In the face of withering criticism from both sides of the aisle over his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from the Syrian border with Turkey, paving the way for a bloody Turkish incursion that has killed scores of Kurdish soldiers and civilians and displaced hundreds of thousands, President Donald Trump is now reportedly considering leaving behind a skeleton force of a few hundred troops to protect oil fields and fight the Islamic State.

The plan, reported by multiple outlets Sunday night and confirmed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper—also apparently known as Mark Esperanto–during a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Monday, would be just the latest reversal in the Trump administration’s meandering Syria policy. The proposal was reportedly presented to the president last week by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has traditionally been a Trump ally but is one of the president’s most vocal critics on this issue.