ADA policy afterthought for the past three years, while it served as a hub for military efforts against the Islamic State and a place from which to keep a close eye on Iran, Iraq has suddenly become a problem for the United States. ADBritain, France and Germany on Monday issued a statement urging the United States and Iran to exercise restraint and avoid escalation. “This administration doesn’t have a policy on Iraq,” said a former senior Iraqi official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid worsening a volatile situation. “We spent a fortune on building this incredible base,” Trump said of the al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq, which hosts many U.S. troops. NATO and U.S. training of Iraqi troops has also been suspended, and the U.S. government has told American civilians in Iraq to leave the country.

Source: Washington Post January 07, 2020 01:30 UTC