Trump appearing before evangelicals as Turkey policy imperils Kurd-protected Christians

[Valin]

Washington Examiner

Rob Crilly

October 12, 2019

When President Trump speaks at the Value Voters Summit dinner in Washington on Saturday evening, he will be addressing a core constituency that helped him win the White House.

But as he presents a “cost of discipleship” award to Andrew Brunson, the pastor whose 24-month detention in Turkey became a religious freedom cause célèbre, he will inadvertently highlight a growing source of anger for his audience of evangelical Christians.

Evangelicals are emerging as the most vocal critics of his decision to stand down U.S. forces in northern Syria, triggering dire warnings that Turkey’s incursion into the region threatens not just America’s Kurdish allies but vulnerable Christian communities.

The irony of honoring Brunson as a victim of Turkish intolerance will not be lost on attendees.

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@Franklin_Graham

TODAY I ask that you join me in praying for the lives affected by the White House decision to pull US troops out of northern Syria. Both Democrat & Republican leaders are deeply concerned bc this would be, in essence, abandoning our closest allies there—the Kurdish people. 1/2

4:30 AM - 9 Oct 2019

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