WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump today defended his decision to pull back U.S. troops from northern Syria, clearing the way for an expected Turkish assault and essentially abandoning Kurdish fighters who fought alongside American forces to defeat the Islamic State.
The move drew immediate outrage from some of the presidents closest allies in Congress, with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham calling the decision a disaster. And Syrias Kurds accused the U.S. of turning its back on its allies and risking gains made in the fight against the Islamic State group.
Trump, however, defended the move in a series of tweets today, acknowledging The Kurds fought with us, but claiming they were paid massive amounts of money and equipment to do so.
I held off this fight for 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, he wrote, adding that, WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN. He said it will now be up to the region to decide what to do with captured IS fighters, and warned of retribution in response to any future attacks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened for months to launch the military operation across the Syrian border. He views the Kurdish forces as a threat to his country. Republicans and Democrats have warned that allowing the Turkish attack could lead to a massacre of the Kurds and send a troubling message to American allies across the globe.
U.S. troops will not support or be involved in the operation and will no longer be in the immediate area, in northern Syria, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in an unusual late-Sunday statement that was silent on the fate of the Kurds.
There are about 1,000 U.S. troops in northern Syria, and a senior U.S. official said they will pull back from the area and potentially depart the country entirely should widespread fighting break out between Turkish and Kurdish forces.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said today in an appearance on Fox & Friends that he had not spoken with Trump about the decision and had concerns.
I want to make sure we keep our word for those who fight with us and help us, he said, adding that, If you make a commitment and somebody is fighting with you. America should keep their word.
One of the shows hosts, Brian Kilmeade, asked McCarthy to try to intervene and call the president before its too late.
Graham, R-S.C., one of Trumps most vocal backers, also weighed in via tweet, saying that, If press reports are accurate this is a disaster in the making. He also called in to Fox and Friends to share his dismay, calling the decision short-sighted and irresponsible.
This impulsive decision by the president has undone all the gains weve made, thrown the region into further chaos. Iran is licking their chops. And if Im an ISIS fighter, Ive got a second lease on life, he said. I like president Trump. Ive tried to help him. This to me is just unnerving to its core.
The announcement followed a call between Trump and Erdogan, the White House said Sunday.
The decision is a stark illustration of Trumps focus on ending American overseas entanglements one of his key campaign promises. But his goal of swift withdrawals in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have been stymied by concerns from U.S. officials and American allies about the dangerous voids that would remain.
As he faces an impeachment inquiry at home, Trump has appeared more focused on making good on his political pledges, even at the risk of sending a troubling signal to American allies abroad.
