What happens to our billion dollar embassy if US military is forced to leave Iraq?

[EveHammond13]

thanks for nothing, idiot trump

[malaise]

1. All that will be left is the biggest cultural symbol of ReTHUG party failure

A white elephant in a green zone - that would be perfect

[marble falls]

2. It becomes the 'Museum of US Aggression'.

[Arazi]

3. We have been expelled by their government. We ARE leaving. Not if but when

[UniteFightBack]

22. It's a non binding resolution. nt

[Arazi]

24. Almost all of Iraq's leadership is Shia. They let the Iranian militants attack the embassy

You think they're going to allow the US to stay now?

[Igel]

35. Not enough information.

They might want the US to stay after posturing, and possibly getting a bribe.

To say that every Shi'ite wants to be Iran's toy is probably overstating the facts. Small fry have to make a choice: They can be the minion and pawn of a larger power or they can play off powers to establish some breathing space of their own. If you're well within a large imperialist's sphere of influence that can be hard, unless you can find a larger or at least equally large outside imperialist to assist.

Think S. Korea and China. Poland and Russia. Cuba and the US.

It's highly likely that Iraq no wants to be Iran's plaything than Cuba wanted to be the US's. These things change depending on perceived interests--but the key word there is "perceived". "Perceive" requires the thing being perceived as well as the perceiver; I can't look at you and tell what you're perceiving, that you have to tell me or show me by your actions (which might be deceptive or ambiguous).

Even then, the calculations of the leadership can be skewed by the public or by the differential pressure brought to bear by the putative hegemons. For small fry, things are always in flux as you seek the best possible balance.

I don't know what the Iraqi leadership perceives, their goals, or all the pressures they're under.

[Iliyah]

4. It becomes . . .

Iraq, Iran, Russia, China, North Korea, Turkey, Syria, etc.

Watering hole . . .

[dalton99a]

5. Nothing.

They're expelling the troops. They're not cutting diplomatic relations

[sunonmars]

8. and who exactly is going to defend the place once the mob moves in and no troops.

[dalton99a]

14. Same people - U.S. Marines and Iraqi troops

The host country is responsible for protecting an embassy under international law

It'd be extremely stupid for the Iraqi government to let the mob take over

[sunonmars]

18. international law, lol. Good one. Events have a way of overtaking things.......

[dalton99a]

19. Like I said, Iraqis are not that stupid.

[LovingA2andMI]

27. Not about "being stupid". If troops were not required at the embassy.....

Why WERE THEY THERE? Of course this is a colossal muckup and a huge waste of our taxpayer dollars that we will not get back.

[Mr.Bill]

30. Yeah, because for the last few decades

we've been their best buddies.

[ck4829]

6. Let's not fall into sunk cost fallacy though. It was a waste back then, now it's a bigger waste

We really shouldn't be defending it if it's evacuated.

[sunonmars]

9. knowing this lot, it'll be burned to the ground, ripped apart for things.

[ck4829]

12. If it happens, it happens. Honestly, looking at the perspective of that lot, that sounds cathartic.

There has to be a point though where the value of the lives and money spent on the embassy is "equal to or greater than" it.

If we haven't reached that point already, when will we reach it?

[Newest Reality]

32. Thanks for pointing that falacy out!

We need awareness of that particular one these days, and I agree with your assessment.

[OliverQ]

7. It gets shut down and Putin moves in to take it over.

[UniteFightBack]

23. +1000

If we are not around then who will be....seems like nobody likes to think about that. But I do and it's gotta be us whether you like it or not.

[struggle4progress]

25. +

[stillcool]

34. I sense a pattern

[llmart]

10. New Trump hotel?

[sunonmars]

11. Well I'd dare say every Trump hotel is going to need that level of security soon.

[uponit7771]

13. Russians or Iranians and Iraqis will occupy it and MAGA Suckers will be happy

[roamer65]

15. New Iraqi government offices.

[LovingA2andMI]

28. This....

As a "Gift" of $450 Million Dollars of U.S. Taxpayers Revenue while Americans are still hungry, homeless, lacking healthcare and gas prices are going up for all.

[bullwinkle428]

16. The latest addition to the "Saddam's Old Palaces AirBnB Network"!

[EveHammond13]

20. LOL!

[rso]

17. Iraq

Iraq has said it wants US troops to leave, they don’t want to break diplomatic relations. So the Embassy would remain, albeit with a greatly enhanced marine security detachment. Marines defending the Embassy would not be included in the troop expulsion, as they are legally on sovereign US soil.

[BuffaloJackalope]

21. New digs for Iraq's new friend, Russia.

[at140]

26. "For Rent" sign goes up..nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

29. May as well label it for what it really is: Big oil's corporate offices.

Hoist the corporate flags of big oil and maybe it won't suffer so many rocket attacks.

Would work particularly well if they put up big "help wanted" signs......

No way in hell would I want to be a U.S. government official in that location......

[Igel]

36. US oil companies account for a relatively small share of Iraqi oil.

BP's bigger, and not American. Rosneft, Lukoil, Chinese and other country's companies have a far greater presence there.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

37. That's why I did not say "American big oil".

Despite W's and Cheney's wet dreams (and Drumph's, too), we have not dominated their oil resources. I think the Kurds are too smart to let that happen, along with some Shia-controlled political factions.

It is a huge complex mess......

Now I'm curious if Russia and/or China will step in and lend further help to Iran's petro industry after the dust settles.

[stopdiggin]

31. skate park. we'll subvert the state from within! (nt)

[keithbvadu2]

33. If so, Trump would leave it for his master Putin like he did with the base in Syria.