The official refused to comment on what they called “the deliberative process” that led to the decision, but pointed out that Trump has long expressed support for ending U.S. engagement in Syria. “He has believed for many years that we do not have a military role to play in Syria,” said the official. “I really don’t see how this is a surprise.”
When asked about National Security Adviser John Bolton’s recent pledge that U.S. troops would not leave Syria “as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders, ” the official struggled to come up with a way to explain the apparent contradiction between Trump’s announcement and Bolton’s pledge.
“The issue here is that the president has made a decision, so that previous statements, um, he gets to do that, so that’s his prerogative,” the official said.
And while the aide did not have any figures at hand on the number of troops who have already come home, they did confirm that “the process has begun and the planning is underway.”
Article Appeared @https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/19/white-house-struggles-to-defend-trumps-syria-withdrawal-plan.html