U.S. Says It Won’t Discuss Withdrawing Troops From Iraq

[TheCount]

U.S. Says It Won’t Discuss Withdrawing Troops From Iraq

The State Department on Friday rebuffed the Iraqi government’s request to begin discussions on pulling out troops, saying that any American officials going to Baghdad during a state of heightened tensions would not discuss a “troop withdrawal.” Instead, discussions would be about the “appropriate force posture in the Middle East.”

The statement from Washington was a direct rejoinder to Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi of Iraq, and was certain to add to the friction between the two nations.

The prime minister said earlier on Friday that he had asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to send a delegation from the United States to discuss steps for the withdrawal of the approximately 5,200 American troops from his country, in the aftermath of a deadly American military strike ordered by President Trump that many Iraqis say violated their country’s sovereignty.

“We are happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure is,” Mr. Pompeo said at a news conference after the State Department had made its announcement. He stressed that the mission of the United States in Iraq was to train Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State, and “we’re going to continue that mission.”

https://nyti.ms/2QFH5fk

 

[Swordsmyth]

Trump will overrule them.

 

[angelatc]

Regime change time again!

But (Soleimani) was much more than a special forces commander or spymaster; he was Iran’s most important envoy, and he served as Tehran’s intimidating political fixer throughout the Middle East.

He dominated the political landscape in Baghdad. In November, The Intercept and the New York Times reported on leaked Iranian intelligence cables that publicly documented Iran’s deep influence in Iraq from Iran’s perspective for the first time. What jumped off the pages in the leaked cables was Suleimani’s personal political power in Iraq and his hold on many of Iraq’s top political, military, and security officials.

Last October, Suleimani intervened at the highest levels of Iraqi politics to keep Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi in office amid massive protests and calls for his resignation. American officials serving in Iraq always thought they heard Suleimani’s footsteps.

 

[AngryCanadian]

Regime change time again!

Yup thats what Bolton said to it was a right step for regime change, the protests that were happening against Adil Abdul-Mahdi were no doubt organized by America to favor a puppet that favors America interests of their game in region.

 

[angelatc]

Yup thats what Bolton said to it was a right step for regime change, the protests that were happening against Adil Abdul-Mahdi were no doubt organized by America to favor a puppet that favors America interests of their game in region.

Since rigging the election didn't work, I guess they had to take it up a notch.