Biden Launches Foreign Policy Criticism of Warren after Middle East Troops Remark
17 October 2019 - 7:40AM
Dow Jones News
By Sabrina Siddiqui, Joshua Jamerson and Ken Thomas
Joe Biden opened a fresh line of attack against his leading
Democratic rival Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday, warning that her
support for withdrawing U.S. troops from the Middle East would
culminate in "disaster."
Speaking to reporters in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Biden seized on Ms.
Warren's suggestion in Tuesday night's presidential debate that the
U.S. should not have troops in the Middle East.
"I have never heard anyone say, with any serious background in
foreign policy, that we pull all troops out of the Middle East,"
Mr. Biden said. "I'm not sure exactly what she meant by it."
"If she meant pulling our fleet out of the eastern Mediterranean
or the Persian Gulf, I think it would be an absolute disaster for
American security and American foreign policy," he added.
Ms. Warren, who drew fire from all sides of the debate stage in
Westerville, Ohio, expressed skepticism over U.S. involvement in
the Middle East when the discussion turned to President Trump's
Oct. 6 decision to withdraw roughly 1,000 U.S. troops from
northeastern Syria.
"I don't think we should have troops in the Middle East," Ms.
Warren said, adding that "we have to do it the right way, the smart
way."
She was nonetheless critical of Mr. Trump's move to pull out of
Syria, which prompted a new crisis at the war-torn country's
northeastern border. Turkey launched a military assault against
Kurdish forces, who were U.S. allies in the fight against Islamic
State militants, in the wake of Mr. Trump's decision.
The Warren campaign has sought to clarify her remarks about
troops in the Middle East.
"Elizabeth was referencing combat troops, not those stationed in
the Middle East in non-combat roles. She believes we need to end
the endless wars," a spokesman said in a statement Wednesday. "That
means working to responsibly remove U.S. troops from combat in the
Middle East, and using diplomacy to work with allies and partners
to end conflicts and suffering in the region."
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 16, 2019 16:25 ET (20:25 GMT)
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