US senators ask Trump to reconsider withdrawal from Syria
A group of US senators have called on President Donald Trump to reconsider his surprise decision of pulling out of Syria, calling the move a “costly mistake”.
The demand was made in an official letter signed by six senators. It was published on Sen. Lindsey Graham’s official Twitter account.
Letter from @SenatorShaheen @marcorubio @SenTomCotton @SenAngusKing @SenJoniErnst and me to President Trump on withdrawal from Syria. pic.twitter.com/G035schXJu
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
"We believe that such action at this time is a premature and costly mistake that not only threatens the safety and security of the United States but also emboldens ISIS [Daesh], Bashar al Assad, Iran and Russia,” reads the letter.
It came after Trump announced the full withdrawal of the US forces from Syria. The White House and Pentagon confirmed the report later and explained that the US diplomats were to leave Syria within 24 hours while the US troops would prepare to depart the country in 60 to 100 days.
Trump said the Islamic State (IS) is defeated in Syria and there is no reasons for his soldiers to stay in the country. However, the senators said: “The conditions on the ground paint a very different picture.”
“In addition, our troops provide critical support for our Kurdish partners, who have been crucial in the fight against ISIS. If our Kurdish partners in the region lose the support of the United States, we run the risk of resurgence of the ISIS and the possible capitulation or all out destruction of Kurdish resistance in the region,” the senators wrote.
“We encourage you to reconsider your proposal to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria to ensure that our nation’s strategic interests are secured,” the letter concluded.
Source: BasNews
