WASHINGTON: A senior Republican senator mentioned Sunday that President Donald Trump had promised to stay in Syria to finish the activity of destroying the Islamic State group — just days after announcing he could be chickening out troops in an instant.
"The president understands the need to finish the job," Graham advised newshounds outside the White House after what he described as a two-hour lunch meeting.
"He told me some things I didn't know that made me feel a lot better about where we're headed in Syria," the South Carolina lawmaker mentioned.
"I think the president is committed to making sure when we leave Syria that ISIS is completely defeated and we are inside the 10-yard line," he mentioned, using an alternative name for the Islamic State group.
When Trump tweeted on December 19 that "we have defeated ISIS in Syria," a number of military and security mavens mentioned he used to be overstating the case, and warned against a hasty withdrawal.
Graham mentioned Trump used to be "thinking long and hard about Syria and how to withdraw the forces" after ensuring that ISIS is destroyed, that US-allied Kurdish forces are safe and that "Iran doesn't become the big winner of our leaving."
Graham, who as a member of the Armed Services committee has frequently visited US troops in fight zones, used to be once a common critic of Trump however, reversing course, now frequently defends him and turns out to have won privileged get admission to to the president's ear.
The senator's remarks after the White House meeting had been significantly modulated from his tone previous within the day, when he advised ABC television's "This Week" that "if we leave (Syria) now, the Kurds will get slaughtered."
"I'm going to ask the president to do something that President Obama would never do: reconsider," he mentioned.
Graham mentioned he knew Trump used to be "frustrated" by means of his limited options in Syria.
"The president is reconsidering how we would do this," Graham mentioned.
"I get it. We're not the policemen of the world here."
He added: "I'm going to ask him to sit down with his generals and reconsider how to do this. Slow it down. Make sure we get it right."
Kellyanne Conway, a detailed Trump consultant, seemed to hint that the president may well be rethinking his withdrawal plans.
"In Iraq he had a closed-door meeting and he said watch what happens ... Watch what happens because he's got plans and I won't get ahead of his announcement, but he did want me to convey that," she mentioned on "Fox News Sunday."
Trump's abrupt decision on Syria stunned regional players, US politicians of both events and military leaders, who expressed wonder that any such major decision could be announced after apparently so little advance consultation, against the recommendation of his national security advisors — and on Twitter.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned following the announcement, which came on the identical day that US officials mentioned Trump used to be additionally planning a significant drawdown in Afghanistan, with some studies suggesting as many as half of the 14,000 troops may leave.
Graham warned on the time that a relief now of US forces in war-torn Afghanistan risked "paving the way toward a second 9/11."
Another distinguished critic of the transfer used to be retired US army common Stanley McChrystal, the previous commander of US and global forces in Afghanistan.
On Sunday, he advised ABC that the twin drawdowns may critically weaken US affect within the area.
"We have a tumultuous regime or region (in Syria) that now has a Russian presence which had been out for about 30 years," he mentioned.
"Iran has increased influence across the region now. If you pull American influence out, you're likely to have greater instability."
Similarly, he mentioned, Trump's planned drawdown in Afghanistan may critically undercut American leverage there.
"Just when we were starting to sit down with the Taliban, just as we were starting to begin negotiations, he basically traded away the biggest leverage point we have," McChrystal added.
"The president understands the need to finish the job," Graham advised newshounds outside the White House after what he described as a two-hour lunch meeting.
"He told me some things I didn't know that made me feel a lot better about where we're headed in Syria," the South Carolina lawmaker mentioned.
"I think the president is committed to making sure when we leave Syria that ISIS is completely defeated and we are inside the 10-yard line," he mentioned, using an alternative name for the Islamic State group.
When Trump tweeted on December 19 that "we have defeated ISIS in Syria," a number of military and security mavens mentioned he used to be overstating the case, and warned against a hasty withdrawal.
Graham mentioned Trump used to be "thinking long and hard about Syria and how to withdraw the forces" after ensuring that ISIS is destroyed, that US-allied Kurdish forces are safe and that "Iran doesn't become the big winner of our leaving."
Graham, who as a member of the Armed Services committee has frequently visited US troops in fight zones, used to be once a common critic of Trump however, reversing course, now frequently defends him and turns out to have won privileged get admission to to the president's ear.
The senator's remarks after the White House meeting had been significantly modulated from his tone previous within the day, when he advised ABC television's "This Week" that "if we leave (Syria) now, the Kurds will get slaughtered."
"I'm going to ask the president to do something that President Obama would never do: reconsider," he mentioned.
Graham mentioned he knew Trump used to be "frustrated" by means of his limited options in Syria.
"The president is reconsidering how we would do this," Graham mentioned.
"I get it. We're not the policemen of the world here."
He added: "I'm going to ask him to sit down with his generals and reconsider how to do this. Slow it down. Make sure we get it right."
Kellyanne Conway, a detailed Trump consultant, seemed to hint that the president may well be rethinking his withdrawal plans.
"In Iraq he had a closed-door meeting and he said watch what happens ... Watch what happens because he's got plans and I won't get ahead of his announcement, but he did want me to convey that," she mentioned on "Fox News Sunday."
Trump's abrupt decision on Syria stunned regional players, US politicians of both events and military leaders, who expressed wonder that any such major decision could be announced after apparently so little advance consultation, against the recommendation of his national security advisors — and on Twitter.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned following the announcement, which came on the identical day that US officials mentioned Trump used to be additionally planning a significant drawdown in Afghanistan, with some studies suggesting as many as half of the 14,000 troops may leave.
Graham warned on the time that a relief now of US forces in war-torn Afghanistan risked "paving the way toward a second 9/11."
Another distinguished critic of the transfer used to be retired US army common Stanley McChrystal, the previous commander of US and global forces in Afghanistan.
On Sunday, he advised ABC that the twin drawdowns may critically weaken US affect within the area.
"We have a tumultuous regime or region (in Syria) that now has a Russian presence which had been out for about 30 years," he mentioned.
"Iran has increased influence across the region now. If you pull American influence out, you're likely to have greater instability."
Similarly, he mentioned, Trump's planned drawdown in Afghanistan may critically undercut American leverage there.
"Just when we were starting to sit down with the Taliban, just as we were starting to begin negotiations, he basically traded away the biggest leverage point we have," McChrystal added.
Trump vows to 'destroy' IS before leaving Syria: Graham
![Trump vows to 'destroy' IS before leaving Syria: Graham]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
January 01, 2019
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