Votel: U.S. Still Needs to Keep Pressure on ISIS After Syria Exit by John Grady - USNI News
The U.S.- led military coalition needs to keep military pressure on the Islamic State even after the American withdrawal from Syria. And the U.S. needs to be prepared to still provide $4 billion yearly to Kabul after a troop drawdown in Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command commander Army Gen. Joseph Votel told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
Votel told the SASC he had not been consulted nor given any advance warning in December before President Donald Trump announced a pullout from Syria and the possible pullout of half of the 14,000 American service members in Afghanistan.
“Certainly we were aware that he had expressed a desire and intent [to leave],” he said.
Votel did not elaborate on several questions on the details of the withdrawal, telling the committee he could say more in closed session…