'Very smart' not to get involved in Syria: Trump

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his decision to not get his country involved in the intense fighting along the Turkish border.

“Very smart not to be involved in the intense fighting along the Turkish Border, for a change. Those that mistakenly got us into the Middle East Wars are still pushing to fight. They have no idea what a bad decision they have made. Why are they not asking for a Declaration of War?” Trump said on Twitter.

Referring that Turkey has been combating terror groups for many years, he said Turkey considers the PKK the worst terrorists of all.

“..The Kurds and Turkey have been fighting for many years. Turkey considers the PKK the worst terrorists of all. Others may want to come in and fight for one side or the other. Let them! We are monitoring the situation closely. Endless Wars!” he added.

Trump announced that the U.S. would pull back its forces from the Syrian border after a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He reiterated that his administration is unwillingly mulling economic sanctions under pressure from American lawmakers but that he hasn’t made his decision yet.

“Dealing with @LindseyGrahamSC and many members of Congress, including Democrats, about imposing powerful Sanctions on Turkey. Treasury is ready to go, additional legislation may be sought. There is great consensus on this. Turkey has asked that it not be done. Stay tuned!” he added.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who is frequently allied with Trump, and Democratic Senator prepare sanctions legislation against Turkey.

Graham, the House Judiciary Committee chairman, has been a vocal critic of Ankara's ongoing Operation Peace Spring and announced he was working on the sanctions legislation alongside Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen prior to the operation's formal launch.

"While the Administration refuses to act against Turkey, I expect strong bipartisan support," Graham had said in a statement.

Turkey on Wednesday launched Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria to secure its borders by eliminating terrorists there and to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara plans to resettle two million Syrians in a 30-km-wide (19-miles) proposed safe zone in Syria, stretching from the Euphrates River to the Iraqi border, including Manbij. However, the presence of terror groups such as the PKK, PYD, and YPG risk its formation.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.