President Donald Trump once again backtracked on his claim that ISIS has been defeated in Syria, all while arguing that U.S. military forces should be withdrawn.
For months, Trump has claimed that ISIS is destroyed and the our military has achieved victory in Syria. Of course, that’s a lie, and his own intelligence officials confirmed that earlier this week in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“ISIS is intent on resurging and still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria,” Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said, adding that the terrorist group “very likely will continue to pursue external attacks from Iraq and Syria against regional and Western adversaries, including the United States,” and “has returned to its guerrilla warfare roots while continuing to plot attacks and direct its supporters worldwide.”
On Thursday evening, Trump claimed that his intelligence chiefs were wrong and that he’s right about ISIS in Syria being defeated.
However, his story changed again on Friday morning as he argued for a troop withdrawal from Syria:
I inherited a total mess in Syria and Afghanistan, the “Endless Wars” of unlimited spending and death. During my campaign I said, very strongly, that these wars must finally end. We spend $50 Billion a year in Afghanistan and have hit them so hard that we are now talking peace…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 1, 2019
….after 18 long years. Syria was loaded with ISIS until I came along. We will soon have destroyed 100% of the Caliphate, but will be watching them closely. It is now time to start coming home and, after many years, spending our money wisely. Certain people must get smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 1, 2019
In short, Trump just admitted that we haven’t defeated ISIS yet, but he still intends to abandon our allies in the region anyway, thus leaving tens of thousands of ISIS fighters left to regroup.
Twitter users mocked Trump accidental admission along with his claim to be “smart” with money:
Just last month you said that we have “defeated ISIS”. Are you admitting now that this was just another one of your 8000+ lies?
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) February 1, 2019
You don’t know how to spend money wisely. You bankrupted a casino for God’s sake!
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) February 1, 2019
You LIED and said ISIS was defeated. You lied about your Intelligence chiefs, and said they all agree with you. They don’t.
It was a public hearing, you DOPE. pic.twitter.com/RrZa98XDrU
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) February 1, 2019
STOP THE GODDAMNED LYING. It’s dangerous. Here’s the truth: The most recent UN estimates put the number of ISIS militants in Syria and Iraq today at between 20,000 and 30,000, with most dispersed over territory the group no longer fully controls. Peak ISIS: 33K in 2015.
— Lesley Abravanel (@lesleyabravanel) February 1, 2019
BULLSHIT. Your own Pentagon says if we leave Syria now, #ISIS /caliphate will reconstitute there in 6 months. You have no f’ing clue what you’re doing and you’re putting our national security in grave danger. #Trump
— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) February 1, 2019
ISIS is completely gone but needs to be watched? What?
— Private Joker, USMC (@Infantry0300) February 1, 2019
Intel Analyst here- served under Obama, SOS Clinton, & Defense Secs Panetta/Hagel. Just as we KNEW a vacuum would form and destabilize after Obama followed through WHAT HE CAMPAINGED ON, You Mr. President are making a grave misake. It’s not always about satisfying your base.
— Michael Thomas (@mtmandley) February 1, 2019
Clearly, ISIS has not been defeated. Even Republican lawmakers and military leaders say that Trump is wrong about ISIS.
If we ignore the tens of thousands of fighters left on the battlefield, that opens the Middle East up to being terrorized and taken over again by the Caliphate, which can then pursue terrorist attacks in the United States and elsewhere as the organization regains strength and resources. The only real victory is a total victory and that won’t happen if Trump retreats from Syria.
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