Voice of America
16 May 2019, 01:05 GMT+10
CAPITOL HILL - Shahla Arasteh and Carla Babb contributed to this report.
CAPITOL HILL - The United States on Wednesday ordered its non-emergency employees to leave Iraq, as American lawmakers worried openly about a potential march to war with Iran.
The drawdown of personnel at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and America's consulate in Irbil comes as the Trump administration warns of potential threats against American forces in the Middle East from Iran or Iranian-backed proxies.
The move sparked sharp reactions on Capitol Hill.
"There are only two reasons for ordering their departure: we have credible intelligence that our people are at risk - or in preparation for military action in Iran," the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's top Democrat, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, said. "The Trump administration has not provided any information to this committee on the intelligence behind their decisions or what they plan to do in Iraq or Iran."
Menendez demanded the Trump administration bring the panel's members up to date on "any plans to go to war with Iran."
The committee's chairman, Republican James Risch of Idaho, said that he, personally, has been briefed on the unfolding situation in the Middle East and that a briefing of the full U.S. Senate was "in the works."
Get Adobe Flash Player Embed share US Military Beefing Up Arsenal to Counter Potential Iran Attack Embed share The code has been copied to your clipboard. width px height px Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The URL has been copied to your clipboard No media source currently available
0:00 0:01:44 0:00
The United States is not alone in curtailing activities in Iraq. Germany and the Netherlands say they are suspending military training operations in the country, although Berlin says it had no signals of its own that a threat against Western interests in Iraq was imminent. The Dutch government cited an unspecified security threat in curtailing its training operations.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected a report that he is considering sending 120,000 troops to counter Iran, but didn't rule out deploying 'a lot more' soldiers in the future.
'I think it's fake news,' Trump said of a New York Times report that the White House is considering a plan to send 120,000 troops to the region.
'Now, would I do that? Absolutely. But we have not planned for that,' Trump said.
The Pentagon has already dispatched an aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bomber planes to the region in the last few days, with a Patriot missile battery and a landing platform dock ship on the way. The Patriot system offers protection from aircraft and missiles, while the LPD carries Marines and the aircraft, hovercraft, or boats needed to put them ashore to fight in distant places.
Meanwhile, a senior officer in the U.S.-led military coalition combating Islamic State said Tuesday he had seen no greater recent threat to its troops in Iraq or Syria from forces backed by Iran.
'There's been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria,' British Maj. Gen. Chris Ghika told reporters at the Pentagon in a video conference from coalition headquarters in Baghdad. 'We're aware of their presence, clearly, and we monitor them, along with a whole range of others because that's the environment we're in.'
The statement was in contrast to comments from the Trump administration and the Pentagon, who have asserted for more than a week that they have detected potential Iranian threats against U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Such assertions face increasingly rigorous scrutiny from lawmakers.
"This seems like an escalation with no endgame," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said, describing the pressure campaign on Tehran as "ham-handed" [clumsy].
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, meanwhile, pressed a Pentagon official on the constitutionally-mandated steps for America to go to war.
"Do you believe the president has the authority to wage war with Iran without congressional authorization?" Paul asked at a Foreign Relations Committee hearing. "Can we have a full-scale waging of war with Iran without congressional authorization?"
"Only the Congress has the responsibility, the authority to declare war," responded the Defense Department's deputy undersecretary for policy, David Trachtenberg.
Right," Paul said. "So the answer is [that] the president can't do it."
Get a daily dose of Austin Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Austin Globe.
More InformationSANTA CLARA, California: Executives at Nvidia have quietly been cashing in on the AI frenzy. According to a report by the Financial...
NEW YORK, New York - Global stock indices closed with divergent performances on Tuesday, as investors weighed corporate earnings, central...
TORONTO, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced late on June 29 that trade negotiations with the U.S. have recommenced...
Vancouver, Canada: A high-stakes legal showdown is brewing in the world of athleisure. Lululemon, the Canadian brand known for its...
LONDON, U.K.: British oil giant Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire rival oil company BP. The Wall Street Journal...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed firmly in positive territory to start the week Monday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones...
MEXICO CITY, Mexico: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week that her government is investigating possible environmental...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Walmart is set to close a major Sam's Club fulfillment center in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of a shift in...
Washington DC [US], July 2 (ANI): Actor Dwayne Johnson has a very special bond with singer and rapper Jelly Roll, and in fact, his...
Washington DC [US], July 2 (ANI): NASA astronaut Anil Menon has been assigned his first mission to the International Space Station,...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 30 (ANI): Anupam Kher's upcoming directorial 'Tanvi The Great' is creating a buzz in the entertainment...
Dallas [US], June 30 (ANI): The South African stars of Texas Super Kings (TSK) rose to the occasion as they secured a commanding 39-run...