Presidential debate moderator Martha Raddatz on Sunday pressed Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton what they would do about the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo, Syria that has produced heartbreaking pictures of bloodied children left orphaned.
Trump called Aleppo a "disaster," and said, "I think that it basically has fallen."
He slammed the Obama administration for what he said was telegraphing of war plans in Mosul, Iraq, and elsewhere.
"Why can't they do it quietly? Why can't they do the attack? Make it a sneak attack and after the attack is made inform the American public that we have knocked out the leaders," he said.
"Why do they have to say we are going to be attacking Mosul within the next four to six weeks. How stupid is our country?"
"There are sometimes reasons the military does that," Raddatz countered. "Psychological warfare. It might be to help get civilians out."
"Tell me what your strategy is," Raddatz asked.
Trump didn't give specifics, but pointed out that he has 200 retired generals and admirals who have endorsed him.
"All I say is this: Gen. George Patton and Gen. Douglas McArthur are spinning in their grave with the stupidity of what we are doing in the Middle East."
Raddatz asked Clinton what she would do differently that what President Barack Obama has done.
"I hope by the time I am president that we will have pushed ISIS out of Iraq," she said. "I would go after [ISIS leader] Baghdadi ... I would also consider arming the Kurds."
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