(LEX 18) — President Donald Trump's decision to pull American troops out of Syria is drawing mixed reaction from his own party. Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are speaking about this move.
The president is pulling troops from northern Syria ahead of an invasion from Turkey. The country's goal is to resettle Syrian refugees and U.S. forces have no plans to either help or stop them.
Critics say the U.S. is abandoning America’s close ally, the Kurds, who have been doing a bulk of the fighting against ISIS militants.
McConnell says this will increase the risk that ISIS and other terrorist groups will regroup. He's urging President Trump to change his mind.
Paul, however, supports the decision. He says he doesn't think there's a clear national interest for the U.S. to continue helping Syria and it's time to leave.
“[Trump] said when he went in, the goal was not to make Syria a country and bring world peace to Syria, it was to wipe out ISIS,” said Senator Paul. “He did accomplish that goal, so I think it is time for the troops to come home."
Trump tweeted that if Turkey does anything in Syria that he considers off-limits, he will "totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey."
