Testifying to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson revealed that the US presence in Iraq is so permanent at this point that even if Iraq specifically requests the US withdraw and removes permission for them to be there, the US will remain.
Tillerson addressed the question from Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), who asked whether the US intended to stay in Iraq uninvited like they are in Syria. Tillerson insisted the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) gave the US legal authority to stay.
This appears to be an entirely new position for the US government, as the Bush Administration agreed to withdraw from Iraq after being unable to get Iraqi authorization to stay, and absolute legal immunity for US troops along with it.
At this point, the US appears to be used to being engaged in overseas wars without permission, particularly in places like Syria, and having already declared their presence in Iraq to be permanently, officials figure they’re going to just pretend it’s legal.
It does bring up the question of US troops’ legal immunity from war crimes in places like Syria, where they’ve been deployed without permission or any assurances that they won’t be held liable for killings.
Well we knew it all along, but really to say that out loud is… undiplomatic.
He’s probably being shrewd, telling them what they want to hear.
Tillerson could easily trigger a quick exit for American forces- in fact, he may already have. If significant Iraqi interests take notice of this- remember Moqtada Al Sadr, anyone? and make it an issue, Al-Abadi might be faced with the same kind of immediate decision he had to make with respect to the Kurdish referendum. Al Sadr may cast Tillerson’s statement as a challenge to Iraqi sovereignty- which it is. And Al-Abadi might have a choice: eject the Americans, or be ejected himself as their puppet.
You’re absolutely correct, I couldn’t agree with you more .. Tillerson may have already triggered a quick exit of US troops. If we really remember and know Moqtada Al-Sadr, he was the main factor in the expulsion of US troops from Iraq; and, he could very well make their presence known to PM Al-Abadi, who could be faced with the same type of immediate decision he had to make regarding the Kurdish referendum. As you said, Al-Sadr may cast Tillerson’s statement as a challenge to Iraqi sovereignty, which it is .. and Al-Abadi might have a choice: eject the Americans, or be ejected himself as their puppet.
Tillerson seems to be on an uncharacteristic rant lately, telling Iraq to send their militia back to Iran which is just plain stupid, and declaring the Syrian government unacceptable a really old story now that Qatar confirms the USA/Clinton initiated the Syrian war.
The USA has made an incredible mess and are killing unprecedented numbers of civilians world wide with Trump as President, completely oblivious to the hatred being fostered.
I can only assume Tillerson is under orders to set a precedent for another war to try to ensure Trump survives to midterm.
“…completely oblivious to the hatred being fostered.”
Oh, I’m pretty sure they known quite well what they’re doing. In order to keep the empire going, there must be boogeymen under every bed – even if you have to create them yourself.
Trump’s survival probably depends on being at least a part-time tool of the Deep State Establishment.
This is now a neocon government, and it was ushered in gradually by ousting Trump personnel and then de facto — in the day of Ft. Myers speech. Trump
gambit failed. By surrounding himself with military and giving them control, he was sure to side step Congressional meddling into foreign policy, and being commander in chief counted on a reasonable degree of cooperation. Little did he know that the top echelons of military salute to neocon flag. and will proceed to implement Clinton policies. It became clear in Syria by propping up PKK outfit, YPG just as Clinton planned and advanced during her campaign. And instead of safe zones Trump advocated, Kurd occupation zone in Raqqa, along with no intention to demine the city and fix infrastructure, makes it uninhabitable. It is a war zone — with added refugee numbers to go to Europe. What annoys neocons is that people are voting with their feet, and the conservative UN estimates of over 800,000 people coming back to government liberated areas, a greatest number to Aleppo. So, to obfuscate the de facto support of ISIS by blocking Syrian forces to go after them — Kurdish forcese are implanted well outside their area of control, or area with Kurdish population. Syrian government calls this occupation, not liberation. And while calling on Shia militias to leave Syria, how about calling for Palestinian militias to go back to Palestine? Now, that the long planned Kurdish mini-state is getting under government control — apparently with the collusion of Kurds themselves, it is imperative in neocon minds to stay planted in Kurdistan — be that in Syria or Iraq. And for as long as military is there, there would be no problems arming nextgen of terrorists. And it will all be Trump’s fault! Where do we get the idea that Presidents actually make decisions? Ever since Obama took office, it became clear he was not in charge — day one. But with Trump — it is taking an overt neocon action to bring him in line. To now assign all the neocon furious and feverish actions on him — is not working. Nobody believes that Trump will change everything he stood for — that he lied to his supporters. This is a power of belief — stranger things have happened.
What “Trump personnel” do you speak of?
Trump ain’t innocent in any of this. He promised before the election, even before the nomination, to do exactly what he’s tried to do. For instance, what would be his only choice of actions WHEN Mexico doesn’t pay for the proposed border wall? War or concession? That’s my take on the Imperialism issue vis-a-vis Mr Trump.
There’s a huge problem with that, Pat, Syria and Iraq are both allied with Iran, who’s also allied with China and Russia. Tillerson changed from a reasonable diplomat into another version of the banshee Nikki Haley. He never ranted before now, no matter the crisis.
As you said, the US made an incredible mess and are killing unprecedented numbers of civilians worldwide with Trump as President, completely oblivious to the hatred being fostered.
Yes, it can be assumed Tillerson’s under orders to set a precedent for another war to try to ensure Trump survives to midterm .. Only this time around, it could instigate a nuclear 3rd World War, which would wipe out all life on earth.
I doubt Trump will survive to midterm; mainly, because, he has gone insane. Only an insane or outright evil leader would behave in this manner. Trump isn’t evil, but he isn’t sane. He’s totally controlled by the evil Zionist Israeli PM Bibi Satanyahoo, as well as the Trotskyists aka neocons infesting his Administration.
Everything revolves around that sacred cow of the AUMF and 9/11. Destroy the sacred cow and it all comes crashing down.
It will be destroyed soon. It will be replaced by something worse.
No, in Iraq he needs a new SOFA agreement. Otherwise we will be at war with Iraq.
Anything passed by congress(the AUMF)supersedes any international law. Just ask us.
All Hail The Empire! Ave Caesar! Ave Trump! Ave Tillerson! It would be funny if it wasn’t the reality. When Teddy Roosevelt was charging up San Juan Hill in a war started by the US under false premises (the later admission Naval investigation of the explosion on the USS Maine was caused by coal dust in the hold, showed the power of propaganda) but when arch-conservative Teddy was going up the hill the term “imperialism” was considered an honorable title.
Sure, it got a little tarnished in the World Wars but it’s been resurrected.
The US has become the enemy of any and all sovereign states, including itself.
If this is the new version of ‘Bring it on’ I feel sorry for the boys and girls who will undoubtedly pay for our government’s hubris- again.
“This appears to be an entirely new position for the US government”
Well, no, if you consider that the USA is still in Germany (the Germans have asked for the US nukes to be removed, but they are still there); still in Japan (ask Okinawans how happy they are with that); still in South Korea (destroying an island, Jeju, for a new base, putting the provocative and dangerous THAAD system against the will of the new government) and so on.
how does aumf [what a stupid name] give ‘mericer authority to remain in a foreign country without the permission of the foreign country- including permission from the country’s citizenry. arrogant rotten bastards aren’t they? how can there ever be peace with arrogance and policies like this? global capitalist war criminals all.
The US Congress and the US President (of the day) believe that they are the ultimate legislative body on the planet and their laws are to be followed by everybody OR ELSE!
So in fact it is an invasion force!