The Iraqi Parliament voted to pass a resolution in favor of expelling U.S. troops from the region this weekend, and a Department of Defense letter written in response seems to indicate that the United States is willing to comply.
“Sir, in due deference to the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq, and as requested by the Iraqi Parliament and the Prime Minister, [the Combined Joint Task Force – Iraq] will be repositioning forces over the course of the coming days and weeks to prepare for onward movement,” the letter, signed by U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William Seely, states.
#Breaking: US military tells Iraqi Joint operations command that they are preparing to move out. pic.twitter.com/yqoFiEIHBD
— Mustafa Salim (@Mustafa_salimb) January 6, 2020
It seems the Defense Department didn’t intend to release the letter, because Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters it was just a “draft,” a “mistake,” and that it “should not have been released.”
We might not know what the letter is, but we do know what it is not: an announcement that the U.S. is withdrawing from Iraq.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper isn’t sure what exactly the letter is either, but he reassured reporters that “there are no plans to leave” Iraq. Indeed, President Trump threatened to sanction the Iraqi economy into oblivion if the regime followed through on its vow to force U.S. troops out. More likely, the letter means U.S. troops are getting ready to reposition in light of recent tensions with Iran, as Esper suggested.
BREAKING: @EsperDoD says memo on withdrawal is not accurate “there’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq.” pic.twitter.com/52DDhSIIQ2
— Tara Copp (@TaraCopp) January 6, 2020
Regardless, even if the letter had not been a “mistake,” as Milley called it, it would have been worth little. A vow to leave Iraq would mean just as much as the Iraqi Parliament’s nonbinding resolution to kick us out: nothing. The U.S. military presence in Iraq might not be popular, but it is necessary to both the U.S. and Iraq as a deterrent to Iran. Iraq has admitted as much, so its resolution is little more than a symbolic gesture to appease Iraqi nationalists who have been calling for U.S. withdrawal for years.
Similarly, the U.S. has little intention of leaving the region — at least not right now. That may change within the next few years. But as of right now, and unless something dramatic happens in the next few months, the U.S. is there to stay.
