President Trump decides to pull troops out of Syria

By: Nolan Cleary

Staff Writer

President Donald Trump has announced his intent to once again pull troops out of Northern Syria, garnering criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.

Earlier this year, Trump said he believed the troops had completely decimated ISIS and proceeded to call for the removal of these troops. Democrats and Republicans followed up by passing a bill condemning the President’s actions. 

Additionally, United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced his resignation, later citing Trump’s decision as a key reason, saying America has a duty to its allies.

At the time, the backlash ultimately caused Trump to keep troops in the region. Now he has once again made the decision to pull troops out of Northern Syria.

Trump has argued that his plan would bring the troops home and stop what some have criticized as endless war in the Middle East. There is also fear that the Kurds, an Iranian ethnic group residing in Syria that aided America against ISIS, could be in danger of mass genocide.

This is due to Turkey, a country that views them as terrorists, beginning their invasion of the region. 

The decision has left many Senators on both sides of the aisle upset. Senators Marco Rubio from Florida and Lindsay Graham from South Carolina have both criticized Trump despite typically siding with his decisions. Nikki Haley, Trump’s former Ambassador to the United Nations has called the move an abandonment of allies. 

The decision received praise from Republican Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and Republican Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who have said they view current United States foreign policy as overly interventionist.

A bill to condemn the President’s decision passed in the United States House of Representatives.

At Hudson Valley Community College, students have a variety of thoughts on the decision. 

Lamia Sanaa, an individual studies major, said she supports the President’s decision to pull troops out of Northern Syria. 

“I feel like [Trump] should take [the troops back] because it’s not America’s business, but they shouldn’t have even put them there in the first place,” Sanaa said.

Haroon Arif, a student pursuing a criminal justice major, said he feels differently. He said he believes the United States has a responsibility to the Kurds. 

“I feel like they [have a responsibility], because it’s a moral type thing,” said Arif. “There’s already troops there.” 

Ekram Phanisnaraine, a business administration major, said he agreed, but he understands the argument that supports bringing the troops home.

“If they helped us defeat ISIS, they deserve our help but I do get this sense of wanting to bring the troops home,” said Phanisnaraine. “In a moral sense, it would be right for us to help to stop [the Kurds] from being massacred.” 

Brent O’Donovan, an individual studies major said he’s uncomfortable with the idea of foreign wars, but that Trump needs some presence in Syria to prevent the rise of terrorist organizations similar to ISIS. 

“Personally, I don’t like the idea of having our troops in another country, but I understand why people want to keep troops there,” O’Donovan said.  “It’s a hot spot for terrorists.”

The war between the United States and Syria began three years ago at the height of a civil war in Northern Syria. 

Former President Barack Obama, who was in office at the time, ordered the invasion of Syria by American soldiers. Obama’s action received bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans at the time.

However, it also caused some American citizens to argue if such a conflict would be necessary for the United States to get involved in. 

The report by United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Syrian President Bashaar Al Assad was using poisonous gas on Syrian citizens is generally cited as a reason for American involvement.