Sunday, April 23, 2023

Is the US military presence in Iraq increashing

Is the US military presence in Iraq increasing?  Some believe it is.  PRESS TV reports:


An Iraqi resistance group has warned about the increasing number of US occupation forces as well as their activities in the Arab country, saying such presence aims at lending further support to the Israeli regime.

The Ashab al-Kahf resistance group, in a statement on Sunday, called on the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to “be aware” of the growing US military presence in and around the country.

“American intelligence personnel are using Iraqi airspace frequently these days…to transfer personnel and technical equipment from the Kuwaiti Jahra base to the Victory site located at Baghdad Airport,” the resistance group said.

“We must also pay attention to what the Americans are planning in this particular period, which is to help the temporary Israeli entity, and to increase the transfer of logistical support through Iraqi airspace,” it added.

Pressured by the Iraqi people, US President Joe Biden and Iraq’s then-Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi declared in July 2021 that the US mission in Iraq would transition from combat to an “advisory” role by the end of that year.


THE CRADLE adds:


Earlier this month, Sudani said that a US combat presence in Iraq was no longer needed, given that ISIS was no longer a threat. Months earlier, the Iraqi prime minister had expressed approval of an indefinite US military presence in Iraq, which he said was needed to fully eradicate ISIS.

On 7 March, Washington’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a visit to the country that US forces will “remain in Iraq.”

Washington’s illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003 directly resulted in the formation of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), which crossed over into Syria in 2011 with US and Saudi support – subsequently becoming ISIS.


So is it true?  Is the US increasing their military presence in Iraq?


Don't expect the US press to ponder the question.  They still haven't bothered to explore the Turkish government's attack on a convoy with US military personnel from weeks ago.


Turning to the topic of snakes in Iraq -- no, Brett McGurk isn't visiting.  




AL MADA reports on the fifth most dangerous snake in the world which is also known as the Sayad Dakhil snake because of the number of people who've been bitten in that area.  Six to seven people used to die a year from the snake bites before a vaccine was introduced about 18 months ago.  The dangers of that one snake has resulted in the deaths of many snakes of different species in the area as a result of people fearing the saw-scaled viper. 


Kawthar Younis is an Egyptian filmmaker.  MY GIRL FRIEND is her second film (the first was A PRESENT FROM THE PAST: 20 SEPTEMBER).  MY GIRL FRIEND was the first Egyptian film to ever compete at The Venice Film Festival.



At ALMADA,  Adnan Huessein Ahmed reviews MY GIRL FRIEND and notes that Ali wants to visit his girlfriend Sara but her family doesn't want him around.  So he disguises himself as Alia -- a female classmate, visiting to work on homework.  The film explores many themes including gender.  And how Ali-Alia's visit impacts the family.


Isaiah's THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "Witch, Please" went up last night.  The following sites updated:



 

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