The Common Ills: US troops won't be leaving Iraq

REUTERS reports, " Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani defended the presence of U.S. troops in his country and set no timetable for their withdrawal, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Sunday." Robert Tollast (THE NATIONAL) explains:

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr Al Sudani said that the “elimination of ISIS needs some more time”, when asked about the US troop presence, which has been authorised by the Iraqi government to train the Iraqi army since 2014.

About 2,500 US soldiers remain in Iraq, from a high of over 5,000 during the war against ISIS between 2014 and 2018. The small contingent was deployed to Iraq following a withdrawal of US forces in 2011 after eight years of occupation. At its peak, the force numbered 170,000 in 2007, when Iraq was beset with sectarian violence and fighting between international coalition forces and insurgents.

Chenar Chalak (RUDAW) notes, "The PM’s statement comes despite repeated demands from Iran-backed political groups in Iraq calling for terminating the presence of the foreign forces, including from within the Coordination Framework -of which Sudani is a member-." ALJAZEERA notes, "His statements underlined the difficult tack the prime minister has sought in his dealings with the US and with Iran, which, beyond having substantial sway in domestic Iraqi politics, is also a key provider of natural gas and electricity to the country. The prime minister hailed Iran and Iraq’s close economic and security ties during a visit to Tehran in November."

Speaking of Iraq's neighbors, ARMENIAN NEWS notes:

Kurdish mass media, citing the Iraqi interior minister, reported on Sunday that 6,000 policemen were deployed on the shared borders of Kurdistan with Iran and Turkey.

Decisions have been made regarding the overseeing of Iraq's borders with Iran and Turkey, and funds have been allocated to the budget for the construction of checkpoints, the installation of surveillance cameras, and the construction of watchtowers, Iraqi interior minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari said, Kurdistan 24 reports.

Now for an e-mail. A woman has been e-mailing for over a week now. If I don't talk about something here, maybe be glad about that. The woman's mad that I haven't remarked on a passing. I can stay silent for one of two reasons: I am too saddened by the death to talk about it or I just didn't like the person. This woman insists that I must weigh in on the late "great Christine McVie."

Christine wrote some good songs. I was not friends with her. I didn't like her. I did like Dennis and I did think she did him wrong. Yes, Dennis Wilson cheated on her. It didn't start out that way. I felt, in real time, that the more she did him wrong, the angrier he got and the cheating began. Others can feel differently. But I do think she did him wrong and I do blame her a bit or two for Dennis fate. In addition, we both attended a costume party. She may or may not have liked what I wore but I was offended by what she wore. She came as Aunt Jemima. This costume included her being in Blackface. I felt it was offensive and disgusting and I told her so.

Now you may love Christine McVie all you want but I didn't. I knew her as someone who was too often drunk, on a ton of cocaine and very nasty and mean spirited. She passed away? Hmm. I really don't have any kind thoughts to share.

If that offends you, grasp please that I spent weeks avoiding talking about her. But today you've again e-mailed and it's something like your tenth e-mail on the subject. Alright, there you go. I noted her passing. Don't you wish now that you hadn't asked?

And I'm being kind by only offering two reasons I didn't care for her.

Before someone e-mails about Lisa Marie Presley, I didn't know her. Her death is sad and I think Elaine will probably write about it.

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