Trump's surprise announcements on Syria and Afghanistan alarm allies and lawmakers
by David S. Cloud, Los Angeles Times
Dec 22, 2018
4 minutes
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's decision this past week to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria and up to half the 14,000 U.S. troops from the war in Afghanistan shocked Washington, but it probably shouldn't have.
Trump, in his own chaotic way, was doing what he had long promised to do: end or least sharply limit America's endless wars and bring the troops home.
Lawmakers and foreign leaders called the plans rash and misguided, warning that a broad U.S. retreat could create new instability and raise doubts about America's military commitments.
Defense Secretary James Mattis was so furious that Trump would abandon allies in Syria
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