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October 21, 2019

U.S. Troops Leaving Syria Headed for Iraq
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In northern Syria, U.S. troops continued their withdrawal Sunday, as
residents threw potatoes and rotten fruit at the convoys as they
departed for western Iraq, where the Pentagon says they will be
restationed, despite President Trump's claims that he was "bringing the
troops home." This is Pentagon chief Mark Esper.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper: "I had a discussion last week with my
French counterpart, and I had a conversation with the NATO secretary
general. We both agreed on the importance of continuing the defeat ISIS
campaign."

Trump hastily ordered the withdrawal from Syria after speaking on the
phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 6, and
cleared the way for the Turkish offensive against Kurdish-controlled
areas of northern Syria. There were reports of ongoing fighting between
the Turkish military and Kurdish groups over the weekend, despite a
five-day ceasefire, which ends tomorrow. The New York Times reports a
top Kurdish commander has warned of a bloodbath, saying, "There will be
ethnic cleansing." The Times also reports Erdogan is seeking to obtain a
nuclear bomb. Erdogan is meeting in Sochi with Russian President
Vladimir Putin tomorrow. Over the weekend, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
led a congressional delegation to Jordan and then to Afghanistan, where
she and other lawmakers highlighted their disagreement with Trump's
Syria policy. Last week, U.S. lawmakers repudiated Trump's policy on
Syria in a landslide bipartisan vote. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper
also traveled to Afghanistan Sunday in efforts to restart peace talks
with the Taliban, after President Trump abruptly broke off the talks
last month.


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