And now we know why President Recep Erdogan was desperate to frame the Kashoggi matter. Turkey knew the U.S. was exiting Syria and was desperate to stop Saudi Arabia and UAE from diminishing Erdogan's plans for a new Ottoman Empire.
Turkey wants Northern Syria. To achieve that objective Erdogan needs to eliminate the Kurdish presence. MbS replacing the U.S. in defending the Kurds was/is a direct threat to his ambitions. 
All clear as day.
President Trump couldn't give advanced notification of U.S. withdrawal and replacement with MbS troops [to the world writ large] because that would only empower adversaries to try and block the geopolitical strategy. Trump pulled same maneuver on Erdogan as he did on Xi Jinping.
That Trump maneuver is pouring vociferous public praise on the adversary, and lulling the geopolitical adversary into thinking they have got-one-over on Trump. POTUS Trump did this with Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping in the N-Korea conflict negotiations.
And as we *now* see, POTUS Trump did the same thing with Turkish President Recep Erdogan. Turkey thought they were in a brilliant strategic position to take over Northern Syria. Key word: "thought".
And just as Erdogan is getting ready to make his move... Trump lifts the covers from the chess pieces and the board is entirely different. The castles were cloaked as pawns.
President Trump uses the media portrayal of him to his advantage. Trump's opponents begin to perceive him based on their absorption of the media's diminishment.
Everyone saying Trump's a stupid geopolitical reactionary, who needs ego-stroking, is exactly what Trump wants.
Everyone saying Trump's a stupid geopolitical reactionary, who needs ego-stroking, is exactly what Trump wants.
Trump's over-confident geopolitical adversaries respond in condescending diplomatic tones, and plan their own strategy by underestimating the real nature of the challenge. Without ever realizing they've walked into a chamber, the exit doors quietly close behind them.
Anyone up for a little Sword Dancing?
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