Drone Attacks Iraq Airport Housing U.S. Troops

[DonViejo]

Source: PoliticalWire/WSJ

April 15, 2021 at 9:24 am EDT By Taegan Goddard

Wall Street Journal: “The attack on the military section of the airport was carried out by a drone carrying explosives… The drone landed on a storage hangar at the air base, causing a fire that was later extinguished, according to the U.S.-led coalition.”

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Read more: https://politicalwire.com/2021/04/15/drone-attacks-iraq-airport-housing-u-s-troops/

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. What always disturbs me greatly when I read headlines like this one....

is this. Why is it that AMERICA gets to station US troops in other countries, but if Iraq, Iran or almost ANY other country tried to do the same thing here, there would be a war?
I know it's because we are the bullies on the block, but it still vexes me.

[AZ8theist]

2. Modern day "Manifest Destiny"....

[llashram]

4. this

and PNAC

[jimfields33]

3. It's a dilemma

We tried to leave Germany recently or at least cut the numbers and the negatives were to much so we stay. I’m sure Afghanistan is not thrilled we’re leaving at least some. Intentions are to help the country, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

[EX500rider]

5. The US is currently in Iraq at the request of their government

... if you recall we pulled all our troops out when they asked us to... And then when isis started making games they asked for us to come back... And there are lots of foreign troops in the US training at various Air Force bases etc

[Igel]

6. The Philippines asked us to leave.

We left.

It suited The Philippes to ask. The US didn't insist on staying. Even if the base that the US built was "permanent" and was a sizeable investment in physical infrastructure. That was the deal. Honor, pride, strategic interests ... but there are contracts and norms to be upheld.

Why, exactly, would Iraq ask Kenya or Australia or Indonesia or Ecuador to station troops in their country? And why would those countries agree? They got no dog in that fight.

Given Baghdad's awesome ability in resisting ISIS last time round--and the need to balance Iranian influence in a country that's got a sizeable Sunni population--I'd think they'd want some sort of external forces to provide a kind of balance against the Iran allies.