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Welcome to the start of the withdrawal of the international coalition forces from the country


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The Iraqi Prime Minister heads to America at the head of a government delegation to discuss bilateral issues

The Iraqi Prime Minister heads to America at the head of a government delegation to discuss bilateral issues
The Iraqi Prime Minister leaves the homeland, heading to America, at the head of a government delegation on a visit for several days
 

Mubasher: The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, headed today, Sunday, to the United States of America at the head of a government delegation; This is on an official visit that takes several days.

 

The media office of the Prime Minister said, in a statement, that the visit will witness a discussion of Iraqi-American relations in various fields and bilateral issues of common interest.

Al-Kazemi said, before leaving the homeland, that this visit comes within the framework of Iraq's efforts to consolidate a close relationship with the United States of America, based on the foundations of mutual respect and bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The Prime Minister added that it is the culmination of long efforts of hard work during the strategic dialogue sessions to organize the security relationship between the two countries on the basis of the Iraqi national interest.

Yesterday, Saturday, the United States confirmed its readiness to help Iraq implement the white paper for economic reform through a new transparent program, on the sidelines of the strategic dialogue activities between the two sides held in Washington.

The day before yesterday, during the activities of the strategic dialogue between Iraq and the United States held in Washington, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein   said that the tour comes as a continuation of the previous three rounds, which were held consecutively between the two countries, which indicate the relationship of partnership and alliance between Iraq and the United States and the efforts of the two governments. earnest to consolidate it.

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1230174735.jpeg?h=ffffc565&itok=nOKA8YLY
Al-Kazemi meets Biden tomorrow, Monday (Amin Sensar/Anatolia)
 

Today, Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi left for the United States of America, on his second visit in less than a year, to discuss various files, foremost of which is the status of the American forces in Iraq, which are demanding that allied forces of Iran withdraw completely from the country.

This comes in conjunction with the issuance of different positions by different political forces regarding the file, as the parties to the withdrawal demands are considered an "Iranian desire" and not Iraqi interests.

Al-Kazemi is scheduled to join the Iraqi ministerial and military staff, which has been going on for days, headed by Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein , the fourth and final round of talks between Baghdad and Washington.

 

And the media office of the Iraqi government said that Al-Kazemi headed, today, Sunday, to the United States of America at the head of a government delegation, on an official visit lasting several days, which will witness the discussion of Iraqi-American relations in various fields, and bilateral issues of common interest.

The statement quoted Al-Kazemi as saying, before his departure, that "this visit comes within the framework of Iraq's efforts to consolidate a close relationship with the United States of America, based on the foundations of mutual respect and bilateral cooperation in various fields, and it culminates long efforts of intensive work during the strategic dialogue sessions to organize the security relationship. between the two countries on the basis of the Iraqi national interest.

Al-Kazemi, 54, is scheduled to hold a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House tomorrow, Monday, according to a previous statement by the US State Department.

This is taking place at a time when the so-called "Coordinating Body of the Iraqi Islamic Resistance Factions" issued threats to resume attacks in the event of failure to withdraw, setting strict conditions for the implementation of the withdrawal, including not recognizing American advisory or training forces, and that the withdrawal be for all American and non-American forces, Including the international coalition and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It considered that talking about combative and non-combat forces is an "attempt to circumvent and deceive."

For their part, the Kurdish political forces seemed the most conservative of calls for an American withdrawal.

According to Kurdistan Democratic Party deputy Diyar Barwari, "Iraq is exposed to security threats, and its defense system is not integrated to manage the security file, which makes the presence of US forces an important thing for the country."

Berwari stressed, in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that "the country is unstable, the terrorist threat continues, and every day there are casualties and losses from the security forces and civilians."

He considered that the demand for the withdrawal of the forces "is a political demand more than it is realistic. This file should be left to the security authorities and the government to assess the situation," wondering: "Who is responsible for any defect that occurs in the security file in the event of the withdrawal of forces? The file does not accept polemics and political exploitation."

 

He added, "The issue is very serious, and the government must have a position that takes into account the interests of the country, and not respond to any other pressures. If the coalition and American forces leave, how will the security file be managed? Shall we head towards a regional state to obtain support?"

The Kurdish MP continued: "The future does not seem reassuring in light of this political controversy and the security decline, and there is great political tension and an escalating security threat," warning "of unpleasant surprises for the people, so all forces must look at the future of the people and the state, and put the interest of Iraq before it." all other interests.

The representative of the Kurdistan Islamic Party, Jamal Kojer, seemed more fearful than his predecessor, as he warned of a "civil war" in the event of a withdrawal. He said, "If the US forces withdraw, Iraq will witness a scenario similar to the scenario of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan, and the expansion of the loose militias that have more equipment and equipment than the Iraqi forces." And he warned, in a press statement, of a "crunching civil war in Iraq."

For his part, the representative of the "National Forces" coalition, Dhafer Al-Ani, said that "the Iraqi forces are not prepared to fully manage the security file, and the withdrawal is not in Iraq's interest."

Al-Ani told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed: "We do not see it in the interest of a hasty international withdrawal from Iraq, especially since we have before us the experience of Afghanistan, to which terrorism has returned once again as soon as the American forces leave." He stressed that "the decision to withdraw should not be under pressure from political bidding, but rather according to our needs in confronting terrorism and strengthening the Iraqi military establishment."

 

Al-Ani added: "We believe that we still need any international assistance, especially that our forces are not yet qualified to face the challenges alone," noting that "it is difficult to see a healthy Iraq soon, unless the state is able to extend its control and sovereignty over all aspects of institutions and society." And it was able to rein in the deep state and its loose weapons, and stopped corruption and foreign interference, which are intractable problems that require a national will first, and for time, as the devastation in Iraq is never small.

On the other hand, the "Al-Fateh Alliance", the political wing of the "Popular Mobilization", warned against any retreat regarding the US withdrawal from the country. And the coalition representative, Walid Al-Sahlani, said: "The American withdrawal must take place, and Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi pledged to do so."

Al-Sahlani confirmed, in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that “the political decision is clear regarding the file, such as the Al-Fateh alliance and some other alliances, and as parliament and as a government, our position is settled, we only accept withdrawal,” stressing: “We are waiting for the outcomes of the dialogue, but the presence of any foreign forces is rejected. ". 

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12 hours ago, stanleypower said:

Don’t you think China is a driving force in what’s going on in Iraq?

China want that Silk Road to sell all that Cheap Labor Crap. The European is driving the bus, with that subject High Risk Countries which effects Economic Reform supported by the United Nation...and GM DV

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Iraq doesn't need U.S. combat troops, prime minister says ahead of talks with Biden

“There is no need for any foreign combat forces on Iraqi soil,” said Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

 Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is slated to meet with President Joe Biden on Monday for strategic talks.Khalid Mohammed / AP

 
 
By The Associated Press

Iraq’s prime minister says his country no longer requires American combat troops to fight the Islamic State group, but a formal time frame for their redeployment will depend on the outcome of talks with U.S. officials this week.

Mustafa al-Kadhimi said Iraq will still ask for U.S. training and military intelligence gathering. His comments came in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press ahead of a planned trip to Washington, where he’s slated to meet with President Joe Biden on Monday for a fourth round of strategic talks.

 

“There is no need for any foreign combat forces on Iraqi soil,” said al-Kadhimi, falling short of announcing a deadline for a U.S. troop departure. Iraq’s security forces and army are capable of defending the country without U.S.-led coalition troops, he said.

 

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But al-Kadhimi said any withdrawal schedule would be based on the needs of Iraqi forces, who have shown themselves capable in the last year of conducting independent anti-IS missions.

“The war against Isis and the readiness of our forces requires a special timetable, and this depends on the negotiations that we will conduct in Washington,” he said.

The U.S. and Iraq agreed in April that the U.S. transition to a train-and-advise mission meant the U.S. combat role would end but they didn’t settle on a timetable for completing that transition. In Monday’s meeting at the White House, the two leaders are expected to specify a timeline, possibly by the end of this year.

The U.S. troop presence has stood at about 2,500 since late last year when former President Donald Trump ordered a reduction from 3,000.

 

tdy_troops_210703.jpg

 
 

The U.S. mission of training and advising Iraqi forces has its most recent origins in former President Barack Obama’s decision in 2014 to send troops back to Iraq. The move was made in response to the Islamic State group’s takeover of large portions of western and northern Iraq and a collapse of Iraqi security forces that appeared to threaten Baghdad. Obama had fully withdrawn U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011, eight years after the U.S. invasion.

“What we want from the U.S. presence in Iraq is to support our forces in training and developing their efficiency and capabilities, and in security cooperation,” al-Kadhimi said.

The Washington trip comes as the premier’s administration has faced one setback after another, seriously undermining public confidence. Ongoing missile attacks by militia groups have underscored the limits of the state to prevent them and a series of devastating hospital fires amid soaring coronavirus cases have left dozens dead.

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Determining the date for the announcement of the US withdrawal from Iraq... and a new classification on paper
  
{International: Al Furat News} US officials confirmed that the announcement of the withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq will be by the end of this year, 2021.
 

The New York Times quoted the officials as saying that "the United States will abide by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi's request to set a deadline for the US withdrawal, which will be announced tomorrow, Monday."
The newspaper added that "Washington will respond to the demands to withdraw a small number of the 2,500 American soldiers currently stationed in Iraq."
She referred to "re-classifying the role of other forces in Iraq on paper."
It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi began an official visit to Washington, during which he will meet tomorrow, US President Joseph Biden.
Al-Kadhimi said in a press interview prior to the visit that "Iraq no longer needs US combat forces to fight ISIS, and the official timeframe for the redeployment of forces will depend on the outcome of talks with US officials this week."
"We will ask the American side to continue supporting our forces and developing our capabilities," he added.

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:soon:My guess is once the last American troop leaves this year, 🕑 this will move quickly. What time is it? Almost Dinar O'Clock.

 

Iran and China formed alliance, to sell the oil to China, America gets stabbed in back, currency goes international, we get rich.

 

Can Iraq have zero American occupying troops in it, while having a worthless, untradeable currency? The odds of that seem near zero to me. At this point this seems a very safe investment. Chances of it screwing up now? Near zero...in my opinion.

 

I'm gonna need a new hobby. Maybe surfing...🏄‍♂️🌊

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Pro-Iran militias in Iraq warn US over withdrawal doublespeak

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN   
JULY 25, 2021 15:56
US SOLDIERS take cover near Tal Afar, Iraq, where Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster was in command in 2004.  (photo credit: REUTERS)
US SOLDIERS take cover near Tal Afar, Iraq, where Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster was in command in 2004. 
(photo credit: REUTERS)

The US has indicated that it will withdraw its "combat troops" from Iraq, but do they even exist?

 
The US has indicated it will withdraw “combat troops” from Iraq. But it doesn’t have combat troops there, and pro-Iran militias have indicated they believe America is being misleading.
 
The reports of the withdrawal were first reported by Nafiseh Kohnavard, a correspondent who is focused on Middle East issues for the BBC World Service and BBC Persian and is an expert on developments in Iraq. Other networks have reported the same: that the US claims it may be withdrawing some personnel from Iraq and that Iraq’s prime minister will discuss the matter with US President Joe Biden.
 
For observers of Iraq who have spent years there or covered the US-led coalition that helped defeat ISIS, there are many questions about what Washington is doing. The US has had an “advise and assist” and a “train and equip” role in Iraq in the past. The US-led coalition is in the country at the invitation of the Iraqis. The US returned in 2014 to help fight ISIS, after having left in 2011.
 
The US works “by, with and through” the Iraqi security forces, including the Kurdish Peshmerga. The coalition has trained some 200,000 people in Iraq, as well as providing equipment. US contractors based in Balad also help maintain Iraqi warplanes.
 
Since May 2019, US and coalition forces have come under attack in Iraq by pro-Iranian militias.
 
An another site was killed in December 2019, which resulted in US retaliation, including protests at the US Embassy and the killing of IRCG Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. The result of these tensions was further attacks on coalition forces; several were killed at Camp Taji in August 2020 while the US repositioned its forces, leaving half a dozen small facilities in the area.
 
By 2021, American forces were concentrated at Al Asad base in western Iraq, in Baghdad and also in Erbil in the autonomous Kurdistan Region. Pro-Iran militias have begun using drones to attack the US in the Kurdistan Region.
 
US official Brett McGurk, a former coalition envoy who played a key role in Iraq for decades, recently traveled  to Baghdad. The rumors that emerged from that trip were of the US withdrawing “combat troops.” However, this term is misleading because US forces are not engaged in combat in Iraq.
 
The US provides the Iraqis with training and ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) missions, such as drone strikes or support for airstrikes. Generally, the pandemic and US-Iran tensions have meant US forces don’t do much of their old role. Nevertheless, their presence is important.
 
Currently, the pro-Iran militias have been speaking strongly to Iranian media outlets, including Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency, warning the US against any obfuscation or shenanigans.
 
Qasim al-Karbati, a commander from the Iraqi Al-Hashd al-Shaabi organization, said the US was not serious about withdrawing its troops from Iraq, Fars News reported. “The presence of US forces showed that the statements of the Iraqi government and the American side were false,” he told Al-Ahwd news site.
 
Pro-Iran militias, which can number some 100,000 fighters, have claimed to have used “thermal cameras” to track US movements and US helicopters. They are grouped under the Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units, which are an official paramilitary force, similar to the IRGC in Iraq.
 
These groups include numerous historically pro-Iranian groups, gangs and militias, including Badr, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah. In recent years, few new groups have emerged to take credit for attacks on US forces, but most analysts think these groups are just fake names for elements of Kataib Hezbollah. The Hashd also have a bunch of territorial regiments that are linked to various shrines.
 
Pro-Iranian forces have been strengthened, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada commander Abu Alaa al-Walae told the Associated Press in Baghdad in early July, and he vowed to retaliate against the US for an airstrike in Syria.
 
The American “occupier” must be expelled, Walae was quoted by Fars News as saying, adding that “all those who advocate for the United States to remain in Iraq must accept the consequences, such as the shedding of blood [of the Iraqi people] and the violation of their dignity.”
 
The Iraqis have continued to negotiate, while the Iraqi government wants the troops to leave and only military advisers and trainers to remain, but Washington wants to keep some of its troops there, according to the report.
 
This is the fourth round of “strategic” talks between the US and Iraq. Pro-Iranian groups continue to target logistics convoys that supply US and coalition forces. The vulnerability of these convoys shows the “limitations” of the US mission, the report said.
 
The security chief of Kataib Hezbollah’s battalions in Iraq “warned that the [pro-Iranian] resistance would continue its operation if the United States did not withdraw its troops from Iraq,” according to Tasnim’s Abu Ali al-Askari. “If the United States does not withdraw its forces from Iraq, the resistance will continue its operations until the last American soldier leaves,” he wrote.
 
Askari wants the US to explicitly announce the withdrawal of its forces and wants to see them leave. He says attacks will continue and “intensify” if the “resistance” sees the US is not leaving. He believes Iraq may be deceived by the US.
 
Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein is leading discussions with the US at the behest of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
 
“The remarks of the Iraqi foreign minister have provoked a negative reaction from some Iraqi politicians and groups,” Tasnim reported. “Fuad Hussein has spoken of the need for US troops to remain, while former interior minister and current Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassim al-Araji, who is in the strategic talks, has called for an immediate end to the [US presence].”
 
The presence in future discussions with the US of Araji and other senior figures who are close to Iran, such as Hadi al-Amiri, has raised eyebrows among some more extreme pro-Iran elements who have only complained about their willingness to talk to the US and wait and see if it leaves.
 
These voices want revenge now against what they see as US “occupation” and airstrikes on allied militias in Syria.
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Iraqi leader to push Biden on withdrawal of U.S. forces

 
 
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi poses in his office during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, July 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
 
By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times - Sunday, July 25, 2021

Iraq no longer needs U.S. combat troops on its soil and it is time for America to transition to a support role in the country, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said in an interview Sunday, previewing a message he’ll deliver Monday to President Biden when the two men meet at the White House.

Mr. al-Kadhimi and Mr. Biden are expected to detail the framework — and perhaps a specific timetable — for the eventual exit of roughly 2,500 U.S. troops from Iraq, where they’ve been stationed as part of a multinational coalition battling the Islamic State terrorist group. 

“There is no need for any foreign combat forces on Iraqi soil,” the Iraqi leader told The Associated Press in an interview.

The American presence in Iraq has become something of a headache for both sides. And in light of the unfolding U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war, the political moment may be right for Mr. Biden to bring an end to America’s combat mission in Iraq

Mr. al-Kadhimi faces significant political pressure at home to facilitate the U.S. withdrawal, while the American forces themselves have become frequent targets of drone strikes and rocket attacks by Iran-backed militias operating in the country and in neighboring Syria.

Those attacks against American personnel have continued despite Mr. Biden ordering several airstrikes against the militias Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, which are part of the PMF, the umbrella organization for Shiite militias based in Iraq. Those two groups, which enjoy significant financial and logistical support from Tehran, are believed responsible for many of the attacks.

Relations between Washington and Baghdad also have been strained since a January 2020 airstrike at the Baghdad International Airport that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. The former head of Kata’ib Hezbollah also was killed in the strike, which angered many Iraqi officials and nearly sparked a war between the U.S. and Iran.

Against that backdrop, Mr. al-Kadhimi said Iraqi forces are capable of leading the mission against Islamic State terrorist fighters and no longer need direct U.S. combat help.

“The war against [the Islamic State] and the readiness of our forces requires a special timetable, and this depends on the negotiations that we will conduct in Washington,” the Iraqi leader told the AP. “What we want from the U.S. presence in Iraq is to support our forces in training and developing their efficiency and capabilities, and in security cooperation.”

Should the U.S. transition to a mostly diplomatic presence and train-and-support mission in Iraq, it would resemble the Biden administration’s tack in Afghanistan. The U.S. is nearly finished withdrawing all of its 3,500 forces from Afghanistan. Just a few hundred Marines will remain in the country to protect the U.S. embassy and help guard the international airport in Kabul.

The U.S. has about 2,500 troops in Iraq. It had been 3,000 before former President Donald Trump cut the number during his final weeks in office.

The U.S. withdrew most of its personnel from Iraq in 2011 under former President Barack Obama. But a major American ground combat force returned in 2014 as the Islamic State rose to prominence and built its so-called “caliphate” across a huge swath of Iraq and Syria.

The U.S. also has about 900 troops stationed in Syria.

Pentagon and intelligence officials say the Islamic State has been “territorially defeated” and can no longer field a major ground army, though the organization still has many thousands of fighters and remains a threat across the region.

 

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/25/iraqi-leader-push-biden-withdrawal-us-forces/

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Biden and Al-Kazemi will sign an agreement to end the combat missions of US forces in Iraq

 
Monday - 16 Dhu al-Hijjah 1442 AH - 26 July 2021 AD
 
 
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Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (Reuters)

US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will sign an agreement officially ending the combat missions of US forces in Iraq by the end of 2021, more than 18 years after sending US forces to the country.
With the decision to withdraw the last US troops from Afghanistan by the end of August, the Democratic president will conclude US combat missions in the two wars started by former President George W. Bush.
It is scheduled to meet Biden and Al-Kazemi in the Oval Office in the first direct talks between them as part of a strategic dialogue between the United States and Iraq.
A statement will be issued after the meeting to announce the end of US combat missions in Iraq, according to a senior official in the Biden administration.
There are currently about 2,500 American soldiers in Iraq, whose tasks are focused on confronting the remnants of ISIS. And the US role in Iraq will change completely to being limited to training and advising the Iraqi army.
The shift is not expected to have little effect because the United States has already begun to focus on training Iraqi forces.
A US-led coalition invaded Iraq in March 2003 on accusations that the government of President Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. Saddam was ousted from power, but such weapons have never been found.
In recent years, the US mission has focused on helping defeat ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria.

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Associated Press: Biden and Al-Kazemi will announce today an agreement on US forces in Iraq
 
 

  

people - Baghdad  

A high-ranking official in the Biden administration suggested, on Monday, that President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi would announce that they had reached an agreement to end the combat mission of the US military in Iraq by the end of the year.  

 

  

The plan to move the US military mission, whose stated goal is to help Iraq defeat ISIS, to a purely advisory and training role by the end of the year - with no US forces in a combat role - will be spelled out in a broader statement the two presidents will issue after their meeting at the White House. Monday afternoon.  

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the yet-to-be-announced plan, said Iraqi security forces "battle-tested" and proved "capable" of protecting their country. However, the Biden administration understands that ISIS remains a significant threat, the official said.  

The United States and Iraq agreed in April that the United States' transition to a training and advisory mission would mean the end of the United States' combative role, but they did not settle on a timetable for completing that transition.  

Iran-backed factions operating inside Iraq have intensified their attacks against US forces in recent months, and a series of devastating hospital fires that have left scores of deaths and mounting coronavirus infections have added new layers of frustration to Iraqis.  

Officials in the Biden administration say, "Al-Kazemi also deserves praise for improving Iraq's standing in the Middle East."  

Last month, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visited Baghdad for joint meetings — the first time an Egyptian president has paid an official visit since the 1990s, when ties were severed after Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.  

In March, Pope Francis made a historic visit to Iraq, where he prayed among the destroyed churches in Mosul, the former ISIS stronghold, and met with the influential Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the city of Najaf.  

It is widely expected that the United States and Iraq will use the face-to-face meeting to announce plans to end the combat mission, and Al-Kadhimi made it clear before his trip to Washington that he believed it was time for the United States to end the combat mission.  

"There is no need for foreign combat forces to be on Iraqi soil," Al-Kazemi told the Associated Press.  

The number of US forces has reached about 2,500 since late last year when former President Donald Trump ordered a troop reduction from 3,000 troops.  

The announcement of the end of the American combat mission in Iraq comes at a time when the United States is going through the final stages of ending its war in Afghanistan, nearly 20 years after President George W. Bush launched the war in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.  

The US mission to train and advise Iraqi forces has its origins in former President Barack Obama's 2014 decision to return troops to Iraq. This action came in response to the ISIS takeover of large parts of western and northern Iraq and the collapse of the Iraqi security forces, which seem to threaten Baghdad.  

Obama had completely withdrawn US forces from Iraq in 2011, eight years after the US invasion.  

The distinction between combat forces and participants in training and advising can be blurry, given that US forces are under attack.  

But it is clear that US ground forces have not launched an offensive in Iraq in years, with the exception of largely undeclared special operations missions targeting ISIS militants.  

For years, Pentagon officials have tried to balance what they consider a necessary military presence to support the Iraqi government's war against ISIS and internal political sensitivities in Iraq with the presence of foreign forces. A major complication for both sides is periodic attacks on bases housing US and coalition forces by Iraqi militia groups loyal to Iran.  

  

- Associated Press (translated by Nass)  

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The White House announces the results of the last round of strategic dialogue between Baghdad and Washington
 
 

  

Baghdad - people  

The US White House revealed, on Monday, the details of the agreements that US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will announce, after their meeting, which will be held in the Oval Office of the White House.  

  

 

  

  

And a press statement by the US presidency quoted a "senior US administration official" as saying in a press briefing that the two presidents' statement will contain details of the upcoming US military role in Iraq.  

And the official answered a journalist’s question about whether President Biden would be able to declare a “final period” for the combat mission in Iraq and set a “specific day” to end those operations by saying, “Yes, I am confident of that, and there will be a somewhat general statement concluding the initiatives that were discussed between The two sides” over the past days and “is similar to the previous statements of the strategic dialogue meetings.”  

But the official refused to indicate a date for the withdrawal, or to details related to the number of forces that will be withdrawn, adding, "There will be a security component in the statement as well."  

And the official said, in response to another question in this regard, "What the statement will explain is the same as what the Iraqis and their Prime Minister Al-Kazemi have made clear, which is that while development continues, and while the United States has officially ended its combat mission and made it clear that there are no American military forces on a combat mission in Iraq, the Iraq has requested, and we greatly agree with it, that there is a need for continuous training, logistical support, and advice to build capabilities, and all of this will continue.  

The official said, "There are further indications if we look at what happened in the past strategic dialogue meetings, and the progress from the point where we were to where we stand now, and from now to the end of the year."  

"I don't want to talk about numbers, and I don't think any of the previous strategic meetings put details like this in it," he added.  

The US official stressed, however, that it is a significant development, and something we are "satisfied" with, only given that we have trained about 250,000 Iraqi security forces and Peshmerga forces, and they have passed the "battle test" and proven their ability to protect their country.  

He added, "What the statement will make clear, and what the Iraqis and Prime Minister Al-Kazemi himself have made clear (... ) is that with the continuation of this development in the role of the Iraqi forces, and because the combat mission in Iraq for our forces has ended, Iraq's request, and we very much agree with it, that they need continuous training. ; support in logistics, intelligence and advisory capacity building - all of which will continue.  

"We completed the fourth strategic dialogue, there were two last year in 2020. One in April and this round will be the last and we will talk about the transition to a new stage in the campaign in which we complete the combat mission against ISIS and move to an advisory and training mission by the end of the year," he said.  

"This forms part of the visit, but it is only one part of a huge agenda between our two countries.  

He stressed that "the goal is the permanent defeat of ISIS," adding, "We realize that you have to keep pressure on these networks in their quest to reconfigure them, but the role of US and coalition forces can fall back very much to advice, intelligence sharing, and assistance with logistics, and this is what We are on it now."  

"It is important that there are two leaders like President Biden and Prime Minister Al-Kazemi, who are leaders who really believe in problem solving and leadership with diplomacy, and in working together, and that is why this visit is so important," the official said.  

"There will be room for questions from journalists during the two leaders' meeting at the White House.  

Iraqi diplomacy  


"I'm sure that one of the topics in the Oval Office will be the direction of this Iraqi government under to reintegrate Iraq into its neighborhood," the official said, adding, "You saw when King Abdullah II was here this week, one of the topics he spoke with the president was the Baghdad summit. Which the king attended with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in the Iraqi capital, a historic summit, the first visit by an Egyptian president to Baghdad since before the first Gulf War in 1991.  

"Iraq has restored its relations with Saudi Arabia and the entire Gulf Cooperation Council," he added, and Prime Minister Kazemi led these diplomatic initiatives, adding under his leadership and at his invitation, and also with Iraqi President Barham Salih, the Pope made an "amazing" historic visit to the land of Abraham. , Najaf, Baghdad and Mosul.  

He said, "Prime Minister Al-Kazemi helped facilitate direct talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Baghdad, so he is a very exceptional leader with a diplomatic, pragmatic thinking, focused on solving problems, very similar, of course, to President Biden and we headed here."  


"Al-Kazemi inherited a horrific situation when he came to power earlier last year in the wake of protests, killings of protesters by Iraqi militias and massively rising regional tensions, and he has worked a lot to deal with that and de-escalate," he said.  

"We hear now - what is interesting - from almost every country in the Middle East, that one of their first agenda items is the importance of Iraq and the importance of supporting Iraq and the Iraqi government," he said, adding, "This is a big change from what it was even four or five years ago."  

"I think this means that Prime Minister Al-Kazemi is trying to be a problem solver and not someone who is trying, you know, to use problems for his own political interests, which is something we've seen in the past," he added.  

The official revealed that "Iran and Saudi Arabia are holding talks in Baghdad - and this is not an easy matter" in addition to the openness to the Gulf and the issue of the Jordanian electricity line.  

The official said that Al-Kazemi's visit would conclude a "long week" of talks between the two sides, which included military talks between Iraqi officials and officials from the US Department of Defense, talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries, and "side sessions in which experts talked about various aspects of trade, trade, education, culture and energy." He also revealed a planned meeting of the US Treasury Secretary and the Iraqi Finance Minister.  

Health and Climate  


According to the official, those meetings resulted in the United States providing 500,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Iraq through the Kovacs port, and providing $155 million in humanitarian aid to support internally displaced persons in the country.  

The official revealed that "the Center for Disease Control and Control has signed new arrangements to work with the Iraqi public health sector to help improve public health capacity," adding that this "is particularly important because Iraq has suffered two horrific hospital fires over the past few months and we want to help them." As best we can with our experience and technical advice to deal with this problem."  

He also revealed that about $800,000 will be allocated to facilitate systematic tracking of high-risk pathogens.  

The official said Washington had a "huge climate agenda" with the Iraqis, which included USAID funding for technical assistance in renewable energy for Iraq.  

He added, "Also, Iraq ignites the gas that comes from the extraction of oil," and this gas "contributes to about 10 percent of emissions from gases ignited globally."  

The official revealed a "historic" project that will start next fall, "which has been under discussion for many years" and includes extracting gas from oil fields in Iraq, noting that "this is very important not only for Iraq's energy needs, but also on the climatic aspect, which is clearly a central to our agenda here in the Biden administration."  

energy  


The official indicated that the two sides "are in the process of finalizing arrangements for the project to connect the Jordanian electricity network to the Iraqi electricity network," which the US Agency for International Development is helping to finance from the Jordanian side, and General Electric helping to finance it on the Iraqi side.  

This project will help bring energy to about one million Iraqis in southern Iraq as well as revenue to Jordan, the official said.  

The election  


The official also said that "the United States led an effort in the UN Security Council and won a unanimous resolution" to help monitor the Iraqi elections, monitoring called for by "a number of senior Iraqi leaders as well as (...) Sistani."  

The official announced the United States' contribution of $5.2 million to this election observation mission, in addition to its contribution of about $9.7 million for electoral technical assistance to the Independent High Electoral Commission in Iraq through the United Nations mission in the country.  

The official said that the United States granted about 1.2 million dollars from the State Department to restore Iraqi universities in Nineveh Governorate, and the Development Finance Corporation intends to invest about one billion dollars in Iraq to enhance private sector activity, create job opportunities and provide opportunities for Iraqis.  

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There are two Key issues for me with what is going on in with the "Meetings" in Washington.

One being that the "Combat" mission in Iraq has been over for a VERY long time!!! Our Troops are there on a completely different capacity. Certainly NOT Combat!

The Second issue is that I have not seen ONE picture of Biden (Whoever that is pretending to be him) and Al- Kadhimi together!  Why Not???? This is just a hunch that I have and have had for a while and it continues with what is happening right now. This is optics. 

For those of you who think I am crazy... prove me wrong.  I can take it.... so go for it!

I Pray for the Iraqi people and for all those, like myself could use a "leg up".... That this is completed soon. 

(I know, that word! UGH! I don't like it either) This can't be on our time.  It is on God's time. We must try Be Patient... AND read between the lines.

 

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52 minutes ago, sgtsanders said:

You can usually tell an awful lot about people by reading between the lines on things they post. For some, heck they just come right on out and tell you…….

Agreed 100%. Things are not as they seem... ! (see my post above... saw yours after the fact)

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22 minutes ago, Half Crazy Runner said:

Agreed. There’s always a chance that they could see the return of ISIS once the troops leave. 

Quote from Maclean's Magazine, Canada's answer to Time Magazine: 

 

"Canada’s former Chief of the Defense Staff Rick Hillier... Years ago, during the Afghan war, Hillier told me something that I’ve never forgotten. A Taliban commander had assessed the massive firepower the West had assembled in Afghanistan, and even as he saw his own forces lose battle after battle, he remained unmoved. “You have the watches,”  the Taliban commander apparently told Hillier, “but we have the time.”... It haunted Hillier. The Taliban were prepared to wait out the West and take the losses. It was prophetic."

 

Story by Evan Solomon, September 2/2017 issue. 

 

Image result for pic of general rick hillier

 

so yes....the Taliban will be back

 

Afghanistan has a very different social structure than the West. Different family system. Very, very different in a way we don't understand. It's a very old system of tribalism and extended families and Patriarchy...the very opposite of our culture. We just think they are Americans in training. Nothing could be further from the truth. We didn't understand them, we just tried to impose our reality on them, without even bothering to be curious as to who they actually are. No wonder they hate us, for our uncomprehending arrogance. That's why they rejected everything we had. Explanation starts at 11:43

 

 

 

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      The full meeting between Joe Biden and Mustafa Al-Kazemi at the White House
2021.07.26 - 21:49
The Iraqi delegation headed by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi discussed, on Monday, with US President Joe Biden, at the White House, a number of common files between the two countries.
The Iraqi delegation, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, arrived on Monday evening at the White House in Washington, DC.
Al-Kazemi said, according to what was reported by the official channel, and followed by "Nas" (July 26, 2021), "I am pleased with the continuation of cooperation between Baghdad and Washington," stressing that "our relations have many health, cultural and other aspects."
Biden said, "We will send 500,000 doses of vaccine to Iraq," noting "his aspiration for the Iraqi elections."
Biden added, "We want to continue to support Iraq in intelligence," noting that "the American role in Iraq will focus on training assistance and what is related to ISIS."
The US President stressed, "The US-Iraqi partnership continues, and my administration is committed to it, and we are committed to security cooperation and confronting ISIS with the Iraqi government."
For his part, Al-Kazemi said, "The partnership with the United States is strategic."
A few minutes before the start of the meeting between Al-Kazemi and Biden, Cabinet spokesman Hassan Nazim said that "Iraq sees that the need for American combat forces has disappeared."
He added that "Iraq needs American assistance in the field of information and intelligence advisory."

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The joint closing statement of the fourth round of the strategic dialogue between Baghdad and Washington

 

Baghdad today - Baghdad

On Monday, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the joint final statement of the fourth round of dialogue between Iraq and the United States of America.

The following is the text of the statement: The

delegation of the Republic of Iraq headed by Dr. Fuad Hussein, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, and the delegation of the United States of America, headed by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, chaired the fourth and final meeting of the Strategic Dialogue, which began on the eleventh of June 2020, As part of the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement for the Relationship of Friendship and Cooperation between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq. The Iraqi delegation included representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

The two parties reiterated the importance of these discussions, which focused on strengthening the long-term strategic partnership defined by the Strategic Framework Agreement, and on key issues of common interest: regional stability, public health, climate change, energy efficiency and independence, issues related to humanitarian aid and human rights, and economic cooperation. , cultural and educational exchange, and other topics. Iraq presented a detailed statement on its ongoing efforts to promote the safe and voluntary return of the displaced to their areas of residence, and the United States pledged to continue its support for these efforts.

The two delegations reiterated the principles agreed upon in the Strategic Framework Agreement. The United States reaffirmed its respect for Iraq's sovereignty and Iraqi laws and pledged to continue providing the resources Iraq needs to maintain its territorial integrity.

The Government of Iraq reaffirmed its commitment to protect members of the international coalition who provide advice and training to the Iraqi security forces, and confirmed that all international coalition forces acted in Iraq at its invitation.

The two delegations also confirmed that the bases hosting the United States and other members of the international coalition are Iraqi bases that are managed according to the Iraqi laws in force, and not American bases or rules of the international coalition, and that the presence of international personnel in Iraq is only to support the government of Iraq in the war against the terrorist organization ISIS.

The two delegations agreed, after completing the discussions of the last technical teams, that the security relationship will move entirely to advice, training and intelligence cooperation, and there will be no presence of US combat forces in Iraq by December 31, 2021.

The United States intends to continue its support for the Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga forces, in order to Build its ability to deal with threats.

The two delegations affirmed their commitment to protecting human rights and basic freedoms, including freedom of the press, through full compliance with Iraqi legal procedures and constitutional guarantees that respect international norms and conventions on human rights. The two sides affirmed that free and fair elections will support Iraq's sovereignty, democracy and development. The Iraqi side presented a detailed description of its plans, which aim to ensure the safety of voters, candidates, poll workers, domestic observers, civil society groups and international observers, and to enhance voter participation. Both delegations expressed their appreciation for the support provided by the international community, as expressed in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2576 (for 2021). The two delegations also agreed that the presence of a monitoring team of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq and an observer mission of the European Union represents a sincere effort by the international community to support the demands of the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people to hold free and fair elections next October. Iraq welcomed continued US support for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and recent US financial contributions to the mission as election-related assistance, including contributions to the Election Observation Team.

The two parties agreed to continue to cooperate in working with international organizations and through relevant governmental institutions in both countries, particularly in light of the preparations for the United Nations Climate Change Conference at its twenty-sixth session, which will be held in Glasgow, United Kingdom next autumn. The United States expressed support for Iraq's efforts to promote economic reform and regional integration, particularly through its commitment to regional energy networks with Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The two delegations reiterated their determination to maintain and strengthen the strategic relationship between them, in all bilateral issues, in a manner that serves the national interest of each country in addition to their common interest represented in regional stability.

Iraq and the United States confirmed that they would resume their discussions through the coordination committees of the Strategic Framework Agreement.

 

البيان الختامي المشترك للجولة الرابعة من الحوار الاستراتيجي بين بغداد وواشنطن (baghdadtoday.news)

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Biden Announces End Of U.S. Combat Mission In Iraq
30,121 views Jul 26, 2021

 


MSNBC
4.43M subscribers
President Joe Biden met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at the White House to discuss ending America’s combat mission in Iraq. Al-Kadhimi thanked America for the partnership between countries and Biden said the counter terrorism operation will continue. 

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Biden: U.S. To End Combat Mission In Iraq By End Of 2021

 

Joe Biden shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, left, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., July 26, 2021. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Joe Biden shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, left, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., July 26, 2021. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 6:17 PM PT – Monday, July 26, 2021

The Biden administration moved to further limit America’s military presence in the Middle East. On Monday, Joe Biden met with Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and vowed to end America’s combat mission in the country.

“I think things are going well. Our role in Iraq will be as a, dealing with, not, it’s just to be available to continue to train, to assist, to help and to deal with ISIS as it arrives,” Biden stated. “We are not going to be by the end of the year in a combat mission.”

President Trump began to pullback troops late last year when he reduced the troop numbers from 3,000 to 2,500. There has been a combat presence in the country since 2014 when former President Barack Obama ordered the military to fight ISIS after bringing troops home just three years prior.

 

Al-Kadhimi said it was the right time to wind down a U.S. presence in the country and claimed his military was capable of defending itself from terrorists. However, U.S. troops would still be expected to assist Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS militants, but only in a training and intelligence capacity.

“Together, we fight and defeat ISIS and I’d like to thank the American people on behalf of all Iraqi people,” he expressed. “I thank you for all the blood and treasure that America has given for a free and democratic Iraq.”

Al-Kadhimi stressed the deadline of withdrawal to be dictated by the needs and demands of the Iraqi army. Biden predicted the pullout to come by year’s end.

This pullout comes on the heels of Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, which is expected to be completed by August 31. Critics warn the move is empowering the Taliban, who claim to have taken back more than 85 percent of the country.

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