Dismayed over handling of Middle East
In his quest to promote peace in the Middle East, President Trump has managed to surprise me. I had thought that he would stick to his vision of pulling our troops out of the Middle East, leaving a region, if not happy with us, at least not enraged. But he is much more subtle. He has pardoned four men convicted of murdering Iraqis while working as private contractors (Blackwater mercenaries) in that country in an event the Iraqis see as a massacre. Iraqis are in riot. This part of the peace process is so subtle that how it is supposed to help is completely beyond me. I had thought that the abandonment of the Kurds (our allies against ISIS in Syria) to the reprisals from Turkey to be an aberration, as it crushed any trust in the promises of the USA (Hungary in 1956 being long forgotten). I had thought that the cavalier treatment of the Sahrawi people in western Sahara to be an isolated incident. Now I realize that they were part of a bigger picture–a tapestry of peace for the entire region. I wish I had the wisdom to understand it.
Bill Gillmore
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
