Two weeks ago I linked to an opinion that went against the conventional wisdom on Trump's withdrawal of American forces from Syria -- it argued that our partnership with the Kurds wasn't in America's interest anymore, and that we had gotten too emotionally involved with the Kurds at the expense of our long-time allies. Suffice to say, that opinion was not widely shared among Middle East experts.
Now Trump is claiming that the successful elimination of ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi is a vindication of his strategy. Just last year the Washington Post taunted Trump with his till-then failure to get Al-Baghdadi. Now that the vicious terrorist leader is dead, Trump's single-minded domestic enemies are quick rob him of any credit.
Al-Baghdadi Raid Was a Victory Built on Factors Trump DeridesThe president cast the death of the ISIS leader as validation of his disengagement strategy. But it required intelligence agencies and allies he has spurned.
I think you have to be pretty blind not to connect the dots between Trump's strategic shake-up and the death of Al-Baghdadi two weeks later.
This blindness seems to be pretty common for Trump's enemies: every time he has a success they think it's in spite of his actions. Yet Trump keeps acting the same way, and he keeps racking up successes as he defines them. His enemies would probably more effective at achieving their goals if they weren't constantly underestimating Trump.
