The best case scenario is when someone decides to move forward with an idea and it works out perfectly, without causing harm or foul to any person, place, or thing even remotely involved with the decision. For example, if I decided to wear yellow socks instead of white socks tomorrow, while arguably unfashionable and pitiful that I even own such a color of hosiery, this would have absolutely no impact on the outside world. These are the best types of decisions because you, and only you enjoy the rewards, or suffer the consequences when applicable. Then, there are decisions made, sometimes on a whim, that have direct consequences causing disarray in the geopolitical arena, and angering lawmakers in related countries.
The day after Christmas, President Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife, Melania, decided to travel to Iraq. The Trumps elected to visit troops stationed in the one location in the world where the president would never decide, on a whim, to withdraw US soldiers; the Iraqi city of Mosul. For those unfamiliar with President Trump’s affinity with Mosul, the city is the location where US forces defeated ISIS in its base of operations. Mosul is President Trump’s Sistine Chapel, his “Good Will Hunting,” the crown military victory of his presidency. Naturally, this would make a great winter vacation spot for him and his wife.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders shared details of the President’s journey to Iraq in a tweet late on Christmas night:
“President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice, and to wish them a Merry Christmas.”
–Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Though the President’s trip to Iraq was undoubtedly exciting for all military personnel stationed in the city of Mosul, Trump originally campaigned with a platform based on bringing all troops home if, and when, he was elected to office. About a week ago, President Trump ordered a rapid withdrawal of some two-thousands United States armed forces members from Syria, to be completed within thirty days. Remaining true to his absence of subtlety in the slightest, President Trump declared that his removal of said troops was due to the celebratory notion that after four, hard-fought years against the Islamic State, (ISIS) the US has emerged largely victorious.
“We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.”
–President Donald Trump on Twitter
Given President Trump’s recent affinity for removing troops stationed in the middle east, Iraqi lawmakers Thursday demanded that all U.S. military members stationed in the country leave at once, due to the arrogant nature of President Trump’s surprise visit. According to several sources, politicians from both blocs of Iraq’s divided parliament called for a vote to expel U.S. troops.
“Parliament must clearly and urgently express its view about the ongoing American violations of Iraqi sovereignty.”
–Salam al-Shimiri, lawmaker close to populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr
About a week ago, President Trump ordered a rapid withdrawal of some two-thousands United States armed forces members from Syria, to be completed within thirty days. Remaining true to his absence of subtlety in the slightest, President Trump declared that his removal of said troops was due to the celebratory notion that after four, hard-fought years against the Islamic State, (ISIS) the US has emerged largely victorious.
According to recent statistics, the United States still has 14,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan, and about 2,000 in Syria, for the time being. Trump’s decision to solely withdraw troops from Syria has led to several officials’ resignation from the administration, namely former Defense Secretary James Mattis. Over the weekend, Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy to the coalition fighting ISIS decided to expedite his pre-planned resignation to just after the new year because of the president’s impromptu withdrawal from Syria.
Sources indicate that President Trump is currently discussing possible courses of action to handle the situation with the Iraqi government’s request. According to Politico, prior to his departure, Trump spoke to Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi by phone.
