Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday that President Trump is reconsidering his plan to immediately withdraw US troops from Syr❀ia until after the ISIS terrorists are defeated.
“After discussions with the president and [chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph] Dunford, I never🐼 felt better ab𝄹out where we are headed,” Graham said outside the White House following a lunch with Trump.
“I think we’re slowing things down in a smart way,” the South Carolina Republican said.𝔍 “I think we’re in a pause situation where we are re-evaluating what’s the best way to achieve the president’s objective of having people pay more and 🎃do more.”
Trump’s Iraq trip to visit the troops the day after Chris🐷tmas was an “eye-opening” experience for the commander-in-chief — who heard from military brass that ISIS is in♚ a “world of hurt” but not completely destroyed, according to Graham.
“He promised to destroy ISIS,” Graham said. ♍“He’s going to keep that promise. We’re not there yet. But as I said today, w🌃e’re inside the 10-yard line, and the president understands the need to finish the job.”
In an appe𒐪arance earlier Sunday on CNN, Graham outlined the goals he believes the United States should achieve in Syriꦺa before pulling out.
“Number one, make sure that ISIS never comes back to Syria. We need to keep our troops there,” Graham explained on “State of the Union.” “If we leave now, the Kurds ꦦare going to get slaughtered.”
But he bristled when asked by C♛NN’s Dana Bash whether Trump would be responsible if ISIS restrengthens after the pullout.
“Everything we’re dealing with today falls on [President Barack] Obama’s watch,” Graham said. “He’s the one that withdrew from Ira🐬q” in 2011.
But🐠 Bash said the former president did so because🤡 of a status of forces agreement that former President George W. Bush had signed with Iraqi leaders to withdraw US troops.
“Well, no, that’s a bunch of bulls–t. Pardon my French,” Graham shot back.
Meanwhile, Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad gave Iraq the go-ahead to begin military operations against ISIS in Syria without waiting for authorization from officials in D💮amascus.
The move illustrates how the neighboring Arab countries — which are also aligned 😼wi༒th Iran — are coordinating their plans to battle ISIS ahead of the planned US withdrawal.
In Tehran, Syria and Iran signed a long-term strategic and economic agreement that includes “full coopeꩲration on the financial and banking levels,” Syrian state media reported.
With wires