria. It’s a very complicated issue—one that requires spiritual and political insight.
Some have criticized Trump for taking U.S. troops out of Syria, but in reality, this decision is one he made in the best interest of the Kurdish people, says respected conservative political activist Ralph Reed. The Kurds have been longtime allies with the U.S. in the fight against ISIS. I invited Reed onto my “Strang Report” podcast to explain his insight into the war in Syria and President Trump’s controversial decision.
“I don’t think the president made a mistake. I think the president did what he could to protect the Kurds, to prevent ISIS from being able to reconstitute itself in that part of the world,” Reed said.
” … What really burns me is the left and the Democrats in the media, claiming that Trump is against the Kurds, when it was Obama who allowed ISIS to build this caliphate, slaughter people throughout the region and, by the way, destroy the entire oil and energy infrastructure of Kurdistan and northern Iraq and get within 12 miles of the outskirts of Erbil. They’re the ones who betrayed the Kurds. This president is one of the best friends that they’ve ever had.”
What makes all of this so complicated is that the Kurds don’t have a country. They’ve been fighting seemingly endlessly for freedom from persecution. Reed tells me he was actually in Turkey and Erbil in May to meet Kurdish leaders. The Kurds’ safety is and should continue to be a concern for American Christians, he says, but we have to understand that the Baghdad government is a big threat—and keeping our American troops out of what could have turned into a major war with Turkey was not a bad move. Reed also points out that our government has been trying to protect the Kurds for a while now.
“We are the ones who maintain the no-fly zone in Iraq after the end of the first Gulf War, the Persian Gulf War, to ensure that Saddam could not do what he had done before, which was to go in there with chemical munitions and gas and kill the Kurds. We kept them alive during that entire process. We also were the ones who ensured that the Iraqi Kurds had a regional government and semi-autonomy within Ararat.”
This is why it’s so important that we understand both sides of the story when we read news in the media. Many times, we’re only getting a glimpse of what’s happening, so I hope Reed’s words will give you more to think about in terms of the motives of Trump and our military.
We know that one day, when Jesus returns, there will be peace in the Middle East. Will you join with me in prayer for our country that’s really trying its best to bring peace to that area? Share this article, and be sure to listen to my full interview with Reed about the implications of Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops.
Reed is one of the main sources for my new book, God, Trump and the 2020 Election, which goes to press this week and releases on Jan. 14, 2020. In future newsletters, I will write more about the book, but today I want to encourage you to preorder it.
If you preorder from any online retailer by Jan. 13, 2020, you can go on the website GodTrump2020.com and receive free items worth over $90, including three e-books (God and Donald Trump, Trump Aftershock and this new book, God, Trump and the 2020 Election, sent to you when the book releases). You also will get a six-month subscription to the world’s best charismatic Christian magazine—Charisma. (Will you forgive me for that bit of hyperbole, since I founded the magazine 44 years ago?) If you already subscribe to Charisma, the six months will be added to the end of your subscription.
