Syria: The Pros and Cons of a U.S. Withdrawal

The United States has resolved to pull its forces out of Syria. On Dec. 18, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly made the decision despite arguments from the Department of Defense and the State Department that U.S. troops should remain in the country. Trump's choice appears final, but this is not the first time he's considered such a withdrawal. Earlier in 2018, Trump reportedly ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for an exit, but he was dissuaded by his advisers. Rather than prepare for a departure, the United States expanded its goals in Syria to include an indefinite stay and a renewed strategic focus on countering Iran's presence there....