This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/30/donald-trump-lindsey-graham-syria-withdrawal

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trump ally Graham will ask president to reconsider Syria withdrawal Trump ally Graham will ask president to reconsider Syria withdrawal
(35 minutes later)
A senior Republican senator said he would try to persuade Donald Trump at a White House lunch on Sunday to reconsider his order for a total US military pullout from Syria. A senior Republican senator said he would try to persuade Donald Trump to reconsider his order for a total US military pullout from Syria.
Trump unmoved on border wall demand as shutdown enters ninth dayTrump unmoved on border wall demand as shutdown enters ninth day
Lindsey Graham warned that removing all US forces would hurt US security by allowing Islamic State to rebuild, betraying US-backed Kurdish fighters battling remnants of the militant group and enhancing Iran’s ability to threaten Israel.Lindsey Graham warned that removing all US forces would hurt US security by allowing Islamic State to rebuild, betraying US-backed Kurdish fighters battling remnants of the militant group and enhancing Iran’s ability to threaten Israel.
Using more moderate language than his previous warning that the withdrawal and a mooted drawdown of troop numbers in Afghanistan could pave “the way toward a second 9/11”, the South Carolina Republican said he would ask Trump “to sit down with his generals and reconsider how to do this.Using more moderate language than his previous warning that the withdrawal and a mooted drawdown of troop numbers in Afghanistan could pave “the way toward a second 9/11”, the South Carolina Republican said he would ask Trump “to sit down with his generals and reconsider how to do this.
“Slow this down. Make sure we get it right. Make sure Isis never comes back. Don’t turn Syria over to the Iranians.““Slow this down. Make sure we get it right. Make sure Isis never comes back. Don’t turn Syria over to the Iranians.“
Speaking to CNN’s State of the Union, Graham added: “I want to fight the war in the enemy’s backyard, not ours.”Speaking to CNN’s State of the Union, Graham added: “I want to fight the war in the enemy’s backyard, not ours.”
Graham has worked assiduously to get close to Trump, to a point far removed from the early stages of the 2016 election, when the two men exchanged insults during the Republican primary. An influential lawmaker on national security policy who sits on the Senate armed services committee, Graham is an ally of Trump although he has opposed some of his foreign policy decisions. He has worked assiduously to get close to the president, to a point far removed from the early stages of the 2016 election, when the two men exchanged insults during the Republican primary.
On Sunday Graham praised the president, who visited American troops in Iraq this week, for announcing that a US force would remain there. But he said Isis, while holding only slivers of territory, remained a potent threat in north-eastern Syria. On Sunday Graham praised Trump, who visited American troops in Iraq this week, for announcing that a US force would remain there. But he said Isis, while holding only slivers of territory, remained a potent threat in north-eastern Syria.
“That’s why we need to keep some of our troops there,” he said.“That’s why we need to keep some of our troops there,” he said.
The Department of Defense says it is considering plans for a “deliberate and controlled withdrawal”. One option, according to a person familiar with the discussions, is for a 120-day pull-out period.The Department of Defense says it is considering plans for a “deliberate and controlled withdrawal”. One option, according to a person familiar with the discussions, is for a 120-day pull-out period.
The halfway point: what have two years of Trump's wrecking ball done to America?The halfway point: what have two years of Trump's wrecking ball done to America?
Graham is an influential lawmaker on national security policy who sits on the Senate armed services committee, is an ally of Trump, although he has opposed some of his foreign policy decisions. He has joined other Republicans and Democrats in criticizing Trump’s order for the pullout of all 2,000 US troops deployed in Syria in support of anti-Isis fighters made up mostly of Kurds. Graham has joined other Republicans and Democrats in criticizing Trump’s order for the pullout of all 2,000 US troops deployed in Syria in support of anti-Isis fighters made up mostly of Kurds.
Turkey views the Kurdish militia, known as the YPG, as a branch of its own Kurdish separatist movement. It is threatening to launch an offensive against the YPG, igniting fears of significant civilian casualties.Turkey views the Kurdish militia, known as the YPG, as a branch of its own Kurdish separatist movement. It is threatening to launch an offensive against the YPG, igniting fears of significant civilian casualties.
US commanders planning the withdrawal are recommending that YPG fighters battling Isis be allowed to keep US-supplied weapons, according to US officials. That proposal would likely anger Nato ally Turkey, where Tump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, will hold talks this week.US commanders planning the withdrawal are recommending that YPG fighters battling Isis be allowed to keep US-supplied weapons, according to US officials. That proposal would likely anger Nato ally Turkey, where Tump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, will hold talks this week.
Trump decided on the Syria withdrawal in a phone call with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, ignoring the advice of top national security aides and without consulting lawmakers or US allies participating in anti-Isis operations. The decision prompted defense secretary Jim Mattis to resign.Trump decided on the Syria withdrawal in a phone call with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, ignoring the advice of top national security aides and without consulting lawmakers or US allies participating in anti-Isis operations. The decision prompted defense secretary Jim Mattis to resign.
US foreign policyUS foreign policy
US national securityUS national security
US politicsUS politics
US militaryUS military
Trump administrationTrump administration
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
US SenateUS Senate
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content