President Donald Trump denied giving Turkey a green light to invade Syria, insisting what he gave "was just the opposite of a green light." He also took on South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham after he criticized Trump's handling of the situation. (Oct. 16) AP, AP

DAVENPORT, Ia. President Donald Trump sold out United States allies and gave ISIS "a new lease on life" by withdrawing troops from Syria, former Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday.

Biden, who is seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, used a speech in Davenport to criticize the Republican president's foreign policy.Speaking in hushed tones, Biden lamented Trump'strade war with China andthe president'swithdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, while emphasizing his own foreign policy experience.

"Donald Trump, I believe its not comfortable to say this about a president but he is a complete failure as a commander in chief," Biden said. "Hes the most reckless and incompetent commander in chief weve ever had."

Biden saved his harshest words for Trump's decision earlier this month to remove U.S. armed forces from northern Syria. Turkey subsequently invaded the country, including territory held by the Kurds, who were U.S. allies in the fight against ISIS.

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"The events of this past week ... have had devastating clarity on just how dangerous he is to our national security, to our leadership around the worldand to the lives of the brave women and menserving in uniform," Biden said.

The decision to withdraw troops from Syria, Biden said, created a humanitarian crisis, forced the United States military into retreat and gave ISIS "a new lease on life."

"Those brave Kurdish and Arab forces paid a steep price. Defeating ISIS and the caliphate, they lost over 10,000 soldiers," Biden said. "Hear me? Ten thousand. Ten thousand dead. They made the ultimate sacrifice. And then Trump sold them out."

Trump has recently stood by his decision.

"It's not our problem," the presidenttold reporters Wednesdayas Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo prepared to travel toTurkey to try to negotiate a ceasefireand avoid a humanitarian crisis on the Syrian border.

The presidenthas repeatedly framed his decision in Syria as part of his broader pledge to withdraw U.S. troops from foreign entanglements.

Biden said the conflict created a rift between the United States and Turkey two NATO allies that is furthering Russian President Vladimir Putin's goal "offracturing the NATO alliance."

"Imagine how demoralizing it is to the troops, our troops, as Russia pours in, mercenaries, taking literally victory laps inside of the former U.S. camps and facilities the very ones President Trump ordered them to abandon. And Turkey attacking the very people they fought alongside of," Biden said.

The House has overwhelmingly voted its bipartisan condemnation of President Donald Trump's withdrawal of American forces from northern Syria. Democrats and Republicans banded together and approved a nonbinding resolution by 354-60 vote. (Oct. 16) AP, AP

Biden also used the speech to highlight his own foreign policy experience, saying that the country needs a leader who can assure its allies "on Day One" that the United States will keep its word.

"Im going to say something very self-serving:This is something I know a lot about. I spent a lot of time in that area, I know all these leaders, Ive been engaged. Because thats my job," Biden said in an improvised riffthat was not part of his prepared speech.

Biden also praised the Obama administration's strategy of using a few hundred American troops to work with local fighters to fight ISIS, a strategy he said Trump was imitating until he decided to withdraw those troops this month.

"The strategy was so successful it turned out that Trumps secret plan to defeat ISIS you remember that secret plan to defeat ISIS was just to keep doing what we had put in place. Until last week," he said.

Trump has faced bipartisan criticism for the withdrawal of troops, with the U.S. House voting overwhelminglyWednesday afternoon to condemn the move.

"Republicans in Congress know how irresponsible this is," Biden said. "Its about the only thing theyve mustered enough backbone to criticize him on. Thats how outrageous it is even Mitch McConnell knows hes wrong."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

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'Trump sold them out': Joe Biden hits the president over Syria troop withdrawal in Iowa speech - Des Moines Register