IRAQ/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump visited American military forces on Wednesday [12-26-18] in Iraq, making his first trip to troops stationed in a combat zone only days after announcing his intention to withdraw the United States from foreign wars in Syria and Afghanistan. The trip, shrouded in secrecy, came during a partial government shutdown and less than a week after Mr. Trump disrupted the military status quo and infuriated even some of his political allies by announcing plans to withdraw all troops from Syria and about half from Afghanistan. The president’s decision on Syria led to the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Speaking to troops at Al Asad Air Base, Mr. Trump defended his move in Syria.”
-Annie Karni, Mark Landler and Thomas Gibbons-Neff, “Trump Makes Surprise Visit to American Troops in Iraq,” The New York Times online, December 26, 2018