Amy Klobuchar: “I rise today in response to the President's announcement on the withdrawal of troops from Syria. Like many of my…”

“I rise today in response to the President's announcement on the withdrawal of troops from Syria. Like many of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, I am deeply concerned that prematurely withdrawing American troops from Syria is contrary to the advice of senior national security officials and that the President's announcement will have negative consequences for our country's national security interests. I am also concerned about the implications of U.S. withdrawal for the security of our allies and for innocent civilians in Syria. Since August of this year, the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and National Security Advisor have all suggested that the Syrian conflict requires sustained U.S. commitment. Just last week, the administration's Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS said that ``we can't just pick up and leave'' Syria. This week, the U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement said that the U.S. would remain in Syria until the U.S. achieves three objectives: ensuring the defeat of the Islamic State, reducing Iranian influence, and reaching a political solution to resolve the crisis. The President's announcement contradicts the advice of our diplomats and military leaders and fails to address these issues. These concerns are shared by our key allies, including Israel and Jordan. The withdrawal of U.S. troops will also abandon the Kurds, who have been our partners in the region. Once again, we see the U.S.…”