The Visit was top secret

noticed, First, that the soldier is not at his Post, guarding usually the West wing of the White house, when US President Donald Trump is present. Then there were rumors that a Boeing VC-was spotted 25 on England, the President travels in exactly those possible in the normally. Finally, it was official: Donald Trump has visited on Wednesday, American soldiers in Iraq. It was the first troop visit to his office in a crisis zone. The trip had been kept secret and under strict safety precautions.

In the past few months, the criticism of Trump was to become louder and louder, because he had avoided such a visit so far. He reasoned that with his busy schedule. During his appearance in the canteen of the air force base, al-Asad, West of Baghdad, he said that he had not been traveling in a crisis area, because he had concern for the Institution of the presidency, not himself. Trump was accompanied by his wife Melania.

"Stupid"

In a short speech in front of around 100 soldiers, Trump defended his decision to the American troops from Syria to deduct. "We are no longer the Stupid, people," he said. "The United States can not continue to be the world's policeman", he said, "we don't want to be out of countries, exploited the use of us and our incredible military, to protect themselves. You don't have to pay for it." Trump said the American military was not have heard of the represented countries, "of which most of the people once again". This is ridiculous.

last week, Trump had announced surprisingly, the US-troops from Syria to deduct. Currently, approximately 2,000 Americans are stationed. This decision had led to the resignation of Secretary of defense James Mattis, who holds the trigger according to its own information for a gross error. Also Brett McGurk, special representative for the international Alliance against the terrorist militia Islamic state (IS), has declared after trump's announcement of his resignation. According to "New York Times" he has told colleagues he could not support Trumps decision in good conscience.

In Iraq are about to be stationed in 5000 American soldiers. This number, according to the Trump for the time being, to change anything. Iraq could be a kind of headquarters of the United States in the Middle East, which could also intervene again in Syria, if the will need. "Should something happen with the IS, the we like, we can strike so fast and hard – don't know what happened," said Trump, according to fellow reporters. Reduce troop contingent in Afghanistan should be. There are 14'000 soldiers are currently stationed. Trump wants to halve this number. To reduce the military presence abroad, was one of his campaign promises.

visit is criticized

The soldiers at the base at al-Asad Trump said that the American troops would have been available for ten years, no salary increase, but he said that he ensured that there is now a surcharge of 10 per cent. In fact, the military has received the "Washington Post" that, for decades, every year, for an increase of salary. Trumps last pay increase was, also, not 10 percent, but only to 2.6 per cent.

Leading Iraqi politicians have criticized the visit of Trumps. The Reuters news Agency, according to Sabah al-Saadi, the leader of the Islah bloc in the Parliament called for an urgent meeting, "to discuss the blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty". Also the Bina-Block, Islahs rival in the Parliament, rejected the Trump visit. It is a violation of diplomatic norms.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's visit to Washington.

Originally a Meeting Trumps with Iraq had been planned, the Prime Minister of Adil Abdul-Mahdi. According to trump's spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Meeting because of the short-term nature of the visit, from security reasons, are not able to take place. The two leaders had spoken on the phone. Abdul-Mahdi had accepted an invitation to the White house.

troop visits on holidays is a Tradition among US presidents. George W. Bush traveled in 2003 to Thanksgiving in Iraq, where he served Turkey. His father, George H. W. Bush visited in 1993 on new year's troops in Somalia. Bill Clinton spent Thanksgiving in 1999, with American soldiers in Kosovo. Barack Obama visited in 2014 on Memorial Day, troops in Afghanistan.

On the flight back Trump put on Thursday with a stop at the base of Ramstein in Germany, before he went on his way back to Washington.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 27.12.2018, 19:11 PM