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Esper: US Not Withdrawing from Iraq

Carla Babb

   PENTAGON - The United States is not withdrawing troops from Iraq,
   Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday, with the top U.S. military
   officer explaining that a letter from a senior military officer that
   appeared to suggest withdrawal was a poorly worded mistake.

   "There's been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq," Esper said.
   "There's no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave."

   A letter circulated Monday on Twitter had been sent to the Iraqi
   government from a commander in Iraq. In it, the commander said the U.S.
   respects Iraq's "decision to order our departure" and that U.S. troops
   would be "repositioning over the course of the coming days and weeks to
   prepare for onward movement."

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