Intel: US to announce agreement to pull 'combat troops' from Iraq

[rangerrebew]

Intel: US to announce agreement to pull 'combat troops' from Iraq

Security will be at top of agenda for US-Iraq Strategic Dialogue today, and when US President Joe Biden hosts Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on July 26.
 
July 23, 2021

US and Iraqi officials are preparing a statement that will likely mention a time frame for the withdrawal of American “combat troops” from Iraq by the end of the year, a US official confirmed.

The announcement is expected to be released following Kadhimi’s meeting with President Joe Biden on Monday, The Wall Street Journal first reported Thursday.

A military delegation led by Iraq’s national security adviser met with top Pentagon officials on Thursday to lay groundwork for the latest round of dialogue between the two governments, which will include discussion of the presence of US forces in Iraq, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters.

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/07/intel-us-announce-agreement-pull-combat-troops-iraq

[rangerrebew]

Iraq still needs US help to defeat Islamic State, foreign minister says

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein made the remarks ahead of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s visit to Washington on Monday.
 
July 24, 2021

Iraq still needs support from the US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Friday amid reports the Biden administration is planning to withdraw combat troops from the country.

“There’s still terrorist activities for ISIS in Iraq,” Hussein said alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, using a common abbreviation for the Islamic State.

Hussein highlighted the Islamic State-claimed bombing at a busy market in Baghdad’s Sadr City on Monday, which left more than 30 people dead. In recent months, the Iraqi capital has experienced several attacks attributed to the Sunni terrorist group, which has maintained a low-level insurgency since Iraq announced the Islamic State’s territorial defeat in 2017.

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/07/iraq-still-needs-us-help-defeat-islamic-state-foreign-minister-says

So which will it be?  Take troops out of Iraq and let ISIS take it over or stay in Iraq and fight the takeover of Iraq for some reason?

[dfwgator]

Iraq still needs US help to defeat Islamic State, foreign minister says

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein made the remarks ahead of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s visit to Washington on Monday.
 
July 24, 2021

Iraq still needs support from the US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Friday amid reports the Biden administration is planning to withdraw combat troops from the country.

“There’s still terrorist activities for ISIS in Iraq,” Hussein said alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, using a common abbreviation for the Islamic State.

Hussein highlighted the Islamic State-claimed bombing at a busy market in Baghdad’s Sadr City on Monday, which left more than 30 people dead. In recent months, the Iraqi capital has experienced several attacks attributed to the Sunni terrorist group, which has maintained a low-level insurgency since Iraq announced the Islamic State’s territorial defeat in 2017.

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/07/iraq-still-needs-us-help-defeat-islamic-state-foreign-minister-says

So which will it be?  Take troops out of Iraq and let ISIS take it over or stay in Iraq and fight the takeover of Iraq for some reason?

Sorry, you've had 20 years to get your act together, Iraq...!

[Fishrrman]

Future prediction for Iraq:
Jes' look at Afghanistan right now.

But there's no reason to twist yourself into knots over this.
You KNEW it was going to happen, as soon as we left.
Whether it be 10 years, 20 years, 50 years, or 100 years...
...The result was going to be the same.

[AARguy]

When I was in Iraq we had 400,000 troops and 400,000 contracted civilians there. Now we have about three guys and a dog. No big deal.