George Conway, a conservative lawyer and husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, on Monday called out a group of Republicans for failing to mention President Trump’s name in their criticism of the White House’s move to pull U.S. troops from northern Syria.
George Conway, a frequent and outspoken critic of the president, tweeted “#SayHisName” in separate posts directed at House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and former Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).
He also praised Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) for his willingness to directly condemn Trump on the issue, saying that “other Republicans should #SayHisName, just like this.”
The comments from GOP lawmakers and Conway come amid the fallout from Trump’s abrupt decision last week to remove troops from northern Syria ahead of a planned Turkish invasion. The forces deployed in northern Syria have been assisting the Kurdish YPG, which leads the Syrian Democratic Forces.{mosads}
Turkey considers the Kurdish-led forces, which have proved to be the U.S.’s most effective allies in its fight against ISIS, to be a terrorist insurgency.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed on Sunday that roughly 1,000 troops would be removed from the region as part of a “deliberate withdrawal.”
Reports surfaced later that day that hundreds of supporters of ISIS escaped a Kurdish-established detention camp after Turkish airstrikes hit the area surrounding Ain Issa, a city about 35 miles from the Turkish border.
Trump’s decision to remove troops has drawn backlash from both sides of the aisle, with many voicing concerns that it could lead to a resurgence for ISIS in the region.
Cheney said Sunday that a “shameful disaster” was unfolding in Syria, stating that allowing ISIS prisoners to escape confinement is “endangering American security.”
“I can see the appeal of argument that Syria isn’t somewhere we want to be anyway, so lets leave & let Erdogan & Kurds etc. figure it out,” Rubio tweeted. “But our national security interests in Syria are much broader than just Turks & Kurds & on each one we are significantly worse off now.”
Trump has meanwhile vigorously defended the move, arguing that the U.S. can no longer be involved in “endless” wars. He tweeted early Monday that “big sanctions” were coming Turkey’s way in light of its military offensive northern Syria.
He also suggested that Syrian Kurds targeted by Turkey may release some ISIS prisoners to get the U.S. involved in the conflict, prompting a strong rebuke from Kinzinger.
“I thought you were going to defeat ISIS, that is why people voted for you. What changed?” he asked. “This is weakness. America is far more honorable than this.”