Trump’s language suggests the United States is taking control of the oil. To prevent a Turkish invasion, the United States persuaded the SDF to pull back up to nine miles from the Turkish border. In August, the SDF destroyed its own military posts after assurances the United States would not let thousands of Turkish troops invade. President Obama told me that. “We asked the White House to arrange a working phone call from President Trump and a working Oval Office visit,” Sondland said.

Source: Washington Post October 22, 2019 06:56 UTC