U.S.: ‘Mission Accomplished’ not last of actions vs. Syria
President Trump defended his use of the phrase “Mission Accomplished” yesterday to describe a U.S.-led missile attack on Syria’s chemical weapons program, even as his aides stressed continuing U.S. involvement and plans for economic sanctions against Russia for supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Stepping up the pressure on Assad, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said sanctions announced today would be aimed at sending a message to Russia, which she said has blocked six attempts by the U.N. Security Council to make it easier to investigate the use of chemical weapons.
“Everyone is going to feel it at this point,” Haley said, warning of consequences for Assad’s foreign allies. “The international community will not allow chemical weapons to come back into our everyday life. The fact he was making this more normal and that Russia was covering this up, all that has got to stop.”
Trump took to Twitter yesterday and wrote the strike was “perfectly carried out” and “the only way the Fake News Media could demean was by my use of the term ‘Mission Accomplished.’ ” He added that he knew the media would “seize” on the phrase, but said it should be used often.
Trump tweeted “Mission Accomplished” on Saturday after U.S., French and British warplanes and ships launched more than 100 missiles nearly unopposed by Syrian air defenses.
Cedric Leighton, a retired Air Force Colonel who served at the National Security Agency and Pentagon, said the Trump administration’s next move will depend on how Assad responds to the latest Tomahawk attack. If Assad continues to use chemical weapons, he can expect increased attacks.
“The Syrian regime needs to understand this is potentially just the beginning,” Leighton said. “The Trump administration is willing to go after them and continue strikes, and perhaps, even ramp up intensity of the strikes, if they continue to behave in this fashion.”
While Trump declared success, the Pentagon said the pummeling of three chemical-related facilities left enough others intact to enable the Assad government to use banned weapons against civilians if it chooses.
Trump’s “Mission Accomplished” tweet recalled a similar claim associated with President George W. Bush following the U.S.led invasion of Iraq. Bush addressed sailors aboard a Navy ship in May 2003 alongside a “Mission Accomplished” banner, just weeks before it became apparent that Iraqis had organized an insurgency that would tie down U.S. forces for years.
Haley made clear yesterday the United States won’t be pulling troops out of Syria right away, saying U.S. involvement there “is not done.”
“We’re not going to leave until we know we’ve accomplished those things,” she said.