Kurds "are not angels", according to Trump, who judges his strategy "brilliant"

He defends his strategy. US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the Kurds, against whom Ankara launched an offensive in northern Syria since the withdrawal of US troops, were "not angels."

"These are not angels, they are not angels," said the Republican billionaire since the White House, accused by many voices in the United States of having abandoned the Kurds. "The PKK, which is part of the Kurds, as you know, is probably worse in terms of terrorism and a greater terrorist threat in many ways than Daesh," said the US president at a press conference at the White House.

President Trump: "The Kurds are much safer right now.But the Kurds know how to fight.And they say they are not angels.If you take a look, you have to go back and take look. " pic.twitter.com/1mEKRZThXu

– The Hill (@thehill) October 16, 2019

Trump downplays Turkey invading Syria: "They've been warring for many years.

He then brings up the Kurds & says, "who, by the way, are no angels" pic.twitter.com/rrqJuuEQzP

– Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 16, 2019

Turkey last week launched an offensive in northern Syria against the Kurdish militia of the People's Protection Units (YPG), supported by Western countries but described as "terrorist" by Ankara. "Kurds are safer today," said Donald Trump. "The Kurds know how to fight," he added. "They fought with us, we paid a lot of money for them to fight with us and that's OK," he said.

Brilliant strategy

The tenant of the White House has also defended his decision to withdraw US troops stationed in northeastern Syria. "If Turkey enters Syria, it's a matter between Turkey and Syria, it's not a matter between Turkey and the United States as many stupid people would have you believe," he said. he hammered a few hours before the departure of his Vice President Mike Pence, who is scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey with the declared desire to obtain an immediate ceasefire.

"There are a lot of countries out there that hate Daesh as much as we do, sometimes more," he said, saying the latter should take over from the United States. "Syria can get help from Russia, it's not a problem. There is a lot of sand there, there is a lot of sand with which they can have fun, "he quipped. "We are in a very good strategic position," he added. "It's brilliant from a strategic point of view," he insisted, noting that all American soldiers had been removed from the area. "We will help negotiate," he added. "We want wars to stop, from a humanitarian point of view."

Trump however felt that he had given nothing to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan his agreement for a military offensive, as he criticized many critics within his own camp. "I did not give him a green light. When you say that, it's very misleading, "he said. "It was the opposite of a green light. First, we had almost no soldiers there. They were gone for the most part. "

Pence expected Thursday in Turkey

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, Donald Trump's strong supporter of Congress, sharply criticized the statements, saying they "cut the grass under the feet" of Mike Pence before his trip. "To President Trump: Now is the time for you to act like Ronald Reagan, not Obama. You have to improve, "he warned.

Mike Pence, who is due to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said earlier this week that he will go to Ankara to "end the invasion" in Syria and declare a "ceasefire". immediate".