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Washington turns down Iraqi call to remove troops

37 Comments
By John Davison and Susan Heavey

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37 Comments

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...and if he did, you would bash him for that. Orange man bad!

It depends on how he went about doing it. Given Donny’s track record of botching things, I would likely have justification to bash him for how he did it. You seem, us non-Trumpophiles understand that the world is not binary.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Washington on Friday spurned an Iraqi request to prepare to pull out its troops.

A request to "prepare" to pull out its troops. Not a request to pull out troops, but a request to "prepare" to pull out troops. Interesting proposal, but it sounds more like a feel-good gesture.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

...and if he did, you would bash him for that. Orange man bad!

Trump's too busy bashing himself these days.

He did say he'd bring troops home. That was a lie.

Why do Trumpists support the liar in chief?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

You know who could get them out? Your boy Donny!

...and if he did, you would bash him for that. Orange man bad!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

So if they want us out and I do think it’s time, it should be made clear as long as they leave us alone, they’ll be left alone, they want to engage, we will and the occupation or to be more honest: “monitoring” will continue.

Who is this "we"? You haven't served, why do you keep pretending that you have?

The US keeps sending out conflicting signals. It's leaving, it's not leaving. It's engaging, it's not engaging.

Please, America, stop invading and occupying other countries. Stop your decades long slaughter.

Can't you see what you're doing to the world? What you're potentially building up in store for you?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Trump should jump at the chance to get out of Iraq ( except Kurdish region). There are plenty of other places in the region that welcome the US.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I love the idiots who think the US is "safer" after Trump's war crimes. He single-handedly succeeded in uniting Iranians, who were protesting before he assassinated the General, he has even united Iraqis in their support for long-time enemy Iran. His actions have resulted in bombings, in a civilian airliner being shot down, the US dropping the fight against IS, American lives being imperiled in the region and elsewhere... and just get ready for Iran cyber-warfare!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

He isn't "bringing them home" because he doesn't want to - as a card-carrying NEOCON, he wants US forces deployed all over the Middle East - much easier to start wars that way...

The liberal “he’s just itching to start wars narrative.” This is why liberals only understand one thing: daisies and appeasements. Lol

Uh-huh...your words...and your narrative....

bass4funkJan. 9  07:29 pm JST

And now the Great Orange Emperor in the White House has disrobed and shown us that he's just as big a NEOCON

If so, good!

This week we've seen the Trumpers forced to admit to two huge flip-flops - letting us all know they are bankrupt and merely bots nodding their heads every time Donnie speaks...

They were forced to admit they are all NEOCONs - and all the talk about bringing the troops home and stopping endless wars was just empty BS....

They were forced to admit the disparaging and disrespect to our intel community as the "Deep State" was bogus as they flipped and praised them for the intel on Iran....

Just call them the human pretzels...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The American action of refusing the lawful request by the Iraqi government to remove its troops is putting the MEK influenced protesters in quite the bind.

They can either join the demands for the US withdrawal from the vast majority of Iraqis, and hope the US doesn't turn on them the way it did on Saddam, or expose themselves as what they are, people willing to oppress and murder on behalf of anyone who promises to give them Carte Blanche protection to oppress and murder the Iranian population into submission to them.

What is going to be interesting is how Mahdi procedes. He can't afford to go through the long process of taking the US to the ICJ, the US veto means he can't take the US to the UNSC, the US has made it clear that they refuse to acknowledge the ICC unless they can weaponize a judgement or investigation, so he's left with choosing to toss the live handgrenade into the next PMs lap, something that will cast him as Iraq's Paitan, declaring war on the US singlehandedly, or finding an ally willing and able to provide enough force to turn the request into an order.

And the only possible options for the third choice are Russia, China, or Iran.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

bass: at least have a residual force, but definitely the majority of the troops should leave

I agree with you on this. I don't like 100% withdrawal since it leaves our information gathering ability in the dark or worse, left up to other people. But not enough troops to make targets.

Where we differ is our confidence in Trump to manage the situation. To me it looks like he talks about pulling out, then jumps in, then orders a pullout, then backs off on it, then escalates conflicts, then announces troops are leaving....to go to another Middle Eastern country. He's trying to have it both ways which doesn't work. You have to take the bad with the good, either you stay or leave.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

lincolnmanToday  10:59 am JST

One Trumper here admitted the other day that Trump "flipped" - and is now a NEOCON and proud of it - don't the other Trumpers here agree with that?

Talking of "Trumpers," has anyone actually met one? Like a genuine one in a live encounter? Not some online troll or paid shill? The closest I've come is hearing about them second-hand, and they sound a bit like Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientologists or Mormons but without any of their positive aspects. Whatever they are.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

He isn't "bringing them home" because he doesn't want to - as a card-carrying NEOCON, he wants US forces deployed all over the Middle East - much easier to start wars that way...

The liberal “he’s just itching to start wars narrative.” This is why liberals only understand one thing: daisies and appeasements. Lol

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Uh, no, in fact it's not appropriate to have troops stationed in a country where they are not wanted. It's time to get our troops out of Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. 

Well, I guess you disagree with Trump - who wants to keep them there, in Afghanistan, In Yemen, in the UAE....you know, just like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Pompeo, Graham and all the NEOCONs want....

The president is not all-powerful, he can't just do whatever he wants ( except when it comes to ordering the taking out of the world's top terrorists, which benefits everyone, including anti-Trumpers ).

Trump the Imperious disagrees with you - he's a all knowing, always right, stable genius - according to his cult members....

As I said before he is up against powerful people in the military-industrial complex who want U.S. troops to stay in the Middle East and start wars. It is going to take time.

As Commander in Chief, he can deploy, re-deploy, and re-position US forces anywhere at anytime...

He isn't "bringing them home" because he doesn't want to - as a card-carrying NEOCON, he wants US forces deployed all over the Middle East - much easier to start wars that way...

One Trumper here admitted the other day that Trump "flipped" - and is now a NEOCON and proud of it - don't the other Trumpers here agree with that?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Iraq has turned into an Iranian satellite state, with a few American bases. So sooner or later the bases will close.

I hope they do it now and avoid casualties.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Out of all our countries.

What? Lol

That won’t happen, don’t worry. But to be fair, I do believe we should leave Afghanistan, Iraq....at least have a residual force, but definitely the majority of the troops should leave, but the other problem is, if we leave and if something bad happens to us in the way of an attack hen we'll be right back smack in the ME again. So if they want us out and I do think it’s time, it should be made clear as long as they leave us alone, they’ll be left alone, they want to engage, we will and the occupation or to be more honest: “monitoring” will continue.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

When it comes to taking out the most wanted terrorist in the world, we don't put a priority on getting permission from anyone

Who is this "we"? Are Trumpists claiming to be G-men, now?

Or have they signed up for combat, is that what this bluster and bravery is about?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

the war for oil continues, the Iraqi government has more sense than donny and company

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The US is officially and occupying invader.

Get out and go home.

Out of all our countries.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Who believes a word this slurring, adderall-addicted clot says?

Troops in, out, in, out... shake it all about.

US should leave Iraq, as Trump promised.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Abdul Mahdi asked Pompeo to "send delegates to put in place the tools to carry out the parliament's decision," his office said in a statement, adding that the forces used in the killing had entered Iraq or used its airspace without permission.

When it comes to taking out the most wanted terrorist in the world, we don't put a priority on getting permission from anyone. Did Obama get permission from Pakistan to take out bin Laden? Nope.

The State Department said any U.S. delegation would not discuss the withdrawal of U.S. troops as their presence in Iraq was "appropriate."

Uh, no, in fact it's not appropriate to have troops stationed in a country where they are not wanted. It's time to get our troops out of Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. That being said...

You know who could get them out? Your boy Donny!

The president is not all-powerful, he can't just do whatever he wants ( except when it comes to ordering the taking out of the world's top terrorists, which benefits everyone, including anti-Trumpers ).

As I said before he is up against powerful people in the military-industrial complex who want U.S. troops to stay in the Middle East and start wars. It is going to take time.

He didn’t really say probably, did he?*

Yeah, he did. Already thousands of Americans had been killed and wounded and the embassy attacked thanks to this general. American lives were at risk. Good enough for me and anyone else with common sense.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Trumpers putin neocons oh my. Trumpers putin neocons oh my. Trumpers putin neocons oh my!

Thanks for mentioning Putin - I had missed that...he did get Donnie elected...

Keep repeating it - the truth will sink in...but make sure to take your MAGA-vision googles off first...

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Tension between the US and Iraq is a big win for Iran.

President Donald Trump said Iran had probably planned to attack the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and was aiming to strike four U.S. embassies when Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike.

He didn’t really say probably, did he?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What does the written agreement between Iraq and the US say?

Funny how it is fine for Iran to attack US, Iraqi, Israeli people, but it isn't fine for the US to attack Iranians in the same way? Double-standard?

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Rats...just when we could make a clean getaway.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

So now officially “ an enemy occupation force” Legitimate targets for road side bombs, snipers and RPGs.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Washington on Friday spurned an Iraqi request to prepare to pull out its troops, amid heightened U.S.-Iranian tensions after the U.S. killing of an Iranian commander in Baghdad, and said it was exploring a possible expansion of NATO's presence there.

Dang straight - who do these Iraqis think they are, some sovereign country or something? We're American NEOCONs and we do as we please...

We aren't leaving because it is our duty to start wars of choice all over the Middle East - the more the better...

We pray at the alter of Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bolton, Pompeo - and our Great Orange NEOCON President - Trump.

So get used to it - we're not bringing any troops home - we're deploying more - and we're going to keep the endless wars going...

Just like our NEOCON hero Trump promised for the past three years....

6 ( +9 / -3 )

What the US means is that it is ‘appropriate’ for us to control the oil reserves in the Middle East..

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Let's for a second ponder what this means.

We build an embassy in Iraq that is literally an American city. It cost tax payers as much almost a billion dollars.  

So taking out one bad guy in haste we as tax payers loose a billion dollar investment and a perch from which to influence and watch out for Americans and American interest in the middle east. 

Art of the deal my a...ss

2 ( +6 / -4 )

The US never had any legitimate reason for being there in the first place. Unfortunately, the US is bankrupt and must continue to steal other countries' resources.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

'The US is officially an occupying invader'.

Stop talking about Japan, what about Iraq?

1 ( +6 / -5 )

This is infuriating. The invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, two of the greatest war crimes in modern history, have done nothing to enhance U.S. security, have killed upwards of half a million Iraqis and Afghans, cost the country trillions, and has left the ME and Central Asia in a worse state than they were prior to 2003. We need to eff-off out of these regions and leave them to their own devices. We can't "fix" these myriad polities.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

> The US is officially and occupying invader.

Get out and go home.

You know who could get them out? Your boy Donny!

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

How would Ameriaca respond to having thousands of foreign troops camped on the front lawn. My guess not to well. It's ok for them to under the guise of WMDs (never there) to invade a country. Not wanted but for some reason feel it's their thing. Hard to fathom the reasoning.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

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