Trump rips Mattis, McGurk after resignations
By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times - Sunday, December 23, 2018
Facing a near-universal backlash over his decisions to pull U.S. troops from Syria and cut in half the number of forces in Afghanistan, President Trump late Saturday night unloaded on two outgoing officials who resigned over those decisions, saying he gave Defense Secretary James Mattis “a second chance” after the retired Marine Corps general was fired by former President Obama.
In a series of tweets, Mr. Trump also took aim at Brett McGurk, the administration’s special envoy to the global anti-Islamic State coalition.
Last Wednesday, the president abruptly announced that the U.S. had defeated the Islamic State in Syria and that the roughly 2,000 American troops stationed there would be coming home.
The surprise declaration sparked the resignation of Mr. Mattis. Mr. McGurk had been scheduled to leave in February but sped up his departure over the policy decision.
Just days before the president announced the Syria withdrawal, Mr. McGurk had stated flatly that the U.S. had a long-term interest in keeping troops in Syria, and that the administration knew it could not just defeat the Islamic State’s “physical space” and then leave.
“Brett McGurk, who I do not know, was appointed by President Obama in 2015,” the president said.
“Was supposed to leave in February but he just resigned prior to leaving.
Grandstander? The Fake News is making such a big deal about this nothing event!”
The president has clearly been irked by the negative reaction to his troop withdrawal announcements.
Leading Republicans on Capitol Hill and many conservative pundits have panned the moves, especially after Mr. Mattis resigned in protest last Thursday.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/23/donald-trump-rips-james-mattis-brett-mcgurk-after-/?
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