GOP rep: ‘Rand Paul is giving the president bad advice’ on Afghanistan and Syria

January 18, 2019 3oliver

Freshman Rep. Dan CrenshawDaniel CrenshawTexas governor, top lawmakers tell Trump not to use hurricane relief funds to build border wall GOP maps out early 2020 strategy to retake House Trump on declaring national emergency: ‘Not going to do it so fast’ MORE (R-Texas) is criticizing Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulTrump tells GOP senators he’s sticking to Syria and Afghanistan pullout Congress can stop the war on science Media fails spectacularly at smearing Rand Paul for surgery in Canada MORE, saying the Kentucky Republican gave President TrumpDonald John TrumpPentagon update to missile defense doctrine will explore space-base technologies, lasers to counter threats Giuliani: ‘I never said there was no collusion’ between the Trump campaign and Russia Former congressmen, RNC members appointed to Trump administration roles MORE “bad advice” when he suggested that the U.S. declare victory in Afghanistan and Syria.

“There are those of us who have sacrificed for our nation, who know the importance of this terrorist threat and the need to stay vigilant,” tweeted Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL, on Wednesday. “We go there so that they don’t come here. It’s that simple.”

@RandPaul is giving the President bad advice.

There are those of us who have sacrificed for our nation, who know the importance of this terrorist threat and the need to stay vigilant.

We go there so that they don’t come here. It’s that simple. https://t.co/L2rYvzSUYj

— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) January 17, 2019

Crenshaw, who wears an eyepatch due to an injury sustained in combat, was responding to a tweet from Paul in which the senator said he has “never been prouder” of Trump.

“In today’s meeting, he stood up for a strong America and steadfastly opposed foreign wars,” Paul said. “Putting America First means declaring victory in Afghanistan and Syria. President Trump is delivering on his promises.”

Paul has long been critical of ongoing American involvement in Afghanistan and Syria.

Trump has come under scrutiny for his recent decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, with some lawmakers warning that doing so could embolden ISIS and destabilize the region.

His decision came under further criticism on Wednesday after the terrorist group claimed responsibility for an attack that killed four Americans in the Syrian town of Manbij.

Trump tweeted on Dec. 19 that the U.S. had “defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there.” He posted a video the same day in which he said U.S. troops in the war-torn country are “all coming back and they’re coming back now.”

The president and administration officials have since tempered their language surrounding the withdrawal from Syria. National security adviser John Bolton earlier this month said the U.S. would not fully leave the country without the total defeat of ISIS and assurances from Turkey that it will not target U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria.