BREAKING: The US military sends a letter to the Iraqi military announcing the “onward movement” of US troops “in due deference to the sovereignty of Iraq & as requested by the Iraqi Parliament & the Iraqi PM”. It’s a withdrawal. pic.twitter.com/tQHSsHTtez— Liz Sly (@LizSly) January 6, 2020
Though the letter doesn’t bear a signature, the US military has confirmed its authenticity. Not clear yet whether it’s a full or partial withdrawal, but the reference to deference to the Iraqi parliament’s decision makes it seem pretty definitive.— Liz Sly (@LizSly) January 6, 2020
Defense Secretary Esper says there is "no decision to withdraw." U.S. officials say there is a repositioning of forces for purposes of force protection. But the letter clearly states there will be "movement out of Iraq." It's hard not to see this as a prelude to withdrawal.— Liz Sly (@LizSly) January 6, 2020
WAIT FOR IT!
General Milley has just said the letter regarding troop movements out of Iraq was a draft, and releasing it was a "mistake." It was however delivered to the Iraqi military. It seems the U.S. military is as confused as everyone else about what their intentions are.— Liz Sly (@LizSly) January 6, 2020
Perhaps the ultimate irony: the letter describing U.S. troop movements "out of Iraq", leaked to Iraqi media by the PM's office, was first released by the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq on its TV channel. AAH blew up many US troops & its leader is a US-designated terrorist.— Liz Sly (@LizSly) January 6, 2020
I remember when the people running our government weren't totally and completely incompetent. https://t.co/cQac1O0SyI— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) January 6, 2020
Nobody on planet earth knows what or whom to believe in this administration. https://t.co/EhdkThwdrX— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) January 6, 2020
Does anybody know who's in charge of this chicken outfit?
The incompetence of this defies description. https://t.co/6tNnKNTDi3— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) January 6, 2020
Almost every Trump voter I met in 2016 said it was time for someone to run govt like a business—efficient, responsive, etc— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) January 6, 2020
This is an underlying failure of Trump’s presidency: The government is a mess. No CEO could keep their job amid such chronic turmoil & dysfunction. Will he? https://t.co/b8EhW09Rca
Almost every Trump voter I met in 2016 said it was time for someone to run govt like a business—efficient, responsive, etc— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) January 6, 2020
This is an underlying failure of Trump’s presidency: The government is a mess. No CEO could keep their job amid such chronic turmoil & dysfunction. Will he? https://t.co/b8EhW09Rca
Appreciate you all addressing this. In my almost 5 years at @DeptofDefense, w SecDefs Carter, Panetta, & Hagel, I can’t recall 1 time - despite the chaos of #natsec - when a significant letter (like this) was circulated w/o being clearly marked DRAFT.— Wendy R. Anderson (@wendyranderson) January 6, 2020
— Opinionize (@Opinionize) January 6, 2020If it's not true, it should be.
This is friggin' stunning and beyond terrifying.
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