Author: Andy Rowell

October 7-12, 2019. Trump’s betrayal of the Kurds in Syria and Minneapolis rally

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date October 12, 2019

Aaron Rupar

@atrupar

Lindsey Graham calls in to Fox & Friends & calls Trump's decision to abandon the Kurds "impulsive." "I hope I'm making myself clear how shortsighted & irresponsible this decision is in my view," he says. "This to me is just unnerving to its core."

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Scott Stedman

@ScottMStedman

Oct 6

There are approximately 2,000,000 Syrian Kurds.

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Walter Shaub

@waltshaub

Oct 7

“ 'I have a little conflict of interest ’cause I have a major, major building in Istanbul,' Trump said last year. 'It’s a tremendously successful job. It’s called Trump Towers—two towers, instead of one, not the usual one, it’s two.' ”

Donald Trump’s Huge Conflict of Interest in Turkey

A businessman who allegedly helped the Iranians duck U.S. sanctions used to operate in one of the Istanbul towers bearing the name of the next American president.

thedailybeast.com

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Nikki Haley

@NikkiHaley

Oct 7

We must always have the backs of our allies, if we expect them to have our back. The Kurds were instrumental in our successful fight against ISIS in Syria. Leaving them to die is a big mistake. #TurkeyIsNotOurFriend

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Richard Engel

@RichardEngel

Oct 7

The Syrian Kurds are being abandoned after they fought, and lost 10k men and women, to battle ISIS for the world. Now, they could be- and many expect will be- wiped out in a campaign of ethnic violence/displacement.

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NBC News

@NBCNews

· Oct 6

BREAKING: In an extraordinary Sunday night statement, the White House announces that the US "will no longer be in the immediate area" of Northern Syria, allow Turkey to launch an invasion in the region and give Turkey responsibility for captured ISIS fighters in the area.

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Dan

Froomkin

@froomkin

Oct 7

Trump in June: whitehouse.gov/briefings-stat

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The Babahuck

@TylerHuckabee

Oct 7

Earlier this summer, Syrian Christians begged U.S. forces to stay, writing "Turkey aims to kill and destroy us and to finish the genocide against our people. [There] are still more than 100,000 Syriac Christians living in NE Syria and they will be killed …if Turkey invades."

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Andy Rowell

@AndyRowell

Oct 7

Republican stars Marco Rubio, Lindsay Graham, Nikki Haley, and Brett Baier are all concerned about the betrayal of the Kurds in Syria by Trump this morning. mobile.twitter.com/atrupar/status mobile.twitter.com/jdawsey1/statu mobile.twitter.com/NikkiHaley/sta

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Bret Baier

@BretBaier

· Oct 7

This thread is quite something from the former head of administration efforts against ISIS. twitter.com/brett_mcgurk/s…

Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv

@BandyXLee1

Oct 7

This “tweet” is a clear demonstration of the grotesque delusions of grandeur we predicted he would fall into as a defense against the growing pressures of reality. His destructiveness is already being unleashed: against the Kurds now, but we are bound to discover many more….

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Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

· Oct 7

As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over…

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Justin Wolfers

@JustinWolfers

Oct 7

Harvard professor of psychology

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Daniel Gilbert

@DanTGilbert

· Oct 7

Am I the only psychologist who finds this claim and this threat truly alarming? Wouldn’t these normally trigger a mental health hold? Right and Left must set aside politics and agree that there is a serious problem here. twitter.com/realDonaldTrum…

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George F. Will

@GeorgeWill

Oct 10

In 13 months, all congressional Republicans who have not defended Congress by exercising “the constitutional rights of the place” should be defeated.

Opinion | The spiraling president adds self-impeachment to his repertoire

Trump must not get away with his refusal to supply witnesses and documents to the House.

washingtonpost.com

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A thread by Andy Rowell

A summary for those not paying attention: There is a pattern by Trump of odd foreign policy in Syria, Ukraine, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and refugee limits that runs contrary to what experts on the right and left think is sound policy. No one is defending any of these things. Sometimes we suspect strongly that Trump is operating out of self-interest. Those he is helping seem to be funneling money or election assistance to him. Other times, it seems he is operating impulsively. But there is bipartisan opposition to all of it. Yet, he continues. Syria: betraying Kurd allies who fought ISIS to be killed by Turkey's dictator
Ukraine: withholding military assistance for favors
China: not defending Hong Kong for favors, also trade war
Russia: deference to Putin
Saudi Arabia: enabling war in Yemen
Asylum: reducing refugees

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Evan McMullin

@EvanMcMullin

Oct 9

“I have a little conflict of interest ’cause I have a major, major building in Istanbul. It’s a tremendously successful job. It’s called Trump Towers—two towers, instead of one, not the usual one; it’s two…They have a strong leader.” -Donald Trump, 2015

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David Ignatius

@IgnatiusPost

Oct 8

…I'm also told that Turkish attack appears coordinated with the Russians. Russian-backed forces are mobilizing to invade the Kurdish area from the south — towards Tabqa and other spots. Meanwhile, ISIS is mobilizing sleeper cells in Raqqa and attacks have taken place tonight.

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David Ignatius

@IgnatiusPost

Oct 8

A bad situation in Northeast Syria is about to get much worse. Sources tell me that US officials have just informed the Syrian Kurds that Turkey is likely to attack on air and ground in next 24 hours. The US will do nothing. Targets are Tal Abyad and Ras al Ayn….

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Andy Rowell

@AndyRowell

Oct 9

Replying to

@LindseyGrahamSC

Senator Graham, Thank you for your angry outrage here on behalf of the vulnerable. The next obvious thing for you to do would be to endorse impeachment and removal of this president, who, as you know, is motivated by interests that are neither coherent, nor moral.

Andy Rowell

@AndyRowell

Oct 7

cnn.com/2017/01/20/pol

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Susan Hennessey

@Susan_Hennessey

· Oct 7

Can't help but recall Solomon's Prayer at Trump's inauguration: For I am your servant…a man who is weak & short-lived with little understanding of judgment & laws; for even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you. twitter.com/realDonaldTrum…

Andy Rowell

@AndyRowell

Oct 9

Replying to

@Franklin_Graham

Mr. Graham, thank you for this statement. Also, reflect on your culpability. You along with Robert Jeffress and Jerry Falwell Jr. enabled this bloodshed. You have long been foolishly praising this reckless, immoral president and in doing so have deceived your trusting followers.

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Josh Jordan

@NumbersMuncher

Oct 10

Recent polls that asked if Trump should be impeached *and* removed from office, with change in net points since pre-inquiry announcement polls: Fox News: 51-40 (+14) Qunnipiac: 45-49 (+16) Morning Consult: 50-43 (+20) CNN: 47-45 (+15) WaPo: 49-38 (+33) That's a lot of movement.

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Joyce Alene

@JoyceWhiteVance

Oct 10

John Dowd, Trump’s former lawyer, represents the 2 before the House Intel Comm & in addition to the usual complaints about the impeachment investigations offers some detail about their relationship with Giuliani & others in a letter he sent the Committee.

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Russell Moore

@drmoore

Oct 10

What is happening right now to the Kurds is an atrocity and a disgrace. Our allies (and innocent men, women, and children) are abandoned to the cruelty of the evil axis of Erdogan, Putin, and Assad, while empowering the Islamic State. This is immoral and unjust and murderous.

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Michael Gerson

@MJGerson

Oct 11

This was an applause line from Trump’s Minnesota speech: “I have reduced refugee resettlement by 85 percent.” This is how the president treats men, woman and children fleeing from oppression and violence.

At Minneapolis Rally, an Angry Trump Reserves Sharpest Attack for Biden

At a fiery campaign rally Thursday night in Minnesota, President Trump said former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. did nothing but “kiss Barack Obama’s ass.”

nytimes.com

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Christianity Today

@CTmagazine

Oct 11

Three Christians have been killed in Turkey’s assault on Kurdish-held areas in northeast Syria

Christians Killed on Syria’s Front Lines

While Trump defends US withdrawal, advocates fear “Turkey will complete the work that ISIS tried to do, in eradicating Christians from this region.”

christianitytoday.com

A thread by Andy Rowell

Trump's speech is that of a demagogue. It is propaganda, brainwashing. It is lies delivered with enormous relish and amusement.

What is the antidote? At least 1 of these:
– education in history,
– moral sensitivity,
– consuming reputable news sources.
#MinneapolisTrumpRally

#MinneapolisTrumpRally

A thread by Andy Rowell

Transcript “I got a call the other night from pastors, the biggest pastors, evangelical Christians. They said, 'we have never seen our religion or any religion so electrified.' They say they’ve never seen anything like it. Churches are joining … hundreds of thousands of people."

Transcript continued:
"And that's largely because of you [the media] and your partners, the Democrats.”

A thread by Andy Rowell

Madison: "In the case of the Executive Magistracy which was to be administered by a single man, loss of capacity or corruption was more within the compass of probable events, and either of them might be fatal to the Republic."

John Dickerson

✔@jdickerson

"the best way therefore to provide in the Constitution for the regular punishment of the Executive where his misconduct should deserve it, and for his honorable acquittal when [FN10] he should be unjustly accused." https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_720.asp … https://twitter.com/KWardCummings/status/1182656696293957632 …

K. Ward Cummings@KWardCummings

Replying to @jdickerson

Saw ctm. You referenced Franklins contribution to impeachment debate. Where is that from?

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9:59 AM – Oct 11, 2019

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"Mr. MADISON thought it indispensable that some provision should be made for defending the Community agst. the incapacity, negligence or perfidy of the chief Magistrate. The limitation of the period of his service, was not a sufficient security."

Madison: "He might lose his capacity after his appointment. He might pervert his administration into a scheme of peculation or oppression. He might betray his trust to foreign powers."

A key pillar of Trump's rhetoric is his insistence that "the media" are very bad people and therefore you can't believe them. I think following journalists on Twitter dispels that idea. So, look up and follow those who write valuable articles. Mute those who lose your trust.

12:51 PM · Oct 11, 2019Twitter for Android

Oct 12

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Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv

@BandyXLee1

· Oct 11

Our latest letter to the New York Times (they finally published us after two years of trying!): nytimes.com/2019/10/11/opi

Politics

Why Christians should speak up about politics

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date October 11, 2019

A thread by Andy Rowell

If a professor has tenure and is a white evangelical and are active on Twitter or a podcast, or with popular writing, I think they should speak out—at least occasionally—at least in general terms—when white evangelicals do immoral or ignorant or destructive things. Usually those white evangelical professors who don't speak up are either:
– not involved with popular media,
– or they think of their vocation as in the classroom and in academic writing, and they do not want to endanger or muddy those primary communication vehicles. – or others are involved in other constructive or frivolous activities and hobbies.
But I wish they would use their communication opportunities to at least communicate in principles and generalities. For example, tweet an appropriate phrase of a Scripture verse or a quote. Yes, this is like a "subtweet." You are tweeting something that refers to something in the news but you are not naming the thing explicitly so someone later or not paying attention won't get it. These are baby steps towards evangelicals engaging in politics. Letting the politics for white evangelicals be dominated by the self-promoters and liars and anti-intellectuals and schemers has not worked so well. Beth Moore has done an excellent job of not naming names or incidents but calling out for justice, repentance, purity, and truth, in tweets that sometimes roughly correspond to items in the news. My heroes: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King Jr, and my dad Dale Rowell all died at 39 so I have a little more lack-of-concern-about-the-future-and-death than some others. I have a strong sense of: If you are not standing up for something, what is life for?

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

· Sep 30, 2019

Replying to @DavidCayJ

White Evangelical pastors deserve your plaintive question.

White evangelical pastors have traditionally been taught not to speak about "politics" but rather focus on the "spiritual."

Robert Jeffress has decided to kiss expediency.

Graham and Falwell Jr. are not pastors.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

For alternatives to Jeffress, follow these evangelicals on politics: @TheAlanNoble @wilsonhartgrove @MichaelRWear @ShaneClaiborne @BethMooreLPM @JohnFea1 @JohnWHawthorne @wthrockmorton

None is a pastor. Pastors are sensitive to their congregation in what they tweet.

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11:14 AM – Sep 30, 2019

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Fred Sanders@FredFredSanders

· Oct 2, 2019

I saw the best minds of my generation join the ranks of "No, Mr. President, how dare YOU" Twitter, consumed by madness, starving hysterical etc.

Andy Rowell@AndyRowell

A practical theologian should read Eberhard Bethge's biography of Bonhoeffer and Yale historian @TimothyDSnyder. Systematic
theologians may as Barth said "endeavor to carry on theology, and only theology, as if nothing had happened."

2:51 PM – Oct 2, 2019

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November 2016. (qz.com/846940/a-yale-…)

Uncategorized

October 2-6, 2019 Trump pressured Ukraine to do political favors for him

Post author By Andy Rowell
Post date October 7, 2019

A thread by Andy Rowell

Rachel Maddow (DPhil in Politics from Oxford) correctly explains that Putin won today. Ukraine's leader Zelensky agreed to terms favorable to Putin.

And now Putin will claim sanctions should be relieved.

Trump has been astoundingly consistent in assisting Putin.

Dr Alina Polyakova

✔@apolyakova

And when Russian forces occupy Luhansk and Donetsk, where there is active warfare, and OSCE monitors can't access the entire territory. The idea of free and fair elections is a pipe-dream while Russia still occupies and wages war in Ukraine. https://twitter.com/ianbremmer/status/1179272006157647874 …

ian bremmer

✔@ianbremmer

How do you have free elections in occupied Ukraine when the Russians control the border?

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1:18 AM – Oct 2, 2019

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Thread ⬆️
More Ukraine / Russia watchers:
@stevenjharper1 @lukeharding1968 @Isikoff @DavidCornDC @craigunger @muellershewrote @page88 @EvelynNFarkas @Susan_Hennessey @RichardEngel @McFaul @kyledcheney @joshtpm @adamgoldmanNYT @qjurecic @MollyMcKew @AlexandraChalup @TimothyDSnyder

@TimothyDSnyder (mobile.twitter.com/NTenzer/status…)

Zelensky has made a deal (Steinmeier Formula) with Putin, which Trump asked him to do.

Now Putin also has France's Macron willing to give up his previous demands.

Putin tells Russian State media to stop criticizing Ukraine. (mobile.twitter.com/ulrichspeck/st…)

Michael McFaul

@McFaul

Oct 4

Yes. "S" is the Secretary of State.

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Neera Tanden

@neeratanden

· Oct 3

Just for the record, doesn’t S mean Pompeo in State Dept speak? twitter.com/FoxReports/sta…

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Michael McFaul

@McFaul

Oct 4

Remember, Gordon Sundland is a real estate developer (not career diplomat), Trump donor, rewarded for his money to Trump with the position of US Ambassador to the EU. Why he is involved in these Ukrainian negotiations is mysterious to me.

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Michael McFaul

@McFaul

· Oct 4

Amb Soundland not satisfied with Zelensky announcing an investigation. Wants it in writing: "To avoid misunderstandings, might be helpful to ask Andrey [Zelensky aide] for a draft statement so that we can see exactly what they propose to cover." twitter.com/McFaul/status/…

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Michael McFaul

@McFaul

Oct 4

Amb Taylor (USMA grad, longtime USG public servant) to Amb Sondland (Trump funder, real estate business person, serving in Brussels, not Kyiv or DC): "As I said on the phone , I think its crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign." MONEY QUOTE !

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Michael McFaul

@McFaul

· Oct 4

Ambassador Taylor is a real professional. Had served as US ambo to Ukraine before. He clearly is pushing back on the schemes of Giuliani, Sondland and Volker. twitter.com/McFaul/status/…

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Natasha Bertrand

@NatashaBertrand

Oct 3

Ambassador Taylor, Sept 1: “Are we now saying that security assistance and WH meeting are conditioned on investigations?”

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David Frum

@davidfrum

Oct 3

Don’t call these texts dumb. Taylor was building a file. If we save the country, his determination to put the facts on record will be an important reason why. Sonderland not dumb either. He recognized what Taylor was doing and demanded Taylor cease. Which Taylor refused to do

A thread by Andy Rowell

Texts and "transcript" reveal Trump demanded Ukraine look into Biden in exchange for aid and White House meeting.

Aid sent, meeting occurred.

Today Ukraine says they will review past cases.

See:

Jonah Fisher

✔@JonahFisherBBC

For context on Riaboshapka Ukraine's new PG. On his first day he shared a fake announcement on Facebook – that a prisoner swap was underway leading to relatives going to the airport to wait for them. https://twitter.com/JonahFisherBBC/status/1180054684133933057 …

Jonah Fisher

✔@JonahFisherBBC

I've had a closer look – so the review of these Burisma related cases is in the context of a review of ALL the cases that were closed/divided under the previous prosecutor general. https://twitter.com/JonahFisherBBC/status/1180049034532270081 …

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4:40 AM – Oct 4, 2019

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Natasha Bertrand

✔@NatashaBertrand

· Oct 3, 2019

Replying to @NatashaBertrand

Zelensky aid texts Volker our @politico story breaking the news that Ukraine military aide was being withheld at Trump’s request

Natasha Bertrand

✔@NatashaBertrand

Ambassador Taylor, Sept 1: “Are we now saying that security assistance and WH meeting are conditioned on investigations?”

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9:52 PM – Oct 3, 2019

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Trump won (for now).

In the July 25th call, Zelensky told Trump "the next prosecutor-general will be 100% my person … and will start … in September. He or she will look into the situation, specifically the company."

Now Riaboshapka, who started Aug 29, has done it.

kevin dork@PapaCoke

· Oct 2, 2019

Replying to @PapaCoke

Even though he was already on his way out of the Ukrainian government, it's interesting that he would say something like this on the same day (7/26) that Zelensky met with US Special Envoy Kurt Volker to discuss Donbas in a very different light:
https://www.unian.info/politics/10632117-zelensky-u-s-representatives-discuss-situation-in-donbas-photo.html …

Zelensky, U.S. representatives discuss situation in Donbas (Photo)

The participants of the meeting expressed the hope the ceasefire introduced on July 21 would be comprehensive and sustainable.

unian.info

kevin dork@PapaCoke

Then of course on August 29th, Klimkin is replaced and Riaboshapka is also brought in as Prosecutor General who Zelensky refers to as '100% my person' in regard to things Trump wanted investigated on the July 25th call.

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11:23 AM – Oct 2, 2019

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A thread by Andy Rowell

👀

From the debate transcript, we see Pence is referring to the Clinton foundation, saying it is far more pernicious than—and this how he ends his answer—"all these baseless rumors about Russia and the rest." (politico.com/story/2016/10/…)

I do not like "gotcha" quotes taken out of context but it is helpful to remember that there are some norms and moral principles upon which there was some agreement.