Earlier this month, while meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister, President Trump reaffirmed his intent to remove all US troops from Iraq. “We were there and now we’re getting out. We’ll be leaving shortly,” the president told reporters at the time.
Although President Obama should never have sent US troops back into Iraq in 2016, it is definitely well past time to remove them as quickly as possible.
Over the weekend, the Administration announced it would be drawing down troops currently in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,500. That’s a good start.
One big roadblock to finally leaving Iraq alone is President Trump’s de facto Secretary of War, Mike Pompeo. Although he’s supposed to be the top US diplomat, Pompeo is a bull in a china shop. He seems determined to start a war with Iran, China, Russia, Venezuela, and probably a few more countries.
Unfortunately there is a pattern in this Administration where President Trump announces the withdrawal of troops from one of the seemingly endless conflicts we are involved in and an Administration official – often Pompeo – “clarifies” the president’s statement to mean the opposite of what the president has just said.
When the president was questioned over the weekend about a timetable for the US withdrawal from Iraq, he turned to Pompeo for an answer. Pompeo’s response did not inspire much hope. “As soon as we can complete the mission,” said Pompeo. What is the mission? Does anyone know? Aside from “regime change” for Iran, that is.
At his speech accepting the Republican Party’s nomination for re-election last week, Trump declared, “unlike previous administrations, I have kept America OUT of new wars — and our troops are coming home.” That sounds good, but how can he achieve that goal if the people he hires to carry out that policy not only disagree with him but seem to be working against him?
The US invasion of Iraq 17 years ago was correctly described at the time by the late NSA Director Bill Odom as “the greatest strategic disaster in American history.” After a relentless barrage of lies about former US ally Saddam Hussein having “weapons of mass destruction,” the US attack and destruction of Iraq did not bring the peace and prosperity promised by the neocon war promoters.
Instead, the US “liberation” of Iraq killed a million Iraqis, most of whom were civilians. It destroyed Iraq’s relatively prosperous economy. It did not result in a more peaceful or stable Middle East. The US had no idea how to remake Iraqi society and in picking and choosing who could participate in post-invasion Iraq the US helped facilitate the rise of al-Qaeda and ISIS. A secular Iraq had been turned into a sectarian incubator for terrorists and extremists. And the biggest winner in the war was Iran, who the US has demonized as an enemy for over four decades.
Yes, General Odom was right. It was a strategic disaster. Turning the US into a global military empire is also a strategic disaster. Trump’s promise to bring troops home from overseas wars sounds very good. But it’s time to see some real action. That might mean some people who disagree with the president need to be fired.
It is my sincere desire to provide readers of this site with the best unbiased information available, and a forum where it can be discussed openly, as our Founders intended. But it is not easy nor inexpensive to do so, especially when those who wish to prevent us from making the truth known, attack us without mercy on all fronts on a daily basis. So each time you visit the site, I would ask that you consider the value that you receive and have received from The Burning Platform and the community of which you are a vital part. I can't do it all alone, and I need your help and support to keep it alive. Please consider contributing an amount commensurate to the value that you receive from this site and community, or even by becoming a sustaining supporter through periodic contributions. [Burning Platform LLC - PO Box 1520 Kulpsville, PA 19443] or Paypal
-----------------------------------------------------
To donate via Stripe, click here.
-----------------------------------------------------
Use promo code ILMF2, and save up to 66% on all MyPillow purchases. (The Burning Platform benefits when you use this promo code.)
Unless all the troops come back to the US, unless all the Xe mercenaries, CIA operatives, NSA operatives, and god knows whatever other spies or election manipulators, etc. are there, also come home, and Iraq is rendered free of Americans other than those doing REAL business or visiting, nothing will matter or improve. I don’t expect to see anything of that nature actually happening. As always, “we” will do whatever Israel or the CIA tells “us” to do.
Another no win war with thousands of dead and crippled young men so the (((bankers )))can get rich.
All those bases and all that oil. It’s a fraudulent scheme from the start. Yellowcake? Sadam was our man and we (CIA) Gave his regime training in bioweapons. This is all about money by people with no souls. it’s all frickin evil.
As bad as Sadman was, he kept Iran checked. Without him, they have run amok for 15 years and are more dangerous today that when we invaded Iraq.
All roads in Iran lead back to the US-backed coup of 1953. No point in discussing how horrible they have become when our criminal government over threw theirs and began all of the misery.
I had to ask myself, what’s so important about Iran? They’re no threat to us. But they are to certain people.
Why?
Could it be that there’s no Rothschild bank there, just like NK and Cuba?
Surely not. I’m positive it’s entirely a coincidence.
Iran was never a threat or an enemy. All we need to do to eliminate that “threat” is to leave them alone.
I conducted operations in Iraq where I have first hand knowledge of Iranian involvement. They were not the worst we had to deal with and in hindsight, they were actually doing more good than we were, if I ignore being personally in the crosshairs of their allies, because my country had no business being there. Sorry if I didn’t articulate that well.
I have never regretted my service, because it was honorable and professional, but I have come to realize I was never serving the interests of my countrymen. Just the criminals who pull the strings.
I have to live with the wounds that will never heal. I am not bitter, but it is no comfort that it was all for nothing.
Ken – I don’t think you understand my comment. What I was saying is that Iraq and Iran were natural enemies while Sadman was in control. Neither could defeat the other and we upset the balance of power in the region when we took him out. It is just another case of our meddling making things worse, rather than better.
BTW Thank you for stepping up and serving. I pray that you will find peace to heal your wounds.