Analysis: Trump's blunt talk about withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria is far too simple

Jim Michaels | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump to make a decision on Syria 'very quickly' President Trump says he wants to pull U.S. troops out of war-torn Syria to bring them home. At a news conference with Baltic leaders, Trump also spoke about his relationship with Russia and using the military to protect the Mexico border. (April 3)

WASHINGTON – President Trump surprised many of his military commanders this week when he abruptly said that he wanted to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, claiming the Islamic State was largely defeated.

On Wednesday the White House released a statement trying to square his remarks with reality, painting a more nuanced role for the U.S. in Syria.

“I want to get out,” Trump said. “I want to bring our troops back home. I want to start rebuilding our nation.”

"We’re knocking the hell out of ISIS," Trump said, referring to the Islamic State.

Wednesday's statement came a day after a top-level meeting of Trump's national security team, said Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence.

The White House said the military mission to destroy ISIS was coming to an end, but the U.S. remained committed to stabilizing Syria.

It’s true that ISIS is on its heels in Iraq and Syria. The terror group has been pushed out of 90% of the territory it once held in those two countries.

The U.S. has about 2,000 military personnel in Syria, serving as advisers or providing other support to local militias battling the Islamic State.

Trump’s seemingly off-the-cuff remarks oversimplified conditions in Syria and raised fears about Washington’s commitment to stabilizing the country. His remarks also seemed to reflect his hopes for a clean exit from Syria during its seven-year civil war, despite recommendations from his foreign policy and national security advisers.

“We will continue to consult with our allies and friends regarding future plans,” the statement said. “We expect countries in the region and beyond, plus the United Nations, to work toward peace and ensure that ISIS never re-emerges.”

The White House statement was more in line with what the Pentagon has said all along about a U.S. role in Syria.

U.S. military commanders have cautioned against a rush to the exits in Syria, mindful of what happened after American forces left Iraq in 2011. Three years later, Iraq’s military largely collapsed in the face of an Islamic State onslaught that captured a large chunk of the country.

Syria is in even more perilous shape. It has a weak central government that controls only part of the country. Russia, Iran, Turkey and other countries are attempting to exert influence in Syria as it is mired in civil war.

The Pentagon has said that as military operations against ISIS wind down in Syria, the U.S. commitment would shift to support "stabilization" efforts in areas of northern Syria once held by the militant group.

Groups able to step in with aid and reconstruction officials will require a secure environment to carry out their mission.

Much of the security needed to rebuild could be supplied by local forces, though U.S. officials have also said American troops would continue to support those efforts.

Gen. Joseph Votel, who heads U.S. Central Command, said Tuesday there would be a military role in Syria even as the mission shifts from military operations to stabilization and reconstruction.

“The hard part, I think, is in front of us, and that is stabilizing these areas, consolidating our gains, getting people back into their homes, addressing the long-term issues,” Votel said. “There is a military role in this, certainly in the stabilization phase.”

More: White House says U.S. will stay in Syria until Islamic State is defeated

More: Syria's civil war: A look at how we got to this point