Middle East

In Iraq, America’s Allies — and Its Enemies – Are Nervously Waiting for Donald Trump’s First Move

As for Trump, it’s difficult to divine a coherent Iraq strategy based on statements he made during his campaign and first few days in office, but all indications are that it will involve bringing a lot more drama to a country that’s always on the precipice of mass sectarian violence. He has advocated for the deployment of up to 30,000 troops in Iraq and discussed at length his objectively absurd plan to take Iraq’s oil as “reimbursement” for American military efforts — a thought he reiterated as president during his freewheeling speech at CIA headquarters last weekend and again in his interview Wednesday with ABC’s David Muir.