The first official figures from the Trump Administration on the Iraq drawdown came Friday, with officials now saying that the 5,200 US troops there currently will be cut to about 3,500 in the next two to three months.
That’s about a third of the US troops in Iraq, and realistically more than that, as there are almost certainly over 5,200 US troops in Iraq now. The US has not kept public figures on troop levels for months, and 5,200, the highest allowed by the US-Iraq troop agreement, and when more troops were sent, the official figure always remained 5,200.
As with other planned US drawdowns, the Pentagon has yet to comment on it at all. In Afghanistan, the drawdown was ongoing for months before the Pentagon even admitted there was an order to cut troop levels, and Iraq may be heading for a similar type of ambiguity.
President Trump announced the intention for a drawdown earlier this month during a visit by Iraq’s premier. The expectation was for troop cuts to come before the election. Though officials did not confirm that this is the total of the cut, the timeframe suggests this is what is being planned for now.
“US to Cut One Third of Troops in Iraq in Next Few Months”
Pending the final nod from Israel
No comment
As with Afghanistan, the Deal is for all US troops to leave.. Until they do, they will face endless harassment..
This will not satisfy the Iraqis, their parliament has voted for all US troops to leave Iraq.
More conflicts will come.
amerikan killers being chased out by Iraqis finally. “the American soul is hard, isolate—a killer”. DH Lawrence
not addressed is the deployment of massive private militias used by the USA—many populated by former Peruvian ,Colombian mercenaries, ex US military
Just election time. That will all change just after the election. The winner will — with the roaring support of elated victorious electorate approve every new aggression or increase of troops anywhere. New enemy people identified, new distractions found.
Why not get them all home? They never should have gone there, and have done more than enough damage.
NEVER TRUST….VERIFY. Bring 100% of them home and all the mercenaries, CIA scum, and all the “advisors” too. Make Iraq America-Free.
Ok then. Thought it was “end endless wars” not, bomb everything, send troop in everywhere, then promise to take some out before the election…
Dave, you’re so confused. How can you bring some troops home unless you send them there in the first place? And by sending in even more troops, Trump has made possible bringing even more of them home. You just don’t understand the rules of 8-D Chess. Such a simpleton.