Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley slammed President Trump’s decision to pull American troops out of northeastern Syria.
U.S. troops began backing out of northern Syria on Sunday ahead of an expected Turkish attack. Kurdish fighters, who have worked with U.S. troops in the region to fight ISIS, condemned the move by the U.S. military and accused the United States of abandoning its allies and giving up territory U.S.-led coalition forces fought hard to win.
Haley took her disagreement with the president public Monday morning, tweeting, “We must always have the backs of our allies, if we expect them to have our back. The Kurds were instrumental in our successful fight against ISIS in Syria. Leaving them to die is a big mistake.”
We must always have the backs of our allies, if we expect them to have our back. The Kurds were instrumental in our successful fight against ISIS in Syria. Leaving them to die is a big mistake. #TurkeyIsNotOurFriend
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) October 7, 2019
Trump had previously backed away from plans to pull the U.S. military out of Syria completely, agreeing to a partial withdrawal that would leave a smaller security force in the country.
The president justified the reversal back to his original plan on Twitter.
“The Kurds fought with us, but were paid massive amounts of money and equipment to do so. They have been fighting Turkey for decades,” Trump said. “It is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home.”
….including capturing thousands of ISIS fighters, mostly from Europe. But Europe did not want them back, they said you keep them USA! I said “NO, we did you a great favor and now you want us to hold them in U.S. prisons at tremendous cost. They are yours for trials.” They…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
….almost 3 years, but it is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN. Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia and the Kurds will now have to…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
…figure the situation out, and what they want to do with the captured ISIS fighters in their “neighborhood.” They all hate ISIS, have been enemies for years. We are 7000 miles away and will crush ISIS again if they come anywhere near us!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
