How Trump slowed rush for Syria exits after huddle in Iraq

[TomSea]

How Trump slowed rush for Syria exits after huddle in Iraq
Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, Lesley Wroughton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump was reeling from sharp rebukes at home and abroad over his surprise announcement last month to immediately pull American troops out of Syria when he flew into the al Asad airbase in neighboring Iraq the day after Christmas.

Inside a canvas Quonset hut, one of the arced prefabricated structures used by the military and surrounded by concertina wire, Trump received operational briefs from U.S. commanders suggesting a territorial victory against Islamic State was within sight, but the military needed just a bit more time, U.S. officials said.

“They were upbeat about their ability to wrap things up,” one of the officials told Reuters. “I definitely think that was a seminal meeting” in terms of influencing Trump’s thinking.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-trump-insight/how-trump-slowed-rush-for-syria-exits-after-huddle-in-iraq-idUSKCN1P92P9