SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Senator John Thune (R-SD) has concerns about President Trump’s new withdrawal strategy in Syria.
“The reason U.S. forces got involved in Syria, to begin with, was to address the terrorist threat born out of the vacuum left by the hasty U.S. withdrawal in Iraq.”
Thune says there are obvious concerns about “recreating” those conditions.
He’s worried about what it will all mean for the Kurdish fighters, who have been U.S. allies.
Thune is also concerned that the new Trump policy could increase Russian and Iranian influence in the area.
KELO Radio News also asked Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) for reaction to the new Trump policy. Senator Rounds chose not to include any direct reference to the policy, instead focusing on the Turks.
“My concern results from the military action Turkey is taking against our Kurdish partners in the war against ISIS. This instability could result in detained ISIS fighters escaping.”
Rounds is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
There are bipartisan efforts in both the House and the Senate on Turkish sanctions legislation. The Trump administration has also imposed sanctions on Turkey.
