White House wakens to reality of Syria pullout

Following United States President Donald Trump's abrupt tweet on Dec 20 announcing the pullout of US troops from Syria, there was no lack of suspicion and criticism.

James Mattis, then defense secretary who resigned after Trump declared that all-important decision on Twitter, was only one of many who had difficulty endorsing it.

Many questions have been raised. Not least about the way a decision of far-reaching strategic significance was made. While bringing US servicemen and women home from the dangerous war zones of Syria does honor another of the US president's campaign promises, giving him one more chance to repeat the claim "promise kept", doing it in such a rash manner may create more problems than it solves.