WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st December, 2018) The Trump administration must inform Congress in advance of any policy changes regarding Syria or the war against terrorism in the middle East, a pair of US congressmen said in a joint statement.
"Congress must be fully informed and included in the deliberations about any policy under consideration," Republican Congressman Mac Thornberry and Democrat Adam Smith, both of whom serve on the House Armed Services Committee, said in the statement on Thursday.
The remarks come on the heels of President Donald Trump's announcement of his decision to pull out all US military forces from Syria.
The lawmakers said the withdrawal would be a strategic mistake and would have a negative effect on the US ability to help its allies and maintain regional stability against Russia and Iran.
Moreover, the congressmen disputed Trump's assertion that the Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) has been defeated in Syria, countering that the organization remains a legitimate threat to US security. Therefore, the need for a solid counterterrorism strategy remains appropriate, Thornberry and Smith said.
Despite criticism from US lawmakers, Trump continues to stand by his decision on Syria. He said in a Thursday morning tweet that the withdrawal from Syria should not come as surprise because he has been long wanting to pull troops out of the country. He added that US troops should not be doing a job that should be done by Russia, Iran and Syria, and should instead come home and rebuild America.
