Word has it that Matt Stoller is prominent voice on the left, although the fact that he’s made no attempt to conceal his tenure as senior policy advisor to Alan Grayson is proof enough to us that he’s firmly to the left of the left and happy there.
However, progressives as prominent as Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, weren’t thrilled to hear Stoller’s deep thoughts on President Trump’s missile strike on Syria and the ongoing conflict in the region, which he posted in response to the New York Times’ own attempt to cover for Barack Obama.
When Obama sought approval for strikes in Syria, the GOP said no. Trump didn't ask for approval, but got support. https://t.co/ExxCvPlyd4
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 8, 2017
Come on. When the CIA was fucking around and destabilizing Syria Obama didn't ask Congress for permission. https://t.co/ifWlye97M6
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) April 8, 2017
This whole Syria debate is poisoned by the fact that everyone pretends the CIA and the Saudis weren't inciting the uprisings.
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) April 8, 2017
“Poisoned” is in really poor taste, considering everyone knows by now that Russia gave Assad the green light to gas his own people so that Trump could strike Syria and distract the American public from Putin’s hacking of the election.
This is a good thing to cite evidence for before just spouting off. https://t.co/fIoFvkm3A7
— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) April 8, 2017
@neeratanden Yeah, but it's Matt Stoller, so … ?
— Regina W (@regwag2003) April 8, 2017
This whole #Syria d̶e̶b̶a̶t̶e̶ genocide is poisoned by the fact that people like yourself pretend that it isn't happening. https://t.co/MD2KoS7Jua
— Bint Abu Banned (@itsmenanice) April 8, 2017
This whole Syria debate is poisoned by the fact that everyone refuses to invent their own facts. https://t.co/D3fgbAddWp
— Luke O'Brien (@luke_j_obrien) April 8, 2017
Embarrassment to have this guy be a prominent voice on the left. https://t.co/ft82wbOCZq
— Danny Gold (@DGisSERIOUS) April 8, 2017
I recommended people read this essay before I saw this tweet. I'd highly advise you do it now: https://t.co/fX0qoXFRin
— Danny Gold (@DGisSERIOUS) April 8, 2017
@neeratanden That boy is loony tunes
— Henry (@Fdr1942) April 8, 2017
@neeratanden It's also poisoned by the fact that little green elves were present. Assertion without fact makes you loony tunes and worse – a bad thinker.
— Joe (@jgrssi) April 8, 2017
I guess the guns used by rebels in 2011 in a totalitarian state appeared by magic. https://t.co/XcgN4LbzcD
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) April 8, 2017
Imagine the outrage if progressives ever found out Obama’s DOJ was running guns to Mexico. In any case, those rebels probably bought them at a gun show in the American Midwest, since they could avoid background checks that way.
It's weird how you can just jump in with zero knowledge of a conflict and disparage an entire people but keep digging that hole. https://t.co/MCHnAdee1g
— Danny Gold (@DGisSERIOUS) April 8, 2017
This isn't a super controversial observation. The Syrian-Iranian Shiite tilt against Sunni-Saudi-US has been in existence since the 1970s.
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) April 8, 2017
People were pissed at Obama's Iran deal because it blew up these alliances. It was a great move by Obama.
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) April 8, 2017
@matthewstoller Actually they appeared when some Assad regime soldiers abandoned their posts out of refusal to fire on civilians. Punishment for discovery
— Leighton Woodhouse (@lwoodhouse) April 8, 2017
@matthewstoller was death. Out of self-defense and defense of embattled communities they fired back. This was the seed of the Free Syrian Army.
— Leighton Woodhouse (@lwoodhouse) April 8, 2017
@matthewstoller 887 protesters were killed by regime snipers before soldiers defected and formed the FSA. Get an education. https://t.co/FRLydsTrPn
— Idrees Ahmad (@im_PULSE) April 8, 2017
@matthewstoller No, they took weapons with them when the FSA defected, & captured even more—have you not followed Syria at all? [Rhetorical question btw]
— Коуди Роша (@badly_xeroxed) April 8, 2017
@matthewstoller You're embarrassing yourself. Go read a book. Start with "Burning Country" or "The Crossing" by Samar Yazbek.
— Charles Davis (@charliearchy) April 8, 2017
People who on Thursday were googling "Syria" are today experts telling us, who've spent years studying the subject, how we're wrong.
— Idrees Ahmad (@im_PULSE) April 8, 2017
Exit question: Who asked Matt Stoller what the United States should do in Syria?
I have no idea what to do in Syria. Risking WWIII with the Russians seems dumb. The missile strikes seem like kabuki. Lies within lies.
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) April 8, 2017
* * *
Related:
'DERANGED': Lawrence O'Donnell has a theory on who's really behind the Syria gas attack and why https://t.co/ypOayJl9Lv
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 7, 2017
