We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018
After historic victories against ISIS, it’s time to bring our great young people home! pic.twitter.com/xoNjFzQFTp— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018
Reuters: In Syria retreat, Trump rebuffs top advisers and blindsides U.S. commanders
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump overrode his top national security aides, blindsided U.S. ground commanders, and stunned lawmakers and allies with his order for U.S. troops to leave Syria, a decision that upends American policy in the Middle East.
The result, said current and former officials and people briefed on the decision, will empower Russia and Iran and leave unfinished the goal of erasing the risk that Islamic State, or ISIS, which has lost all but a sliver territory, could rebuild.
Trump was moving toward his dramatic decision in recent weeks even as top aides tried to talk him out of it, determined to fulfill a campaign promise of limiting U.S. involvement militarily abroad, two senior officials said.
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WNU Editor: When President Bush started and President Obama continued the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq (2007 - 2011), I believed at the time that it was a mistake. What shaped my opinion was the overwhelming consensus among U.S./Iraqi/coalition commanders, the intelligence community, allies, and many in the Arab world (including many Iraqis) who believed that it was too early to leave. Sadly .... it was too early to leave. The Iraqi government within a year dissolved into political sectarianism, and the rise of ISIS quickly followed. Flash forward to today .... I heard a lot of concerns today from military and political leaders on President Trump's decision to leave Syria, but that consensus to stay is not as intense as it was in 2011. One probable reason for this lack of intensity is that no one has proposed a timetable on when U.S. forces will leave. Even though President Trump said he wanted U.S. soldiers back home now, it may be months (if not more) before such a withdrawal starts to take place. There is also disagreement with President Trump's assertion that ISIS has been defeated. IMHO they are not, as explained by this analysis .... Analysis: The Islamic State hasn’t been defeated (Thomas Joscelyn, Long War Journal). I doubt that the U.S. will leave while ISIS remains a threat, especially since everyone else is not in a position to challenge and defeat the remaining ISIS forces in eastern Syria. My guess is that in the coming weeks/months a plan will be put together on what will be the exact conditions and timetable for U.S. forces to leave, and it will then be implemented. But for now .... everyone is just speculating.
