In a blistering speech on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Mitt Romney hammered President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria.
Romney said the decision to abandon our Kurdish allies was a “bloodstain” on American history.
“What we have done to the Kurds will stand as a bloodstain in the annals of American history,” he said.
Romney spoke at length, ripping Trump’s decision to effectively abandon Kurdish allies in the region. He said he welcomed news of a 5-day ceasefire in the conflict but said numerous questions remained about how Trump reached his hasty decision to pull troops out of the area.
“The ceasefire does not change the fact that America has abandoned an ally. Adding insult to dishonor, the administration speaks flippantly as our ally has suffered death and casualty. Their homes have been burned and their families have been torn apart. Our Kurd allies lost 11,000 combatants in our joint effort to defeat Isis…This is a matter of American honor and promise. So, too, is the principle that we stand by our allies, that we do not abandon our friends. The decision to abandon the Kurds violates one of our most sacred duties. It strikes at American honor,” said Romney.
Romney also speculated that Trump gave Turkey advance notice of the withdrawal of U.S. troops, but did not afford the same for our Kurdish allies.
“Why would we not warn our allies the Kurds of what we’re about to do? Why would we not give them time to also withdraw or perhaps dig in to defend themselves? Clearly the Turks had a heads up because they were able to start bombing within mere hours,” said Romney.
“Are we so weak and so inept diplomatically that Turkey forced the hand of the United States of America? Turkey?” he continued mockingly.
Romney also called for public hearings on President Trump’s decision to withdraw forces.
