Republican hawks blast Trump's withdrawal from Syria
/ CBS News
Some the Republican Party's more hawkish legislators expressed dismay Wednesday when asked about President Trump's decision to remove some 2,000 U.S. troops currently operating in Northwest Syria. "If these media reports are true, it will be an Obama-like mistake made by the Trump Administration," South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said. "While American patience in confronting radical Islam may wane, the radical Islamists' passion to kill Americans and our allies never wavers."
Graham, an unabashed supporter of American intervention overseas and a close ally of Mr. Trump, added that a trip to the country earlier this year made it "abundantly clear the approximately 2,000 American troops stationed there are vital to our national security interests." He said that an withdrawal of U.S. forces would also be a boon to America's rivals in the region, including Iran and Russia, as well as the terror group ISIS. Mr. Trump tweeted Wednesday that ISIS had been defeated. But in fact, ISIS still controls pockets of territory in the region.
The National Counterterrorism Center's guidance from October suggests that while efforts to contain ISIS have seen substantial successes this year, the terror network remains "an adaptive and dangerous adversary," and in Iraq and Syria, its leaders are relocating to rural safe havens to "support a long-term insurgency." While the ISIS' safe havens in Iraq and Syria have "largely collapsed," it still maintains a robust global enterprise of nearly two dozen branches, each with "hundreds to thousands of members."
Graham also highlighted the plight of Kurdish people in the area who have been allies in the fight against ISIS. "An American withdrawal will put the Kurds and all those who came to America's aid in destroying ISIS at tremendous risk," he said. "It will make it more difficult to recruit future partners willing to confront radical Islam. It will also be seen by Iran and other bad actors as a sign of American weakness in the efforts to contain Iranian expansion."
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio made a similar argument to reporters on Wednesday, criticizing the troop withdrawal as a "colossal" mistake and "grave error" that would embolden Russia and China. "We will lose influence in the region, and I believe we will lose influence beyond the region as a result of this decision," he said.
Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a sometime critic of the president, likewise criticized the move in harsh terms."History will look at that as one of the stupidest strategic moves before a negotiation," he told The Washington Post. "In order to have a successful diplomatic outcome, you have to have a military option and a military presence."
Olivia Gazis and Alan He contributed to this report.
First published on December 19, 2018
© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Republican hawks blast Trump's withdrawal from Syria
"While American patience in confronting radical Islam may wane, the radical Islamists' passion to kill Americans and our allies never wavers," Sen. Lindsey Graham said
updated 3M ago 
U.S. women pay more, fare worse in global health study
More than one-third of American women reported skipping needed medical care because of the cost
updated 3M ago 
Federal inspectors find inhumane killings, injuries at Puerto Rico's only zoo
Animal rights activists say they're worried about the state of the animals and haven't been allowed to see them
updated 14M ago 
Judge rules against Trump's asylum restrictions
The ruling applies to immigrants in expedited removal proceedings
1H ago 
FedEx CEO blames "bad political choices" for slowing economy
Shipper points to increasing trade tensions and weakening demand overseas in darkened take on what's ahead
2H ago 
Republican hawks blast Trump's withdrawal from Syria
"While American patience in confronting radical Islam may wane, the radical Islamists' passion to kill Americans and our allies never wavers," Sen. Lindsey Graham said
updated 3M ago 
DC attorney general sues Facebook over privacy scandal
Lawsuit accuses social media giant of misleading users about the security of their personal data
2H ago 
GAO says VA failed to spend millions allocated for suicide prevention
A report from the Government Accountability Office found the VA only spent $57,000 of $6.2 million for suicide prevention
3H ago 
Federal Reserve hikes interest rates for 4th time this year
The U.S. central bank faces pressure from President Trump, and some investors, to slow its interest rate increases
updated 37M ago 
Nevada becomes first state with female-majority Legislature
Nevada became the first state in the U.S. with an overall female majority in the Legislature on Tuesday, after two women were appointed to fill vacancies
4H ago 
Judge rules against Trump's asylum restrictions
The ruling applies to immigrants in expedited removal proceedings
1H ago 
Israel's Jesus Trail blends history and stunning views
The trail takes hikers through sites significant to various religions, including the town of Cana, where the water-to-wine miracle is said to have happened
2H ago 
White House orders Pentagon to pull troops from Syria immediately
Republican senators were left in the dark about the decision, and they aren't happy about it
updated 8M ago 
Taliban says U.S. talks focused on prisoner swap, U.S. withdrawal
U.S. peace envoy calls 3-day negotiations "productive," as Taliban says no breakthroughs but key points of potential deal taking shape
5H ago 
3 space station crew members heading home
Three space station crew members wrap up a 196-day mission that included patching a leak in their Soyuz spacecraft
6H ago 
Macaulay Culkin is "Home Alone" again in new ad
"You have the house to yourself," Google Assistant tells a grown-up Kevin McCallister, 28 years after he was first left home alone
1H ago 
CBS employees call for transparency and accountability from CBS board
After the CBS board of directors said its investigation into former CEO Leslie Moonves and workplace culture issues was complete, some CBS employees and others called for the board to be more open about the findings
4H ago 
Gisele Bündchen in note to younger self: "You are enough"
"Keep following your heart and don't apologize for being you," she writes
updated 37M ago 
Penny Marshall, "Laverne & Shirley" star, dead at 75
Actress Penny Marshall, best known for playing Laverne DeFazio on "Laverne & Shirley," has died
14H ago 
Stars pay tribute to Penny Marshall
The "Laverne & Shirley" star and successful director died at her Hollywood Hills home from diabetes-related complications
21H ago 
DC attorney general sues Facebook over privacy scandal
Lawsuit accuses social media giant of misleading users about the security of their personal data
2H ago 
Surprising discoveries on how tornadoes form
The very rare and strong December tornado in Washington state comes as scientists say twisters are growing more powerful every year
4H ago
3 space station crew members heading home
Three space station crew members wrap up a 196-day mission that included patching a leak in their Soyuz spacecraft
6H ago 
Facebook gave tech giants more access to users' data than it said: report
New York Times story could add to the pressure Facebook's been under regarding its protection of the privacy of that data
6H ago 
Once tasty Blue Apron is now a penny-stock
Online meal-kit delivery service has seen its value plunge 90 percent since a 2017 IPO
21H ago 
U.S. women pay more, fare worse in global health study
More than one-third of American women reported skipping needed medical care because of the cost
updated 3M ago 
GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer to create over-the-counter drug giant
The two drugmakers are merging their healthcare divisions, bringing together brands such as Sensodyne and Advil
6H ago 
11-year-old girl's brain tumor disappears in medical mystery
"It was unbelievable. The tumor is undetectable on MRI scans, which is very unusual"
2H ago 
How food choices may affect your brain's destiny
Dr. David Perlmutter claims eating foods high in carbs causes brain inflammation and can trigger conditions like anxiety, depression and ADHD
Dec 18 
Drone delivers vaccines for kids on remote island
The drone delivery covered almost 25 miles of rainforests and rugged mountainous terrain
Dec 18
U.S. women pay more, fare worse in global health study
More than one-third of American women reported skipping needed medical care because of the cost
updated 3M ago
Macaulay Culkin is "Home Alone" again in new ad
"You have the house to yourself," Google Assistant tells a grown-up Kevin McCallister, 28 years after he was first left home alone
1H ago
FedEx CEO blames "bad political choices" for slowing economy
Shipper points to increasing trade tensions and weakening demand overseas in darkened take on what's ahead
2H ago
DC attorney general sues Facebook over privacy scandal
Lawsuit accuses social media giant of misleading users about the security of their personal data
2H ago
Federal Reserve hikes interest rates for 4th time this year
The U.S. central bank faces pressure from President Trump, and some investors, to slow its interest rate increases
updated 37M ago 
Senate passes bipartisan criminal justice bill
Senate voted Tuesday night to approve a sweeping criminal justice overhaul supported by President Trump
11H ago 
Woman in New York fights back, prevents her car from being stolen
Bronx mother Tihisha Jones gets street justice after stopping a suspected car thief in his tracks — and it was all caught on camera
18H ago 
Man in alleged GoFundMe scam could face jail on traffic charges
Mark D'Amico, his girlfriend and a homeless veteran allegedly concocted a good Samaritan story to scam donors
Dec 18 
Teen caught on video attacking girl wearing hijab in school
Authorities in suburban Pittsburgh say they deem the bathroom incident bullying, not hate crime for now
Dec 18 
Two Chicago police officers killed by train
Police said the officers were investigating a call of shots fired when they were hit by the passing train
Dec 18 Original Article
