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THE US MILITARY strategy in Iraq was thrown into confusion last night as the Pentagon admitted a letter from a general informing the Iraqi government of an imminent US troop pullout was sent by “mistake.”
The latest developments came as a sea of black-clad mourners in Tehran paid homage to Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force who was killed in a US strike in Iraq on Friday.
US Brigadier General William Seely informed his Iraqi counterparts in a letter dated Sunday that American troops were preparing to leave Iraq.
“We respect your sovereign decision to order our departure,” said the letter, whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by both Iraqi and US defence officials.
Seely said the US-led coalition would “be repositioning forces.”
“In order to conduct this task, Coalition Forces are required to take certain measures to ensure that the movement out of Iraq is conducted in a safe and efficient manner,” said the letter.
It said helicopters would be travelling in and around Baghdad’s Green Zone where the US embassy is located as part of the preparations.
AFP could hear helicopters flying low over Baghdad throughout the night last night.
But Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley said yesterday letter was a mere “draft” and “should not have been sent.”
“It was a mistake, an honest mistake, a draft unsigned letter, because we are moving forces around,” Milley told reporters in Washington.
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the letter was “inconsistent” with Washington’s position and denied there had been a decision to leave Iraq.
The US drone strike that killed Soleimani, as well as Iraqi military commanders, has sparked fury in both Iran and Iraq, with Tehran vowing revenge.
Iraqi lawmakers on Sunday urged the government to oust all foreign troops from Iraqi soil.
Trump threatens ‘retaliation’
Some 5,200 US soldiers are stationed across Iraqi bases to support local troops preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State group.
They make up the bulk of a broader coalition, invited by the Iraqi government in 2014 to help combat the jihadists.
Yesterday, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fought back tears as mourners flooded the streets around Tehran University to honour Soleimani.
The targeted killing of the 62-year-old Soleimani saw Iran step back even further from the already tattered 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.
In an escalating war of words that has heightened international concern and rattled financial markets, Trump threatened yet more “major retaliation” if Tehran hits back, including strikes on Iranian cultural sites.
Writing in all-caps on Monday, Trump tweeted: “IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”
‘Path of sobriety’
Iraq requested in a letter to the UN — seen by AFP — that the Security Council condemn the US drone strike, so that “the law of the jungle” was not allowed to prevail.
The operation represented “a dangerous escalation that could lead to a devastating war in Iraq, the region and the world,” wrote the Iraqi ambassador to the UN, Mohammed Hussein Bahr-Aluloom.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Iran must avoid “further violence and provocations” after the alliance held emergency talks in Brussels.
“At our meeting today, allies called for restraint and de-escalation. A new conflict would be in no-one’s interest,” he said.
Saudi Arabia — an oil-rich US ally seen as vulnerable to Iranian counter strikes — also appealed for calm.
The European Union, whose foreign ministers will hold emergency talks Friday, said it was in Iran and Iraq’s interest to “take the path of sobriety and not the path of escalation.”
EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said he “deeply regrets” Iran’s latest step back from the nuclear deal.
The agreement had offered Tehran sanctions relief in return for curbs to prevent it acquiring nuclear weapons — but Trump’s withdrawal in 2018 dramatically weakened the deal.
Despite its latest step, Iran insisted it would continue to cooperate with the UN agency overseeing its atomic programme.
Throngs of mourners
The raw emotions sparked by the killing of Soleimani were on full display in Tehran, where state television said “several million” black-clad mourners filled the streets.
“The last time I remember such a crowd was at Ayatollah Khomeini’s funeral 30 years ago,” said Iranian journalist Maziar Khosravi.
As they marched down a main artery of Tehran, the mourners chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.
Soleimani, a beloved hero of the 1980s war with Iraq, will be laid to rest in his hometown Kerman today.
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It is not up for discussion or opinion. The first day of Spring here in Ireland is 1 February. Lán stad. Bìodh lá maith agaibh uilig go léir a chairde!
@Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: who cares what it is in Ireland, I’d rather be in tandem with the Northern hemisphere countries, where Spring is March, April and May.
@The Firestarter: you might want to look up their midsummer festivals. They aren’t in mid July.
@Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: I don’t think you get to decide what can be discussed to be honest. 1st March is the first day of meteorological spring. Most European countries accept March, April, and may as being Spring.
@The Firestarter: well we have to acknowledge that it is something else before we can get it changed ;) I’d be all for changing it, like you say, to match weather patterns.
@The Firestarter: countries that don’t have our climate?
@Sara Davis: You might want to tell that to our flora and fauna
@Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: That makes Summer Mai June July … and Autumn 1st August …
I vote March 21st like the rest of the northern hemisphere ;)
@Michael Legris: no country has march 21st for Meteorological spring outside the US. You are confusing astronomical spring with meteorological spring.
In Irish the month of October is Deireadh Fómhair, meaning end of Autumn. So Nov, Dec, Jan are winter and today is the first day of spring.
@Nicola Cox:
You are leaving out February
@NOlivesmatter: I leave out February aswell, it’s the Tuesday of months, useless…lol
@Nicola Cox: what about February?
@Nicola Cox: today is the first day of spring but not by your logic.
@Nicola Cox: Deireadh Fómhair means end of harvest, not end of Autumn.
@Nicola Cox: were u asleep for the last 28days?
@Handsome McWonderful: I think it can mean both
https://blogs.transparent.com/irish/mean-fomhair-deireadh-fomhair-and-an-fomhar-vs-an-fomhair/
I use the meteorological system to determine the start of Winter and the Celtic one to determine the start of Spring, that way there’s only two months of Winter. It’s been working out great for me so far.
Imbolc is the first day of spring. 1st Feb.
But today is kinda pretty!
Was watching the news last night and the weather woman smugly said that as “we all know tomorrow is the first day of meteorological spring.” The cheek…
@Ryan O’Rourke: The cheek of her…being correct. Can’t be having that.
Ah here you’ll be asking for polls on what day it is next.
@Jim O Brien Tech: Monday- One day, Tuesday- Two days, Wednesday- when/what day…?, Thursday…. the THIRD day…..
@Pete Blake: it’s thor’s day
@Jim O Brien Tech: tomorrow is Hump day eve
It’s spring here in Spain has been since 23 January when it was 27 degrees .
@Maria Clery-Breen: it was -20c in Madrid early Jan.
@Maria Clery-Breen: it was -20c in Madrid early Jan. High today was 9. Spain has cold to cool winters.
Was February a lot milder back in Saint Bridgit’s day?
@Jangles: no but it was easier to measure sunlight than average monthly temperatures. So they went with the increase in sunlight hours.
Well, green shoots have been up for a fortnight, and I heard people out cutting the grass yesterday. This weekend is finally a bit warmer.
Think it is judging by the ridiculous queue for Woodies yesterday!
@Philip Cullen: Oh great, I need hardware stuff, will try to slip in at a less busy time of day. When did you queue?
finally feels like it
One thing is sure the seasons that start on the equinox or solstice are total nonsense. To say that march 20th is winter but December 20th isn’t, makes absolutely no sense. I expect then that it’s an academic idea.
@Petulant mcbarity: In continental climates like USA and Russia it makes perfect sense. Travelling through the US for years I can tell you winter lasts into April and many parts only have a short Spring and it becomes what we would consider Summer about late May.
@Jointheclubtoo: Ireland has long spring and autumn periods compared to more inland countries.
@Petulant mcbarity: Indeed. The 4 x 3 month seasons are a bit of a European construct.
Doesn’t matter, weather is crap well into April ;-)
@PJ Baettig: True enough. I’ve often thought it would be fairer to move Paddy’s Day to April. But in normal years, I suppose visitors buy a lot of fleece jackets and hats.
have your say