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U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, center, is greeted by U.S. military personnel upon arriving in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. Esper arrived Sunday in Afghanistan, where stalled peace talks with the Taliban and persistent violent attacks by the insurgent group and Islamic State militants have complicated the Trump administration’s pledge to withdraw more than 5,000 American troops. He told reporters traveling with him that he believes the U.S. can reduce its force in Afghanistan without hurting the counterterrorism fight against al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Lolita C. Balbor)

Mark Esper says Syria troop withdrawal reversal is possible

By Lauren Toms, Ben Wolfgang and Lauren Meier - The Washington Times

In this June 7, 2017 file photo, Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the global coalition against IS, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq. McGurk has resigned in protest to President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, joining Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in an administration exodus of experienced national security officials. AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Brett McGurk: Syria crisis ‘going to get worse’

By Lauren Toms - The Washington Times

In this Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 file photo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks to a gathering of soldiers at the University Club at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky. Esper says during a weekend trip to the Middle East that under the current plan all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq, and that the military will continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent a resurgence in that country. As Esper left Washington on Saturday, Oct. 19, U.S. troops were continuing to pull out of northern Syria after Turkey's invasion into the border region. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

US may now keep some troops in Syria to guard oilfields

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

CORRECTING LOCATION TO ISTANBUL - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters during an event called &quot; Let's stop smoking, let's drink Rize tea &quot; in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. Turkey's defense ministry says Sunday it is closely monitoring the withdrawal of Syrian Kurdish forces as required by a U.S.-brokered cease-fire. (Presidential Press Service via AP, Pool )

The Latest: 70,000 children displaced by NE Syrian violence

Associated Press

In this frame grab from video provided by Hawar News, ANHA, the Kurdish news agency, residents who are angry over the U.S. withdrawal from Syria hurl potatoes at American military vehicles in the town of Qamishli, northern Syria, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday in Afghanistan that U.S. troops will stay in eastern Turkey to protect Kurdish-held oil fields for at least the coming weeks and that he was discussing options to keep them there. (ANHA via AP)

Syrians throw potatoes at withdrawing American troops

By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times

President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in Washington. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is right. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Latest: Trump says Israel, Jordan want troops in Syria

Associated Press

Syria to defeat ISIS illustration by Linas Garsys

U.S. intervention realities in the Global War on Terror

By L. Scott Lingamfelter

People attend funerls of Syrian Democratic Forces fighters killed recently fighting Turkish forces in the town of Hasakeh, north Syria, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad)

High stakes for Putin, Erdogan summit on northeast Syria

By ELENA BECATOROS - Associated Press

In this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, smoke billows from fires in Ras al-Ayn, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. Turkey's defense ministry says one soldier has been killed amid sporadic clashes with Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, despite a U.S.-brokered cease-fire. The ministry also said it allowed a 39-vehicle humanitarian convoy to enter Ras al-Ayn, a key border town that's seen some of the heaviest fighting. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

The Latest: Kurdish fighters pull out of Syrian border town

Associated Press

Pelosi in Jordan for ‘vital discussions’ amid Syria crisis

Associated Press

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks at the 2019 Democratic women's leadership forum, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Nancy Pelosi visits Jordan for ‘vital’ Syria discussions

Associated Press

FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2019 file photo, U.S. soldiers survey the the safe zone between Syria and the Turkish border near Tal Abyad, Syria, on a joint patrol with the Tax Abyad Military Council, affiliated with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says that under the current plan all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq, and that the military will continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent a resurgence in that country. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

US may now keep some troops in Syria to guard oil fields

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talks to journalists during a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool via AP)

Mike Pompeo: ‘Relatively little fighting’ after Turkey cease-fire

By Mike Glenn - The Washington Times

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, center, walks Gen. Scott Miller, right, chief of the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, at the U.S. military headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. Esper arrived Sunday in Afghanistan, where stalled peace talks with the Taliban and persistent violent attacks by the insurgent group and Islamic State militants have complicated the Trump administration’s pledge to withdraw more than 5,000 American troops. He told reporters traveling with him that he believes the U.S. can reduce its force in Afghanistan without hurting the counterterrorism fight against al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Lolita C. Balbor) **FILE**

Mark Esper: U.S. troops pulled from Syria headed to Iraq

By Lolita C. Baldor - Associated Press

In this Friday, Oct. 18, 2019 photo, Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters ride atop their armored personnel carrier to cross the border into Syria, in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants Syrian government forces to move out of areas near the Turkish border so it can resettle up to 2 million refugees there, his spokesman told The Associated Press on Saturday, adding that Erdogan will raise the issue in talks next week with Syria's ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Mehmet Guzel)

Defense chief: US troops leaving Syria to go to western Iraq

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

Vice President Mike Pence greets U.S. troops after speaking at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump touts Turkey cease-fire, even as it appears shaky

By ROBERT BURNS and ZEKE MILLER - Associated Press

People run to take cover after mortars fired from Syria hit Akcakale, Turkey, on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. On Friday, Turkish forces faced fierce resistance from U.S.-allied Syrian Kurdish fighters on the third day of Ankara's offensive in northern Syria, as casualties mounted, international criticism of the campaign intensified and estimates put the number of those who fled the violence at 100,000. (Ismail Coskun/IHA via AP )

AP PHOTOS: 10 days on the Turkish border with Syria

Associated Press

In this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, smoke billows from a fire in Ras al-Ayn, Syria, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. Fighting broke out in the morning hours in the Syrian border town which has been a flashpoint in the fight between Turkey and Kurdish forces despite a U.S.-brokered cease-fire that went into effect overnight. The fighting died down in mid-morning. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

The Latest: Syria Kurds say they will withdraw from border

Associated Press

In this photo taken from the Turkish side of the border between Turkey and Syria, in Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, southeastern Turkey, a new of Ras al-Ayn, Syria, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. Fighting broke out in the morning hours in the Syrian border town which has been a flashpoint in the fight between Turkey and Kurdish forces despite a U.S.-brokered cease-fire that went into effect overnight. The fighting died down in mid-morning. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Turkey wants Syrian forces to leave border areas, aide says

By KARL RITTER and SARAH EL DEEB - Associated Press

Vice President Mike Pence greets U.S. troops after speaking at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump touts Turkey cease-fire, even as it appears shaky

By ROBERT BURNS and ZEKE MILLER - Associated Press