Trump's decision on Syria is 'very clear': Pompeo

By Servet Gunerigok</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw all American troops from Syria is &quot;very clear&quot;, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday. </p> <p>He was speaking to reporters at the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil, Iraq.</p> <p>Pompeo made the remarks in response to a question about whether a condition set by the U.S. for the pullout that requires Turkey to promise not to attack the PYD/YPG, the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terror organization, put the withdrawal at risk. </p> <p>He said the U.S. was talking to the PYD/YPG and Ankara on how to effectuate the pullout in a &quot;way that protects our forces, makes sure that the Americans are safe.</p> <p>&quot;We will complete the mission of taking down the last elements of the caliphate before we depart,&quot; said Pompeo, referring to the Daesh terror organization. </p> <p>Last December, Trump announced plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, claiming that American forces had defeated Daesh there.</p> <p>Ankara has long criticized the U.S. for working with the terrorist PYD/YPG to fight Daesh in Syria, saying that using one terror group to fight another makes no sense.</p> <p>In its 30-year terrorist campaign, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including women and children. </p> <p>Pompeo said Washington &quot;acknowledges that there is a threat to Turkey from terrorists and we will be very supportive.</p> <p>&quot;Any place we find extremists and terrorists, we’re prepared to support whatever country is ready to go after them,&quot; he said. &quot;That includes Turkey and others.&quot;