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Trump Faces Backlash on Decision to Withdraw from Northern Syria

Steve Herman

   Carla Babb at the Pentagon, Nike Ching at the State Department,
   National Security correspondent Jeff Seldin and Extremism Watch
   reporter Sirwan Kajjo contributed to this report.

   WASHINGTON / WHITE HOUSE - Key lawmakers of both U.S. major political
   parties, blindsided by Donald Trump's announcement to pull American
   troops from northern Syria, are strongly condemning the president's
   decision.

   The top lawmakers in both houses of Congress, Republican Senate
   Majority leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic House Speaker Nancy
   Pelosi, issued separate statements criticizing the move.

   "A precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would only benefit
   Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime," McConnell said.

   Pelosi called it a "deeply disturbing development that betrays our
   Kurdish allies who have been instrumental partners in our mission to
   eradicate" Islamic State.

   Lindsay Graham, a member of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee,
   tweeted on Monday that he had spoken with colleague Chris Van Hollen, a
   Democrat, and they will "introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey
   if they invade Syria and will call for their suspension from NATO if
   they attack Kurdish forces who assisted the U.S. in the destruction of
   the ISIS Caliphate."

     Just spoke to Sen [1]@ChrisVanHollen about situation in Syria.
     We will introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they invade
     Syria and will call for their suspension from NATO if they attack
     Kurdish forces who assisted the U.S. in the destruction of the ISIS
     Caliphate.
     -- Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) [2]October 7, 2019

   Graham's statement came quickly after Trump defended his decision to
   withdraw the U.S. forces, amid alarm this will put U.S.-allied
   Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in harm's way and hamper the fight
   against the Islamic State terror group.

   "...It is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many
   of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS
   TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN," Trump tweeted on Monday.

     ....almost 3 years, but it is time for us to get out of these
     ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers
     home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO
     WIN. Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will
     now have to.....
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [3]October 7, 2019

   "Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will now have
   to figure the situation out, and what they want to do with the captured
   ISIS fighters in their 'neighborhood," he said.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/ChrisVanHollen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1181219542778953728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   3. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1181172465772482563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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