Trump Reportedly Tells Military To Start Planning For Syria Withdrawal | Zero Hedge
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# Trump Reportedly Tells Military To Start Planning For Syria Withdrawal

Just hours after Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told the Pentagon press corp that a "decision was made" regarding the future of US troops in Syria, the Washington Post reported Wednesday that Trump has instructed the military to begin planning to withdraw US troops.

Though no date has been set for the withdrawal, and Trump reportedly told officials that US troops could be involved in training tasks for local troops to ensure security in liberated areas during a meeting Tuesday, he said that the US mission wouldn't extend beyond the destruction of the Islamic State. The group has relinquished all of its territory in Syria and has largely retreated from its so-called caliphate.

According CNN, last week, President Trump surprised the Pentagon by saying the US would wind down its operations in Syria, outraging the interventionist establishment in the process. Sen. Lindsey Graham even raged that pulling out US forces could "destabilize the region" and that it'd be "the single worst decision the president could make."

He again surprised the Pentagon by doubling-down on his plans during a Tuesday press conference.

> "Let the other people take care of it now. Very soon, very soon, we’re coming out. We’re going to get back to our country, where we belong, where we want to be."

Officially, the US has only 500 troops on the ground in Syria (at least that's the Pentagon line). However, late last year, a senior military commander accidentally admitted that the real number of US troops on the ground is closer to 4,000, per the Washington Post.

Last year, Foreign Policy reported that the Pentagon had "no plans" to withdraw troops from Iraq and Iran despite the (Russia-aided) collapse of ISIS's co-called caliphate. Generals said the military didn't want to pull out before a "diplomatic plan" had been established. But a lot has changed since then.

Meanwhile, Brett McGurk, the special envoy for the global coalition against ISIS, told the same forum that the struggle in Syria was far from over, per Reuters.

> "We are in Syria to fight ISIS. That is our mission, and our mission isn't over, and we are going to complete that mission," McGurk said.

Of course, in the Trump administration, nothing is certain until it is done, and there's plenty of reason to doubt that the withdrawal will happen, despite Trump's order. Trump ultimately backed off on troop withdrawals in Afghanistan last year, instead authorizing 4,000 additional troops to be deployed.

But assuming it goes through - and the shift comes at a sensitive time for Trump who has recently lost support of much of his base with the decision to cave on the border wall - it would represent an unprecedented rebuke to the military, not to mention Trump's defense secretary, Gen. James Mattis, who has said recently that US troops would remain on the ground in Syria for the foreseeable future.

Could Trump soon see the deep state and the military aligned against him?

Meanwhile, Coats added that the US has promised to take "additional measures" to stop malign Russian activities and defend the 2018 US Congressional elections, even though almost two years later, the US has yet to produce proof that Russia intentionally swayed the 2016 vote.

Tags
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War Conflict

## Comments

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Peak Finance Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:48 Permalink

But, but, but, He is a tool for the jews!

But, but, but, He is a liar and will never withdraw!

But, but, but, Goldman Sacs or something!

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Bes Peak Finance Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:48 Permalink

meh,

where the fuck the going to go????

oh yeah, 100 miles over back to Iraq

and another 4,000 back to Afghanistan

we ain't leaving MENA, ever!

and this way he can say he was against the Syrian war before he was for it.

In reply to But, but, but, He is a tool… by Peak Finance

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JimmyJones Bes Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:50 Permalink

Nice President Trump, I guess this proves your not a puppet of the House of Saud and Israel as others said. They seam to think that we must stay in Syria because Israel wants us there. Guess they were wrong. I guess the trolls will have to find a new "divide and Conquer" strategy on Trumps base. Staying in Syria is a fight that will be lost in the UN (I do hate the UN). Its blatantly illegal, Assad out lasted the nut job terrorist created by the CIA.

In reply to meh by Bes

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BigFatUglyBubble JimmyJones Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:51 Permalink

maybe he'll just nuke it instead of occupy it.

In reply to Nice President Trump, I… by JimmyJones

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JimmyJones BigFatUglyBubble Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:52 Permalink

Off topic but your Avatar is awesome.

In reply to maybe he'll just nuke it… by BigFatUglyBubble

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BigFatUglyBubble JimmyJones Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:55 Permalink

the waif presented in Downwithyogapants's avatar needed to be offset with a real woman...

In reply to Off topic but your Avatar is… by JimmyJones

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IH8OBAMA BigFatUglyBubble Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:57 Permalink

Just Nuke the place on the way out, Mr. President. Then it won't pose a new problem down the road.

In reply to the waif presented in… by BigFatUglyBubble

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kralizec IH8OBAMA Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:59 Permalink

I dunno about Trump...but I can't pull out until I've achieved some satisfaction...

Jus' sayin' not advocatin'...

In reply to Just Nuke the place on the… by IH8OBAMA

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swmnguy BigFatUglyBubble Wed, 04/04/2018 - 11:00 Permalink

Yes but the combination of your avatar and your screen name is irresponsibly triggering some folks. With that avatar your name should be "BodyPositiveGreenShoots," or something like that.

In reply to the waif presented in… by BigFatUglyBubble

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valjoux7750 JimmyJones Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:56 Permalink

Awesomely disgusting!!

In reply to Off topic but your Avatar is… by JimmyJones

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BennyBoy JimmyJones Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:51 Permalink

But Deep State is building new bases in Syria!

Uh oh.

In reply to Nice President Trump, I… by JimmyJones

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gatorengineer JimmyJones Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:53 Permalink

watch what he does, not what he says or tweets..... Maybe he will follow through maybe he wont.

In reply to Nice President Trump, I… by JimmyJones

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dirty fingernails gatorengineer Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:57 Permalink

This. How the reality of politicians vs the statements escapes the "enlightened" ZH mouthbreathers is just sad.

In reply to watch what he does, not what… by gatorengineer

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Hotapplebottoms gatorengineer Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:57 Permalink

let's see if the generals rush home to save their women and children first after trump does what he does best. THE MEDIA BITCH. can we start with some jew on jew?

In reply to watch what he does, not what… by gatorengineer

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Ghost of Porky Bes Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:52 Permalink

Of course the miltary is withdrawing from Syria.

The afghanistan poppy harvest is in 2 weeks and they need security and transport support.

In reply to meh by Bes

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Giant Meteor Bes Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:52 Permalink

Bes settle down. You're trying to hard ..

In reply to meh by Bes

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Potato Farmer Bes Wed, 04/04/2018 - 11:00 Permalink

Withdrawal? How much of a withdrawal and to where?

Devil is in the details.

Lies by omission.

In reply to meh by Bes

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TheSilentMajority Peak Finance Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:49 Permalink

President Kushner will not be happy if this is actually true.

In reply to But, but, but, He is a tool… by Peak Finance

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notfeelinthebern Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:48 Permalink

End this shitshow - once and for all!

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tmosley Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:48 Permalink

Cucks btfo once again.

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dirty fingernails Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:49 Permalink

Bull. Shit. Read between the lines. Trainers. Advisors. Ect. That's what they called the +4000 on the ground today.

Might I remind you of the US accented voice saying "got 'em got 'em got 'em" when the Russian jet was hit with a SAM recently.

But you tards just keep drinking deeply of the kool aid.

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BigFatUglyBubble Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:50 Permalink

are troops on the southern border yet? what happened with that? How long does it take to deploy troops in an emergency?

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Kafir Goyim BigFatUglyBubble Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:54 Permalink

You are so FUCKING dumb. I think they have time to pack their shit and gas up the Hummer. Don't worry, sweetie, they'll be there before the caravan gets there.

In reply to are troops on the southern… by BigFatUglyBubble

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Giant Meteor Kafir Goyim Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:57 Permalink

Methico is handlin this ..

In reply to You are so FUCKING dumb. I… by Kafir Goyim

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dirty fingernails BigFatUglyBubble Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:55 Permalink

That's another "believe it when I see it" statement. The hero worship here at ZH is pathetic. The hanging on every word shows the level of mental acuity and desperation.

That being said, I'm all for the troops being on the border 30 years ago. Hope it doesn't cut into CIA profits too deeply.

In reply to are troops on the southern… by BigFatUglyBubble

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Davy Crockett dirty fingernails Wed, 04/04/2018 - 11:00 Permalink

How many hours has it been since Trump talked about putting the military on the southern border? About 20 hours. Numnuts BigFatUglyBubble is pissed off that they're not already there. Or, he's just an asshole. Which do you think he is, stupid, or an asshole?

In reply to That's another "believe it… by dirty fingernails

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Brazen Heist Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:51 Permalink

I'm getting intel that more troops are being sent to Manbij and more outposts are being set up.

I'm not buying any of this "withdrawal" crap. Its a PR stunt.

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DisorderlyConduct Brazen Heist Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:58 Permalink

Well, considering that everyone, including enemies are reading this - it makes sense that it would be false info.

Unless we're privy to the actual plans and goals, all of this stuff is war noise and disinfo anyway. But that should be surprising to exactly no one.

In reply to I'm getting intel that more… by Brazen Heist

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Reaper Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:51 Permalink

He's studying Chinese. War is won with deception.

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Dilluminati Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:52 Permalink

I think we should station a soldier at every voting booth to safeguard the elections because paper ballots simply wouldn't work.

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DillyDilly Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:55 Permalink

No more 'boots on the ground' [Translation: they're switching to Air Jordans]

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SpanishGoop Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:56 Permalink

"told officials that US troops could be involved in training tasks for local troops to ensure security in liberated areas during"

Training local troops means training terrorists plain and simple.

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Cautiously Pes… Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:57 Permalink

We need to pull out of many countries. Bring our men and women back home and deploy them on our southern border, norther border and occupy Californiastan....they are out of control.

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CatInTheHat Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:57 Permalink

And as to fighting ISIS, the faux war on terror hoax?

ISIS is now guarding Syrian oil fields for JUSA and Israhell. We have 20 US occupying military bases there.

We aren't going anywhere. It isn't what Trump says it's what he does. And his recent decision to install Bolton tells you all you need to know.

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Lostinfortwalton Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:58 Permalink

The 4,000 troops are window dressing; the real forces are the thousands and thousands of CIA mercenaries mostly just out of the uniformed services and recycled in as spooks. At up to $200,000 each per year per spook, guess who pays?

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Peak Finance Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:59 Permalink

I got more news for you guys

We are PULLING OUT from Afganistan

This will happen, very quietly

They already CLOSED some of the FORWARD BASES where most of the fighting is done from

The 4,000 troops (and another 10,000 soon) are to manage the reverse refugee crisis that's gonna happen as 1,000,000 (literally that many) afghans return home from Pak and other nearby areas.

This HAS to happen quietly as the Globalists are going to collectively FREAK OUT and shit and entire mountain when this happens.

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DipshitMiddleC… Wed, 04/04/2018 - 10:59 Permalink

more like the troops are coming home to quell the unrest that is going to start here.

the future has been cancelled. there are very few if any good paying jobs and they require brains. most americans are stupid.

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JoseyWalesTheOutlaw Wed, 04/04/2018 - 11:00 Permalink

and the shift comes at a sensitive time for Trump who has recently lost support of much of his base with the decision to cave on the border wall -

yeah right...................Trump can't build the wall because his fuking republican rhinos and their globalist owners don't want No Wall..........

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Labworks Wed, 04/04/2018 - 11:00 Permalink

I don't know what's going on. I don't trust anybody. If we pull out, that's the right thing to do. If not, I won't be surprised.

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