Pompeo, Graham Back Trump Approach to Turkey Syria Incursion

Secretary of state cites a report that cease-fire is holding
Critics say U.S. has betrayed its allies from fight with ISIS

Mike Pompeo listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks Oct. 16.Photographer: Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg

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By Mark Niquette and Billy House

October 20, 2019 at 3:16 PM UTC

Updated on

October 20, 2019 at 5:48 PM UTC

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Secretary of State Michael Pompeo led the defenders of President Donald Trump’s handling of Turkey’s incursion into Syria, saying Sunday that a cease-fire is holding and that U.S. goals in the Middle East are being met despite criticism allies are being betrayed.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a recent sharp critic of Trump’s Syria policy, also came around, saying the president was “thinking out of the box.” Earlier this month Graham suggested Trump’s withdrawal from northern Syria made him want to vomit.