Editorial: A withdrawal is what's needed

A development in the long running, never ending Iraq War took place this week.  Gordon Lubold and Isabel Coles (WALL STREET JOURNAL) report, "The Trump administration will cut the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to about 3,000 this month, a top military commander said in the country on Wednesday, a reduction from about 5,200 there now."  Barbara Starr and Ryan Browne (CNN) quote CENTCOM commander Gen Frank McKenzie stating, "This reduced footprint allows us to continue advising and assisting our Iraqi partners in rooting out the final remnants of ISIS in Iraq and ensuring its defeat."  Kim Hejlmgaard (USA TODAY) points out, "The move is in keeping with President Donald Trump's pledge to cut the number of U.S. military personnel deployed overseas. "

  

Melissa Quinn (CBS NEWS) pouts, "The U.S. will be pulling 1,200 troops from Iraq during the month of September as part of President Trump's efforts to follow through on his oft-repeated campaign promise to bring home American service members and end so-called 'endless wars'."

 

"So-called endless wars'"? Melissa seems a little down, doesn't she. Poor thing, she can't keep her War On up. Maybe some viagra will make her feel better?

If that doesn't do the trick, maybe this will: It's not a withdrawal and troops could go back into Iraq in larger numbers. Doubt it? Merrit Kennedy (NPR) notes Gen McKenzie declared that "the decision reflects confidence in Iraqi security forces."

 

Ruh-roh Scooby. These are the same security forces that the US has trained and trained again, retrained and trained and, in 2011, stated they needed no more training from the US, thank you. That training would have fallen under the State Dept but it didn't take place. Fade out. Fade in, 2014 and Mosul is seized by ISIS. Then training and retraining starts yet again.

 At present, Donald Trump's planning a drawdown. That's not the same as a withdrawal.  What's needed is a withdrawal.