In an appalling show and deeply disturbing threat to our European allies, President Trump floated the idea — for the second time today — of releasing captured ISIS prisoners into Europe without any monitoring or trial.
Speaking to a veterans’ convention in Kentucky, the president turned what was supposed to be a nonpartisan address into another of his campaign rallies and continued his renewed feud with NATO nations by threatening to release captured jihadis into their countries of origin.
For second time today, Trump threatens to release ISIS fighters in Europe. pic.twitter.com/SD0CkHumqw
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 21, 2019
In case it wasn’t clear enough, Trump added earlier this morning that this means “Germany and France.”
Trump threatens Europe. “We’re holding thousands of ISIS fighters right now. And Europe has to take them. And if Europe doesn’t take them, I’ll have no choice but to release them into the countries from which they came. Which is Germany and France and other places.” pic.twitter.com/iroBd7Txgo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 21, 2019
Anywhere between 27,000 and 31,000 foreign fighters traveled to Iraq and Syria to fight for the ISIS caliphate. Many of those fighters have since been captured by Kurdish and American coalition forces, prompting an uncomfortable question of what is to be done with them.
Trump apparently sees them as a pawn to be used for whatever purposes he sees fit.
The bewildering and incredibly offensive remarks are part of the President’s ongoing campaign against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and our European allies in general. Possibly a tangent to his ongoing feud with the Kingdom of Denmark, he took time out of his morning to complain about Denmark’s contributions to NATO and complained about Germany’s “quantitative tightening”
So Germany is paying Zero interest and is actually being paid to borrow money, while the U.S., a far stronger and more important credit, is paying interest and just stopped (I hope!) Quantitative Tightening. Strongest Dollar in History, very tough on exports. No Inflation!…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
….Because of me, these countries have agreed to pay ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS more – but still way short of what they should pay for the incredible military protection provided. Sorry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2019
It goes without saying that our international allies will be stunned and horrified by the president’s idle threats. The prisoners captured in the war against ISIS must have their day in court, and our close allies in Europe deserve to be treated with much more respect than this.