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Trump breaks diplomatic norms, uses derogatory words in letter to Erdogan

Trump breaks diplomatic norms, uses derogatory words in letter to Erdogan
October 17, 2019
WASHINGTON (Reuters/AFP) – US President Donald Trump broke all the diplomatic norms and used the derogator words in his letter to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. In his letter about Turkey’s incursion into Syria, Trump wrote the derogatory words violating diplomatic norms as “Don’t be a tough guy” and “Don’t be a fool!” He also warned the Turkish president that history risked branding him a ‘devil’. Three days after appearing to greenlight an invasion by pulling US troops from the Kurdish-dominated region, Trump told the Turkish president he would wreck Ankara's economy if the invasion went too far. In language shorn of diplomatic niceties, Trump began with an outright threat. "Let's work out a good deal," Trump wrote in the letter dated October 9. “You don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people, and I don't want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy — and I will.” “History will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way,” Trump stated. "It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don't happen." The US leader told Erdogan a "great deal" was possible if he negotiated with the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, whom Turkey has labelled a "terrorist" for his ties to the Kurdish PKK militants in Turkey. "Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool," he finished, adding: "I will call you later."