U s troops

By Helene Cooper Eric Schmitt The New York Times Mark Landler Wed., Dec. 19, 2018 WASHINGTON—U.S. President Donald Trump is considering pulling 2,000 United States ground troops out of Syria in a move that would seek to describe the four-year U.S.-led war against the Islamic State as largely won, officials said Wednesday. “We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency,” the president said in a Twitter post on Wednesday morning. He offered no details on his plans for the military mission in Syria. A formal withdrawal announcement could come as early as Wednesday, administration officials said. But Pentagon officials were still trying to talk the president out of it, arguing that such a move would betray Kurdish allies who have fought alongside U.S. troops in Syria and who could find themselves under attack in a military offensive now threatened by Turkey. “At this time, we continue to work by, … [Read more...] about Trump considering full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria

By David S. Cloud Los Angeles Times Tues., Nov. 20, 2018 WASHINGTON—Nearly 6,000 U.S. troops rushed to the border with Mexico shortly before the midterm election could begin withdrawing this week, but Trump administration officials worried about curtailing the mission too quickly are delaying their departure. The officials believe the active-duty troops may be needed to assist Border Patrol agents as caravans of migrants from Central America approach the border in an effort to seek asylum in the United States, a defense official said. U.S. officials are discussing whether to grant troops authority to protect Border Patrol personnel in case they face violence from the migrants, according to CNN. The use of force would have to be “proportional” to the threat. Troops along the border are currently barred from using force except for self-protection. A decision to permit troops to provide security to the Border Patrol would represent a significant … [Read more...] about U.S. troops sent to the border could begin coming home this week

By Foster Klug The Associated Press Thu., April 19, 2018 SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that his rival, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, isn’t asking for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula as a precondition for abandoning his nuclear weapons. If true, this would seem to remove a major sticking point to a potential nuclear disarmament deal. North Korea, a small, authoritarian nation surrounded by bigger and richer neighbours, has always linked its pursuit of nuclear weapons to what it calls a “hostile” U.S. policy that is embodied by the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, the 50,000 stationed in Japan, and the “nuclear umbrella” security guarantee that Washington offers allies Seoul and Tokyo. Although Moon reported that North Korea isn’t asking for the U.S. troops to leave, he said the North still wants the United States to end its … [Read more...] about North Korea drops withdrawal of U.S. troops as condition of denuclearization, Moon says

World Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo defended his government's approval of expanded military cooperation with the United States on Thursday, saying that it would enhance peace efforts in West Africa. 06 Apr 2018 05:45AM Bookmark ACCRA: Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo defended his government's approval of expanded military cooperation with the United States on Thursday, saying that it would enhance peace efforts in West Africa.He said the deal, which was approved by parliament last month and allows for the deployment of U.S troops and their military equipment in Ghana, was in line with previous international pacts and did not constitute an offer to Washington to establish a military base.Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote after failing to block its approval, leaving members of the ruling party to ratify it."It is our firm belief that the agreement will help enhance our defence capability, and offer an important layer of support in our common effort to protect the … [Read more...] about Ghana president says plan to host U.S troops will bolster regional peace