For all of President Donald Trump's bluster about "strength" and his admiration for international leaders who rule with an iron fist, when it comes to his decision-making on the international stage, he shows a propensity towards weakness. Undoubtedly, this weakness diminishes the influence of the United States.

Unwise, fly by-the-seat-of-his-pants decision-making on Syria has had disastrous results. When the president announced a hasty withdrawal of troops from Syria last year, it prompted the resignation of then-Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Trump's hasty retreat from his announcement came too late as Mattis was already out the door.

Trump's most recent flub was a phone call he took from the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who announced his intention to cross the Turkish border into Syria. Trump, apparently seeing no value at all in the Kurdish forces who were the target of Erdoğan's plan, didn't object (as far as we know) and gave Erdoğan tacit approval by announcing the removal of US forces from the area.

Trump, lacking any domestic agenda, made another tactical and political decision, not a strategic one. Knowing that his nationalist base would approve (along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul), he claimed the move was part of his grand plan to end the "endless wars," which is little more than cliche-ridden tripe. National security expert John Noonan said of the phrase on Twitter, “'Endless Wars’ is much catchier way to say ‘yeah we have a brigade or two out of a 1.2 million man Armed Forces helping local militaries and militias do the heavy lifting trying to keep some really bad people from coming to power’."

We don't know if Erdoğan would have listened to Trump had he warned against marching across the border. But Trump gave no indication he tried to persuade the Turkish president and so the attack began. Needless to say, the president faced a fierce backlash from members of Congress, including many recent stalwart Republican supporters including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Once news reports showed the Turkish military seemingly engaging in an all-out effort to destroy the Kurds, Trump then tried to save face.

He sent a letter. It was as coherent and perspicacious as one would expect. At one point, he writes: "Don't be a tough guy! Don't be a fool!" It's the kind of language one would expect to hear in a 1940's James Cagney gangster film. According to news reports, Erdoğan was so impressed with the letter that he threw it in the trash.

Even with the recently announced "ceasefire," Trump put on a display of victory. He tweeted: "This deal could NEVER have been made 3 days ago. There needed to be some "tough" love in order to get it done. Great for everybody. Proud of all!"

Turkey launches offensive into Syria Show all 25 1 /25 Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish soldiers with armored vehicles EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria A woman flees with her children during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke billows following Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched an assault on Kurdish forces in northern Syria with air strikes and explosions reported along the border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of the attack on Twitter, labelling it "Operation Peace Spring". (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) DELIL SOULEIMAN AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria The first group of Turkish infantry prepare to enter Syria on the border Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke billows from targets inside Syria AP Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish armoured vehicles enter Syria in Akcakale Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians leave as smoke rises from Ras al-Ain AFP Turkey launches offensive into Syria A multi-rocket launcher fires in an unknown location Turkish Defence Ministry via Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Girls stand together in Ras al Ain town Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria A woman walks as smoke billows following Turkish bombardment in Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria A Turkish army's tank drives down from a truck towards the border with Syria AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish jet taxis on tarmac after returning to a military base in southeast Diyarbakir Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria A Turkish armored vehicle drives down a road during a military operation in Kurdish areas of northern Syria EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria People sit on belongings at a back of a truck as they flee Ras al Ain town Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters enter Tel Abyad AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria People flee Tal Abyad North Press Agency/Reuters TV Turkey launches offensive into Syria People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border into Syria Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee with their belongings AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched a broad assault on Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria today, with intensive bombardment paving the way for an invasion made possible by the withdrawal of US troops. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) DELIL SOULEIMAN AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, speaks with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, left, as they watch the operation by Turkish forces in Kurdish areas EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Tal Abyad AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey-backed members of Syrian National Army prepare for moving to Turkey with heavy armed vehicles EPA

The Neville Chamberlain-like bragging was immediately undercut by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who said, "This is not a ceasefire. We will pause the operation for 120 hours in order for the terrorists to leave. We will only stop the operation if our conditions are met."

It doesn't seem to end. Trump lives in a reality television world, believing high-profile displays with world leaders — whether it's Erdoğan or Kim Jong-un — and transactional, real-estate type manoeuvres will work on the diplomatic front. All it does is cost the United States more legitimacy, leaving a giant mess for Trump's successor to clean up.

The only question that remains is: How many Republicans will continue to stick with their leader? With impeachment looming and polls moving in the direction of not only impeaching the president but removing him, Trump can ill afford to alienate GOP support, no matter the issue.