Trump Encourages Iraqi
"Freedom" Uprising Against
Iran; Esper Sends More
Troops To Embassy
31 December, 2019
President Trump just called for a mass "freedom" uprising not in Iran, but in Iraq of all places, at a moment the US embassy in Baghdad continues to be encircled by enraged protesters bent on expelling the Americans after US airstrikes killed dozens of Iran-backed Iraqi militia over the weekend.
Trump's provocative tweet, coming after an hours long embassy standoff that has reportedly trapped the Marine guard inside, anxiously awaiting a defusing of the tense situation, further implies that it is ultimately Iran that's running the show inside Iraq. He blamed Iran for orchestrating the current mayhem. The country, though invaded and occupied by US forces since Bush's war in 2003, is "dominated and controlled by Iran" the president said.
To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who don’t want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time!
However, by all appearances it's the Americans that have fallen out of favor. Naturally, Iraqis across the religious and political spectrum don't like seeing their country bombed repeatedly by both the US and Israel multiple times over the past months.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has announced it will be sending additional forces as security to protect US facilities. Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced the US will send additional troops to Baghdad specifically to protect the US Embassy in Iraq.
The breaking details, via Bloomberg, will include about 100 Marines sent from nearby Kuwait and two AH-64s Apaches which will fly over the embassy in a show of force. According to one defense official cited by Bloomberg, the Marines will likely fly to the embassy area in V-22 Ospreys.
But now the question remains: will the bulk of the Iraqi population join the Shia militias' calls to expel the 'foreign occupiers' and thus intensify pressure on American forces to leave?
Or will Iraqis actually head President Trump's call to rise up against those leaders in Iraq who are 'tainted' by their links to Iran?
As Ron Paul noted this week, the greatest threat to peace in 2020 now looks to be a possible disastrous Iraq War 3.0.
Attempt To Disperse Iraqi
Mob As Kataib Hezbollah
Flags Erected Over Embassy
Walls
31 December, 2019
update: The Marines have now landed, according to open-source analysis which appears to show the first deployment of the some 100 Marines flown in from Kuwait. Pentagon officials have also confirmed they are now on the ground.
Contradicting prior reports, US personnel at the embassy have not evacuated, but are "safe" inside the sprawling compound:
US personnel at the American embassy in Baghdad, which has come under attack by pro-Iran protesters, are safe and there are no plans to evacuate, the State Department said Tuesday."Our first priority is the safety and security of US personnel," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement."US personnel are secure and there has been no breach," the spokesperson said. "There are no plans to evacuate Embassy Baghdad."
US Apache gunships are also said to be still encircling the area, attempting to intimidate the rioters on the ground, still encircling the embassy and attempting to set it on fire.
U.S. Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command deploy to Iraq to bolster security at the US Embassy and ensure the safety of American citizens, Dec. 31.
Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham has praised Trump for "acting decisively" and has defended the president, saying “there will be no Benghazis on his watch.”
Regardless, none of this looks good for America's prospects in the Middle East moving into 2020.
* * *
Dramatic footage over the US embassy in Baghdad as enraged protesters continue to encircle the compound with US Marines still inside, and reportedly with more Marines on the way from nearby Kuwait:
VIDEO: AH-64 Apaches protect @USEmbBaghdad.“We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens...and to ensure our right of self-defense. We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy.”~@EsperDoD
The Pentagon announced that a pair of AH-64s Apache helicopters would be used to attempt to disrupt and disperse protests. The US coalition in Iraq spokesman released video of low flying Apaches making aggressive maneuvers and releasing flares on the crowds below.
“We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens... and to ensure our right of self-defense. We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy,” Col. Myles B. Caggins said in an official statement.
This was hours after the Pentagon announced the US will send additional troops to Baghdad specifically to protect the US Embassy in Iraq. According to the statements this is to include about 100 Marines sent from nearby Kuwait. According to one defense official cited by Bloomberg, the Marines will likely fly to the embassy area in V-22 Ospreys.
But the tactics don't appear to be working given the mob has set the embassy compound walls on fire, including the main gate and security pass through reception area.
Crucially, in a stunning image sure to send shockwaves through the US administration, multiple Kataib Hezbollah flags have now been erected along the walls of the US embassy.
Likely the Apaches will continue encircling the area through the night as things look to get worse before they get better.
From Shock and Awe to Tweet and Flare in 17 long years twitter.com/towersight/sta…
A view from among the protests on the ground as Apaches swoop overhead:
All of this portends that the potential for even greater escalation and confrontation is in the air as Trump continues to call on Iranian proxies to leave Iraq.
Protesters Storm US
Embassy In Baghdad
31 December, 2019
Thousands of Iraqi protestors attacked various parts of the US embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday after US airstrikes killed dozens of Iran-backed Iraqi militia over the weekend. The attack on the embassy has been widely documented on Twitter with videos and pictures showing the destruction.
Protestors are currently breaking into the #US Embassy in #Baghdad, #Iraq. Kata’ib #Hezbollah supporters have managed to break through the first security gate (photo via @thestevennabil) flags can be seen.
One freelance journalist recorded the moment when the angry mob chanted, "No, no to America, no, no to Israel" outside of the embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.
The Times of Israel's Mina Bai tweeted a video of what appears to be part of the embassy on fire
More videos show protestors are burning the outer walls of the embassy.
It appears thousands of protestors are currently outside the embassy chanting anti-American slogans, throwing objects over the embassy wall, and burning things at the main gate.
Protestors are attempting to storm the main gate of the embassy.
the main gate of the embassy.
#BREAKING: Footage showing protesters storming the main gate of the US Embassy in #Bagdad's #GreenZone. #Iraq #MENA #MiddleEast
Demonstrators took a video of the embassy's security forces behind bulletproof glass.
The man here asks the protesters to step back. From outside the #US #Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone. #Iraq
The US airstrike on Sunday on Hezbollah bases in Iraq and Syria were in response to attacks on US troops in the region.
ABC News said there had been no reports of any embassy staff hurt in the current rampage.
All security forces have been withdrawn to the inner areas of the embassy with US troops on top of the main embassy building with assault rifles pointed at protestors.
Reuters noted that the US ambassador and other staff members have been evacuated from the embassy. One official said few embassy protection staff remained as the risk of the compound being overrun was high.
Seven armored vehicles with 30 Iraqi troops arrived outside the embassy to assist US forces.
President Trump likely received a briefing on the developments of the embassy on Tuesday morning. He tweeted around 7 am est. saying "Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the embassy, and so notified!"
Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!
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