12/26/2018

IRAQ/ISIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump once opined that it wasn’t ‘overly necessary’ for him to visit troops in danger zones abroad. But with the lights of Air Force One out and window shutters drawn, the president did just that, slipping into Iraq at night to greet U.S. service members and show that his norm-busting presidency would hew at least to this tradition. Trump arrived back in Washington before dawn Thursday [12-27-18], capping a 29-hour and six-minute trip to the conflict region conducted under the cover of night. Addressing troops at an air base in western Iraq late Wednesday [12-26-18], Trump defended his decision to pull forces from neighboring Syria, declaring of Islamic State militants: ‘We’ve knocked them out. We’ve knocked them silly.’ His appraisal is at odds with that of military officials, aides and allies who consider IS a diminished but deadly force. His defense secretary and envoy to the anti-IS coalition quit after Trump blindsided much of the national security establishment with his call.”

Associated Press, “Trump Finally Hews to Ritual of Meeting Troops in Harm’s Way,” The New York Times online, December 26, 2018