President Trump's announcement that the US would be withdrawing its entire contingent of 2,000 troops from Syria amid the defeat of Daesh (ISIS)* has shaken pro-war officials and lawmakers across Washington, prompting to a string of resignations of senior administration members, including (now-ex) Pentagon chief Jim Mattis.
Senior South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time critic of Donald Trump's foreign policy, has lashed out at acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan on the Pentagon's Syria policy. The Washington Post detailed the harsh exchange between Graham and Shanahan at the Munich Security Conference last week, which reportedly included the senator blasting the defence secretary on the US' 30 April withdrawal deadline.
“Are you telling our allies that we are going to go to zero by April 30th?” Graham reportedly asked. “Yes, that's been our direction [from the president],” Shanahan replied. “That's the dumbest f***ing idea I've ever heard,” Graham responded.
The Republican senator then began listing off a series of terrible consequences that a US withdrawal would mean, including the return of Daesh, Turkish forces attacking Syria's Kurds, and Iran gaining an ‘advantage' in the country.
“That could very well happen,” Shanahan reportedly replied. “Well, if the policy is going to be that we are leaving by 30 April, I am now your adversary, not your friend,” Graham retorted.
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