Sen. Rand Paul hailed President Trump for his decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria, saying he is “very proud” of the president.
“This is exactly what he promised,” the Kentucky Republican told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday. “I think people believe that we’ve been at war too long and too many places and that we do need to turn attention to problems we have at home here.”
“I’m very proud of the President. This is exactly what he promised … I think people believe that we’ve been at war too long and too many places and that we do need to turn attention to problems we have at home,” Sen. @RandPaul says of Trump’s decision to pull troops from Syria. pic.twitter.com/oDrFrCzzf8
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 23, 2018
Earlier this week, Trump said that the roughly 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria can return home because they have achieved their goal of defeated the Islamic State.
Trump made the announcement despite caution from his generals and advisers, and the move rattled Capitol Hill — including GOP lawmakers.
But Paul, who is often outspoken against armed conflict, cited “roads, bridges, schools“ as problems in America on which combat money can now be spent.
The decision to pull out of Syria is why Trump got elected, Paul said.
“One of the reasons he won is because he actually attracts independents who aren’t beholden to either party who say ‘You know what? Why don’t we turn attention back to America,’” he said.
Paul said it is time for Syria to stand up for itself.
“It doesn’t work to have Americans there, policing Muslim lands. It just engenders more terrorism. The longer Americans stay, the more terrorism you’ll have,” Paul said, saying that the U.S. presence is unwelcome in the Middle East.
“But really, the people who live there, the Muslims who live in these lands need to police the Muslims who live in these lands. If it’s Americans, it will always be seen as those who live there as some sort of religious crusade and it encourages more terrorism.”
“So the sooner we get out of that mess, the better,” he said.
