President Trump ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and declared that America had ‘defeated ISIS.’ WSJ's Gerald F. Seib discusses the significance of the decision and its consequences. Photo: APWASHINGTON—Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he would resign at the end of February after President Trump ordered the drawdown of all troops from Syria and many from Afghanistan, because his views no longer “aligned” with the president’s, an abrupt departure of a military figure considered a stalwart of national security. Mr. Mattis told the president he would quit during a White House meeting Thursday afternoon, after expressing concern about the president’s surprise call to rapidly withdraw more than 2,000 U.S. troops from...

Source: Wall Street Journal December 20, 2018 22:27 UTC