Hillary Clinton: Trump's Syria Withdrawal Puts Our National Security at Risk
The twice-failed Presidential candidate insisted the move was 'empowering ISIS.'
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has slammed Trumps' recent decision to withdraw troops from Syria, claiming it would put the United States' national security at risk.
The twice-failed Presidential candidate insisted the move was "empowering ISIS."
“Actions have consequences, and whether we’re in Syria or not, the people who want to harm us are there & at war. Isolationism is weakness. Empowering ISIS is dangerous. Playing in Russia & Iran’s hands is foolish. This President is putting our national security at grave risk,” Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee for president, tweeted.
U.S. troops in Syria are supporting an alliance of rebel groups known as the Free Syrian Army, one of several who are fighting ISIS.
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The White House confirmed in a statement following Trump's tweet that the administration has “started returning United States troops home” before stressing that coalition efforts in Syria would remain.
“We have started returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign," her statement said.
"The United States and our allies stand ready to re-engage at all levels to defend American interests whenever necessary, and we will continue to work together to deny radical Islamist terrorist territory, funding, support, and any means of infiltrating our borders.”
Actions have consequences, and whether we’re in Syria or not, the people who want to harm us are there & at war. Isolationism is weakness. Empowering ISIS is dangerous. Playing into Russia & Iran’s hands is foolish. This President is putting our national security at grave risk.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 21, 2018
This is simply not true. https://t.co/Jvie2NxgWz
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) December 19, 2018
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Col. Robert Manning, a Pentagon spokesman said the withdrawal is expected to happen as swiftly as possible.
"At this time, we continue to work by, with and through our partners in the region,” said Col. Robert Manning, a Pentagon spokesman on Wednesday.
“Operation Roundup, which began May 1 to defeat ISIS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley and Iraqi- Syrian border region, has continued to gain ground and remove terrorists from the battlefield through offensive operations coupled with precision Coalition strike support,” the statement said.
“Operation Roundup will continue to target ISIS as the Coalition remains committed to the lasting defeat of ISIS to increase peace and stability in the region, and to protect all our homelands from ISIS's terrorist threat.”
