US, intl military in Iraq will need ‘to reduce numbers’ after ISIS is crushed – PM

[yota691]

US, intl military in Iraq will need ‘to reduce numbers’ after ISIS is crushed – PM

Published time: 16 Mar, 2017 21:36

 

U.S. soldiers at a military base north of Mosul, Iraq, February 14, 2017 © Khalid al Mousily / Reuters

 

The international military presence in Iraq should be reduced once Islamic State terrorists are defeated, the country’s Prime Minister has said. The comment comes as the Pentagon top brass considers a longer stay in the war-torn nation.

 

In an interview with the Middle East Eye, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he wanted fewer US troops and other international forces in his country, as the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) is being pushed further and further from its strongholds.

“As we are crushing Daesh [Arabic pejorative term for IS], it is clear that there is a need to reduce the number of our allies who are helping us,” he told the media outlet.

The official said that Baghdad has been keen “to internationalize” the fight against terrorism, referring to the US-led international alliance. While stating that the number of forces had “reached a peak” in the battle for Mosul and the Nineveh province, Abadi pointed out that "after this operation, the number is going to be reduced."

"The Iraqi people, the Iraqi military, and the Iraqi political leadership recognizes what they're up against and the value of the coalition and the partnership in particular with the United States,” Mattis told reporters back then. "I imagine we'll be in this fight for a while and we'll stand by each other."His words stand in stark contrast to earlier statements by US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and General Joseph Dunford, who said in February that it was likely that American forces would continue to stay in Iraq for a long time to continue the fight against IS. They added that the US is considering sending more American soldiers to the battle to liberate Mosul.

Mattis’ comments were echoed by General Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC.

"We have, as has NATO, begun a dialogue about a long-term commitment to grow the capacity, maintain the capacity of Iraqi Security Forces, but no decisions have been made yet," CNN quoted him as saying. "Iraq has begun to speak, and you've heard Prime Minister (Haider) Abadi speak, about the international community continuing to support defense capacity building."

But despite his desire for the bulk of American troops to leave, Abadi noted that the “mutual relationship” with the US had “been very successful”, and was not opposed for some American forces to stay and help train Iraqi servicemen and police.

"We have to finish off Daesh and the rest of the terrorists by our cooperation. We need intelligence cooperation in this field; we need logistic support," the Prime Minister emphasized."We have to strengthen our armed forces and security forces and this will need a lot of help from our allies to give proper training," he told MEE. "We have started the training of the local police in Anbar and Nineveh, Salah ad-Din and Baghdad, and we will expand it to all Iraqi provinces, to re-train all the police in Iraq, in addition to the army and the counter-terrorism forces.”

Currently, some 5,100 US troops are stationed in Iraq. Although then-President Obama officially ended American involvement in the country in 2011, he has had to periodically increase the number of troops stationed there to help in the fight against IS and other insurgent groups.

However, he was wary of sending American soldiers to the front lines. President Donald Trump, on the other hand, has called for more direct military action in tackling IS, though it’s not yet entirely clear how exactly his strategy will differ from that of his predecessor, Barack Obama.

[SnowGlobe7]

sorry guys we "pulled out" to early last time...not gonna make that mistake again

[new york kevin]

[Golfnsr]

Iraq needs to allow some US forces to stay but have Iranian forces leave.

[SnowGlobe7]

4 minutes ago, Golfnsr said:

Iraq needs to allow some US forces to stay but have Iranian forces leave.

[Texstorm]

This time the The US military is in it to win it ! I don't see us ever pulling out. The US will build a military base over there to do first strike on these SOB'S that want to hurt everyone. Talk about IRAN we are going to have a front row seat on them ! This is where it all started and this is where it will all end ! Talk about biblical the Middle East is where it's all at. Not my opinion! It's scripture ! 

[tigergorzow]

DV,  The U.S. will not pull out of Iraq / Kurdistan region because President DJT & SEC DEF Mattis will not repeat he mistakes of previous administrations.

 

Edited March 17, 2017 by tigergorzow

[Boozer]

1 hour ago, SnowGlobe7 said:

sorry guys we "pulled out" to early last time...not gonna make that mistake again

I have had this same conversation but with my wife

[Texstorm]

3 minutes ago, tigergorzow said:

Watch the moment Sky crew survives IS suicide bomb explosion in Mosul (Video in link)

Drone footage captures the crew scrambling to safety seconds before a huge explosion engulfs the screen.

22:04, UK,Thursday 16 March 2017

00:00/01:32

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Video: Sky News team has narrow escape in Mosul

 

This is the moment a Sky News crew narrowly avoids a suicide bomb blast as they run from sniper fire on the front line of the Iraqi offensive against Islamic State in Mosul.

Sky News Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay is at the front of the offensive along with cameraman Nathan Hale, Iraq producer Haider Kata and security adviser Mike Mawhinney.

On Wednesday, they were forced to shelter inside a vehicle as a huge explosion rocked the nearby area and then run across open ground covered by IS snipers when their position came under heavy fire.

Image Caption: Moments before the explosion: The vehicle two of the Sky crew sheltered inside is circled

It is thought that a nearby digger saved them from the brunt of the blast.

Ramsay said: "Sometimes you have to run into a front line, even though your brain is screaming 'don't go'.

:: 'I felt my arms and legs - they were all there'

"Dismounted from armoured Humvees in this sniper-filled battle space, there is no choice.

"We're basically hiding in rubble now, trying to find a way to get out of here. At the moment it's impossible to move, there's just too much action taking place."

http://news.sky.com/story/watch-the-moment-sky-crew-survives-is-suicide-bomb-explosion-in-mosul-10803851

Scary stuff for sure Tigergorzow ! I pray for all of those who need help from God in the midst of hell on earth ! May the rightousness find comfort and peace during this trying times !