 Greetings from rainy Paris where every so often one of the classic Citroen "Traction Avant" sedans from the 1930s and '40s comes racing down the street, a flash from the past that trails the scent of Gauloises and pastis like this one a couple of days ago on the Rue Royale...
On a more serious note:
The U.S. betrayal of the Kurds who led the fight on the ground that destroyed the "Caliphate" of the so-called Islamic State was long anticipated, and not really a surprise. But U.S. President Donald Trump's final/not-final decision to green-light a massive Turkish incursion and open the way to ethnic cleansing was a stunning picture of "statecraft" born straight out of his gut. His bluffing and bullying could not compensate for his ignorance addressing an extremely delicate situation, which is why he reversed course so many times, and continues to do so.
I should mention that I was greatly helped in my reporting over the last couple of weeks by the many very well informed friends and contacts I saw at the Beirut Institute Summit in Abu Dhabi, the spectacular project of Raghida Dergham and Prince Turki al-Faisal which has become, to my mind, the best conference of its kind in the region.
These appearances and columns are listed in reverse chronological order:
My commentary in a conversation with Brian Williams on his MSNBC show The 11th Hour —
Dickey: Syria Crisis only worsens Europe's frustration with Trump.
These are some of the articles for The Daily Beast that I wrote or edited about events in Syria:
'THE SUM OF THINGS'
He blames those he betrayed as if they were servants who failed him.
****
BLIND
With the remaining American forces retreating under fire, their eyes in Syrian skies are focused on protecting themselves.
****
ROTTEN
Forsaken by the U.S. and under attack by Turkish troops, the Kurds are turning to Russia for help. The last time they tried to do so, the Americans worked to talk them out of it.
I would also recommend this from early in the crisis:
KILLING FIELDS
The Kurds are not entirely defenseless. They've been preparing for what they had long anticipated—a possible betrayal by their closest ally, the United States.
Published 10.07.19
And this from my colleague Spencer Ackerman today:
MISSION CREPT
As the Pentagon scrambles to keep pace with Trump's Syria tweets, its final outpost in the Syrian desert is a base in search of a purpose.
But the crisis in Syria was not the only event we covered. These stories by some of my colleagues also are well worth reading:
SEE NO EVIL
What allows far-right terrorist groups to thrive in the U.S. is a legal double standard that binds the hands of even the most proactive members of law enforcement.
****
COLOR-CODED REVOLUTION
Hongkongers are adopting small-scale actions to keep the protest movement from stalling, among them a rating system for business for or against the uprising.
****
CARTEL WATCH
The old guard is threatened, a new force is ascendant, and citizens increasingly are caught up in the violence.
And then there was this story of outrageous insensitivity in the Oval Office:
HEARTLESS
The president had hoped to surprise the family of dead British teen Harry Dunn with a meeting with the woman who killed him. "And they weren't ready for it," he admitted.
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