Some threatened to introduce a resolution calling for Trump to
reverse the move or legislation imposing sanctions on Turkey if
it attacked Kurdish forces. Kurdish soldiers have helped the
United States fight the Islamic State militant group, but the
Turkish military has branded them terrorists.
"This decision poses a dire threat to regional security and
stability, and sends a dangerous message to Iran and Russia, as
well as our allies, that the United States is no longer a
trusted partner," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said
in a statement calling on Trump to "reverse this dangerous
decision."
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement: "A
precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would only
benefit Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime. And it would
increase the risk that ISIS and other terrorist groups regroup."
McConnell was referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
McConnell also noted in his statement that most of the Senate
voted in January for an amendment expressing bipartisan concern
about the continuing threat posed by Islamic militant groups in
Syria and support for a continued military presence.
"The conditions that produced that bipartisan vote still exist
today," he said.
The United States on Monday began pulling troops back from
northeastern Syria's border, effectively giving Turkey a green
light to move into the area, after Trump's surprise announcement
on Sunday that he was withdrawing U.S. forces.
Many Congress members from both parties quickly condemned the
move, a departure from the deep partisan divide that has opened
at the U.S. Capitol, worsened by House Democrats' decision to
open an impeachment investigation of the Republican president.
On Monday, several Republicans better known for their strong
backing of Trump also expressed outrage over the decision.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called the situation "a
disaster in the making" that showed the United States is an
unreliable ally.
Graham said he would introduce a Senate resolution opposing the
plan and asking for a reversal. He also said he and Democratic
Senator Chris Van Hollen planned to introduce bipartisan
sanctions against Turkey if it invades Syria and will call for
their suspension from NATO if they attack Kurdish forces.
Later on Monday, however, Trump threatened to destroy Turkey's
economy if it took its planned military strike too far.
(Reporting by Makini Brice, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu,
additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Lisa
Lambert and Jonathan Oatis)
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