The D Brief: Plan for Iraq?; New Somalia strikes; DDG-1000 ops; Army LT hits gold; And a bit more...
By Bradley Peniston and Jennifer Hlad
July 26, 2021 11:23 AM ET
The D Brief
Iraqi PM is at the White House today. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and President Biden are expected to announce that U.S. troops will end the combat mission in that country by the end of the year, the Washington Post reports—though no press conference appears on today’s White House schedule.
The plan may not actually reduce U.S. forces in Iraq by much, the Wall Street Journal reported last week. Many troops may simply shift to advise-and-assist roles, according to the Post.
So why do it? Here’s the New York Times’ take: “What appears to be a set piece of diplomatic theater is the latest effort by Mr. al-Kadhimi to tread between the needs and demands of Iraq’s two closest allies, the United States and Iran. Pro-Iranian factions have been clamoring for a U.S. departure, while Iraqi officials acknowledge they still need the help of American forces.
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/07/the-d-brief-july-26-2021/184027/
