SYRIA ATTACK ‘SOON OR NOT AT ALL’, SAYS US PRESIDENT TRUMP
US prez seeks to dial down rhetoric of ‘smart missiles’
WASHINGTON : After putting Syria and its ally Russia on notice for incoming “nice and new and ‘smart’” missiles, US President Donald Trump on Thursday sought to dial down the rhetoric and tweeted he never said anything about the timing of a strike.
“Never said when an attack on Syria would take place,” Trump tweeted. “Could be very soon or not so soon at all!” He then veered off topic, posting: “In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our Thank you America?”
Trump’s tweets came after he spoke angrily of the Russian threat to shoot down American missiles fired in retaliation for the chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town of Douma.
He had tweeted: “Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’ You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is supported by Moscow.
Trump is facing criticism for sending conflicting signals on his Syria policy. His threat to retaliate with all options on the table runs contrary to his desire to pull out most of the 2,000 US troops deployed there, leaving behind a smaller contingent for hunting down remaining Islamic State fighters.
US diplomats and military leaders have pushed back, and publicly, indicating much needed to be done.