AL-ASAD AIR BASE (IRAQ) - President Donald Trump made a surprise lightening trip to Iraq on Wednesday, his first visit to US troops deployed in a war zone since being elected two years ago. The president spoke to troops and met with military leaders before leaving a few hours later. Melania Trump's spokeswoman called it "a surprise visit to our brave U.S. service members currently deployed in Iraq." But apart from the photo ops alongside uniformed military members, Trump was expected to use the Iraq trip to further explain his decision to end the Syria deployment and cut troop levels in Afghanistan. Trump also took flak from France and other allies and senior figures in his own Republican party.

Source: Bangkok Post December 26, 2018 20:26 UTC