Lindsey Graham: 'Obama-Like Mistake' to Withdraw Troops

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said President Donald Trump's plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria is an "Obama-like mistake."

Graham's comments came as The Washington Post reported the administration plans to pull out all of the 2,000 American troops in Syria as soon as possible. The newspaper reported Trump has said troops are no longer need in Syria.

"If these media reports are true, it will be an Obama-like mistake made by the Trump Administration," Graham said, according to The Hill. "While American patience in confronting radical Islam may wane, the radical Islamists' passion to kill Americans and our allies never wavers."

And he added: "I fear it will lead to devastating consequences for our nation, the region, and throughout the world . . . Staying there is an insurance policy against the reemergence of ISIS and destruction of our Kurdish allies who fought so bravely against them."

Trump had tweeted Wednesday: "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump presidency."

• Major Powers Report Progress on New Syria Constitution Body
• Senate Syria Debate Shouldn't Scuttle US Mideast Goals