Posted on 01/06/2020 12:57:43 PM PST by EyesOfTX
Today, President Donald Trump called the Iraqi government’s bluff, authorizing the commanding general of joint coalition forces in Iraq to send a formal letter to the Iraqi commanding officer notifying him of pending operations for coalition forces to depart from Iraq. This comes in the wake of the vote of the Iraqi parliament over the weekend to demand U.S. forces leave the region.
Here is a photo of the letter that is circulating on social media:
Image
Text:
sLTG Abu Amir Deputy Director, Combined Joint Operations,Baghdad Iraq-Ministry of Defense
Sir: In due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi parliament and Prime Minister, CTJF-OIR will be repositioning forces over the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement.
In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner.
During this time, there will be an increase in helicopter travel in and around the International Zone (IZ) of Baghdad. This increased traffic will include CH-47, UH-60 and AH-64 security escort helicopters.
Coalition forces will take appropriate measures to minimize and mitigate the disturbance to the public. In addition, we will conduct these operations during hours of darkness to help alleviate any perception that we may be bringing more coalition forces into the IZ.
As we begin implementing this next phase of operations, I want to reiterate the value of our friendship and partnership. We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM H. SEELY, III Brigadier General, U.S. Marine Corps Commanding General, TF-Iraq
[End]
As we have repeatedly pointed out here at the Campaign Update, one of the main reasons why Donald J. Trump was elected to the presidency in 2016 was his promise to get U.S. armed forces personnel out of the myriad interminable Middle East conflict into which his predecessors in office had gotten our country entangled.
Trump’s basic message during the campaign was that these wars between various Islamic countries and factions have been going on for eons, and nothing the U.S. can do – no amount of treasure or lives sacrificed – will end that reality. So, let the Islamic states in the region fight it out amongst themselves, and focus U.S. military efforts in the Middle East on protecting our assets and few real allies there – Israel and Saudi Arabia, mainly.
The Iraqi parliament’s demand over the weekend, whether serious or not, plays directly into the President’s hands in this regard.
It is also key to note that this strategic gambit would not be possible were it not for the fact that the U.S. today enjoys a much higher level of energy security than it did during past presidencies, thanks mainly to the shale oil and gas revolution that has taken place here over the past decade. The U.S. is not completely energy “independent” and probably never will be, but our country today has very little compelling national interest in risking American lives and treasure to keep the oil spigots in countries like Iran and Iraq open.
So, this letter from Brig. General Seely now puts the ball squarely back in the Iraqi government’s court. President Trump has basically said, hey, if you want to become a client state of the mullahs in Iran, go for it.
It will be interesting to see how Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi responds.
That is all.
Actually, the letter has been authenticated by both Iraq and the Pentagon. However, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff just said it is a “draft” that should not have been released.
Somebody’s lying. We still don’t know who yet.
no
The story has been updated now with an official statement from the Pentagon, among other things.
Once again you have jumped the gun,
copied someone else’s work,
pasted it to your blogsite,
hoping to make a few cents,
(...hmmm, if only I could only figure out a way
to get people to go to my blog
so I could get some more ‘hits’
so I can make some money.
Oh, wait! I know, I will join freerepublic
and then post links there for free,
that lead back to my blog.
“Yeah! That’s the ticket”...)
Most likely a fake letter to smoke out a leaker.
Esper’s Chief of Staff just resigned. You may be right.
The ‘official’ story seems to be that this was a draft waiting review.
It should not have been sent until reviewed.
LOL!
As an Army vet, I say CYA (cover your ^ss) is in full action and some poor EM orderly will get the blame.
A Møøselim once bit my sister ... No realli!
The people responsible for preparing the Iraqi withdrawal letter, have just been sacked.
Whoever took that picture and sent it out should be Court Martialed.
Actually I think it was sent.
It shouldn’t have been.
Amazed at the hoop-te-do being made over it.
A media that hates Trump.
It is a Marine letter, not an Army letter
Wow. 3D chess?
I wonder if Trump had planned this all along? Will be interesting to see what the leftist and the MSM have to say about it.
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