Views

12 | OCTOBER 31 • 2019 

WHY AMERICA continued 
from page 6

was committing went viral), 
Obama had little choice but 
to reverse course and com-
mit to fighting ISIS.
Trump made an issue 
of the failure of Obama’
s 
half-hearted campaign 
against ISIS and vowed that 
he would defeat the group. 
And that’
s exactly what he 
did after winning the 2016 
election. But with ISIS large-
ly but not completely defeat-
ed, he has now reverted to 
his instinctual isolationism, 
vowing to escape any more 
involvement in Syria and 
leaving the Kurds to their 
own devices after years of 
promises by America that 
they would not be aban-
doned.
Some Americans outside 
the Beltway, including some 
supporters of Israel, have 
no problem with what he’
s 
done in Syria because they 
are blind supporters of the 
president. Others share his 
ignorance of a complex con-
flict and see no reason why 
Americans should be part 
of it.
As Obama found out after 
ISIS atrocities aroused the 
anger of the public, Trump 

or his successor will have to 
respond to Turkish atrocities 
or those of the next Islamist 
terror group that will fill the 
vacuum he is creating by 
withdrawing U.S. forces.
Islamist terror is an inter-
national problem, and not 
just something Israelis and 
Arabs have to worry about. 
Israel can defend itself, 
but actions that make its 
neighborhood even more 
dangerous undermine its 
security. More than that, 
allowing Turkey and Iran to 
do as they like in the region 
ultimately harms everyone, 
including Americans who 
have yet to absorb the fact 
that their safety is no longer 
ensured by the oceans that 
separate them from other 
continents. Unfortunately, 
Republicans and Democrats 
who still imagine that 
Americans can simply go 
home and avoid further 
involvement in the wars of 
the Middle East are engag-
ing in magical thinking 
rather than supporting a 
coherent strategy. 

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief 

of JNS—Jewish News Syndicate.

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