Senator Lindsey Graham expressed opposition Monday on Twitter to the Trump Administration announcement initiating a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.
“I don’t know all the details regarding President Trump’s decision in northern Syria. In process of setting up a phone call with Secretary Pompeo. If press reports are accurate this is a disaster in the making,” said Graham, on Twitter.
Moreover, Graham said the move will embolden Islamic State forces, abandon allied-Kurdish forces, and “destroy” Turkey’s relationship with congress.
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Several reports indicate that the move gives NATO-allied Turkey free reign in the region.
Further, the strong defense alliance between Turkey, Russia, and China could spiral. On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began threatening large-scale military incursions into Syria. The announcement came after Trump spoke via phone with Erdogan.
I don’t know all the details regarding President Trump’s decision in northern Syria. In process of setting up phone call with Secretary Pompeo.
If press reports are accurate this is a disaster in the making.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 7, 2019
Also, if this plan goes forward will introduce Senate resolution opposing and asking for reversal of this decision. Expect it will receive strong bipartisan support.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 7, 2019
President Trump indicated that the U.S. had achieved its goal of wiping out the Islamic State caliphate from the region on Twitter Monday.
His next move is to proceed with plans to pull hundreds of U.S. troops. U.S.-allied troops however, will continue the fight as Turkey and its allies escalate tensions.
“The United States was supposed to be in Syria for 30 days, that was many years ago. We stayed and got deeper and deeper into battle with no aim in sight. When I arrived in Washington, ISIS was running rampant in the area. We quickly defeated 100% of the ISIS caliphate, including capturing thousands of ISIS fighters, mostly from Europe,” said Trump.
The United States was supposed to be in Syria for 30 days, that was many years ago. We stayed and got deeper and deeper into battle with no aim in sight. When I arrived in Washington, ISIS was running rampant in the area. We quickly defeated 100% of the ISIS Caliphate,…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
…..again said “NO,” thinking, as usual, that the U.S. is always the “sucker,” on NATO, on Trade, on everything. The Kurds fought with us, but were paid massive amounts of money and equipment to do so. They have been fighting Turkey for decades. I held off this fight for….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
…figure the situation out, and what they want to do with the captured ISIS fighters in their “neighborhood.” They all hate ISIS, have been enemies for years. We are 7000 miles away and will crush ISIS again if they come anywhere near us!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
“WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN.” said Trump, “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.'” Pentagon officials told Fox News Monday that they’re “completely blindsided” and “shocked.”