On Monday Iraq’s prime minister said that the U.S. military sent a letter regarding American troop withdrawal from the country, Reuters reported on Tuesday, further deepening confusion over the military’s plans for troops in the region.
BAGHDAD, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The United States-led military coalition against Islamic State said on Monday that it was pulling out of Iraq and would be repositioning forces over the next few days and weeks, a letter seen by Reuters showed.
“Sir, in deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement,” read a letter from United States Marine Corps Brigadier General William H. Seely III, the commanding general of Task Force Iraq.
U.S.-led coalition says it will withdraw from Iraq -letter
Since the letter became public US DefSec Mark Esper vehemently denied it was authentic saying it was a draft letter and should have never seen the light of day.
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What do you make of this? When I first heard about it I immediately thought it was a trial balloon being sent up to gauge Congressional and the US public's reaction. But now it's been lost in the news of Iran's bombing of our base(s) in Iraq.
How can something like this letter getting released happen unless someone in the Pentagon wanted it to happen?
BAGHDAD, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The United States-led military coalition against Islamic State said on Monday that it was pulling out of Iraq and would be repositioning forces over the next few days and weeks, a letter seen by Reuters showed.
“Sir, in deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, CJTF-OIR will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement,” read a letter from United States Marine Corps Brigadier General William H. Seely III, the commanding general of Task Force Iraq.
U.S.-led coalition says it will withdraw from Iraq -letter
Since the letter became public US DefSec Mark Esper vehemently denied it was authentic saying it was a draft letter and should have never seen the light of day.
----------
What do you make of this? When I first heard about it I immediately thought it was a trial balloon being sent up to gauge Congressional and the US public's reaction. But now it's been lost in the news of Iran's bombing of our base(s) in Iraq.
How can something like this letter getting released happen unless someone in the Pentagon wanted it to happen?