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| Travel Ban Drives Wedge Between Iraqi Soldiers and Americans | Travel Ban Drives Wedge Between Iraqi Soldiers and Americans |
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| BAGHDAD — Capt. Ahmed Adnan al-Musawe had survived another day battling Islamic State fighters in Mosul last weekend when he heard startling news: The new American president had temporarily banned Iraqis from entering the United States and wanted tougher vetting. | BAGHDAD — Capt. Ahmed Adnan al-Musawe had survived another day battling Islamic State fighters in Mosul last weekend when he heard startling news: The new American president had temporarily banned Iraqis from entering the United States and wanted tougher vetting. |
| Captain Musawe, who commands an infantry unit of the Iraqi Army’s elite counterterrorism force, considers himself already fully vetted: He has been trained by American officers in Iraq and in Jordan. And backed by American advisers, he has fought the Islamic State in three Iraqi cities, including three months of brutal street combat in Mosul. | Captain Musawe, who commands an infantry unit of the Iraqi Army’s elite counterterrorism force, considers himself already fully vetted: He has been trained by American officers in Iraq and in Jordan. And backed by American advisers, he has fought the Islamic State in three Iraqi cities, including three months of brutal street combat in Mosul. |
| “If America doesn’t want Iraqis because we are all terrorists, then America should send its sons back to Iraq to fight the terrorists themselves,” Captain Musawe said this week at his barricaded position inside Mosul. | “If America doesn’t want Iraqis because we are all terrorists, then America should send its sons back to Iraq to fight the terrorists themselves,” Captain Musawe said this week at his barricaded position inside Mosul. |
| President Trump’s Jan. 27 executive order has driven a wedge between many Iraqi soldiers and their American allies. Officers and enlisted men interviewed on the front lines in Mosul said they interpreted the order as an affront — not only to them but to fellow soldiers who have died in the battle for Mosul. | President Trump’s Jan. 27 executive order has driven a wedge between many Iraqi soldiers and their American allies. Officers and enlisted men interviewed on the front lines in Mosul said they interpreted the order as an affront — not only to them but to fellow soldiers who have died in the battle for Mosul. |
| “An insult to their dignity,” said Capt. Abdul Saami al-Azzi of the counterterrorism force, who said he was hurt and disappointed by a nation he had considered a respectful partner. “It is really embarrassing.” | “An insult to their dignity,” said Capt. Abdul Saami al-Azzi of the counterterrorism force, who said he was hurt and disappointed by a nation he had considered a respectful partner. “It is really embarrassing.” |
| The American and Iraqi militaries have negotiated an often tenuous and strained relationship over the years. But few episodes have so blindsided the current generation of Iraqi soldiers, who are accustomed to viewing the United States as their partner in a shared struggle to defeat insurgents and build a viable nation. | The American and Iraqi militaries have negotiated an often tenuous and strained relationship over the years. But few episodes have so blindsided the current generation of Iraqi soldiers, who are accustomed to viewing the United States as their partner in a shared struggle to defeat insurgents and build a viable nation. |
| The timing of the order hit the Iraqi military in Mosul like an incoming rocket. Iraqi forces have reached a pivotal moment, seizing half of Mosul and preparing soon to assault the remaining half — supported by American advisers, Special Operations forces and airstrikes by the United States-led coalition. | The timing of the order hit the Iraqi military in Mosul like an incoming rocket. Iraqi forces have reached a pivotal moment, seizing half of Mosul and preparing soon to assault the remaining half — supported by American advisers, Special Operations forces and airstrikes by the United States-led coalition. |
| Why, some soldiers asked, had Mr. Trump chosen this moment to lump together all Iraqis as mortal threats to America — soldiers, civilians and terrorists alike? | Why, some soldiers asked, had Mr. Trump chosen this moment to lump together all Iraqis as mortal threats to America — soldiers, civilians and terrorists alike? |
| “This decision by Trump blows up our liberation efforts of cooperation and coordination with American forces,” said Brig. Gen. Mizhir Khalid al-Mashhadani, a counterterrorism force commander in Mosul. | “This decision by Trump blows up our liberation efforts of cooperation and coordination with American forces,” said Brig. Gen. Mizhir Khalid al-Mashhadani, a counterterrorism force commander in Mosul. |
| Astounded by the announcement, General Mashhadani, who speaks English, said he asked his American counterparts about the president’s order. He said several told him they considered the decision hasty and its consequences poorly considered. | Astounded by the announcement, General Mashhadani, who speaks English, said he asked his American counterparts about the president’s order. He said several told him they considered the decision hasty and its consequences poorly considered. |
| The travel ban was all the more perplexing to those Iraqi troops who had heard Mr. Trump vow as a candidate to wipe out the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. Some also heard the president promise, when issuing the order, to keep “radical Islamic terrorists” out of the United States. | The travel ban was all the more perplexing to those Iraqi troops who had heard Mr. Trump vow as a candidate to wipe out the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. Some also heard the president promise, when issuing the order, to keep “radical Islamic terrorists” out of the United States. |
| For some soldiers, those comments seemed to equate Iraqi soldiers — by virtue of their nationality and religion — with the very terrorists they were fighting. | For some soldiers, those comments seemed to equate Iraqi soldiers — by virtue of their nationality and religion — with the very terrorists they were fighting. |
| President Trump was “unjust and not right,” said Maj. Sabah al-Aloosi, 37, another counterterrorism force officer in Mosul. It is Iraqi soldiers, he said, “who are fighting terrorism on behalf of the world and sacrificing themselves.” | President Trump was “unjust and not right,” said Maj. Sabah al-Aloosi, 37, another counterterrorism force officer in Mosul. It is Iraqi soldiers, he said, “who are fighting terrorism on behalf of the world and sacrificing themselves.” |
| Col. John L. Dorrian, the spokesman in Baghdad for the American-led operation against the Islamic State, emphasized that the president’s order was temporary, calling it “a pause.” | Col. John L. Dorrian, the spokesman in Baghdad for the American-led operation against the Islamic State, emphasized that the president’s order was temporary, calling it “a pause.” |
| Told of critical comments by Iraqi soldiers and officers, Colonel Dorrian said: “For our part, we continue to do every single day what we’ve been doing all along in the campaign to defeat Daesh.” | Told of critical comments by Iraqi soldiers and officers, Colonel Dorrian said: “For our part, we continue to do every single day what we’ve been doing all along in the campaign to defeat Daesh.” |
| Colonel Dorrian said those efforts included continuing to train and advise Iraqi security forces, and providing intelligence, artillery and airstrikes in support of Iraqi troops. “None of these things are affected,” he added. | Colonel Dorrian said those efforts included continuing to train and advise Iraqi security forces, and providing intelligence, artillery and airstrikes in support of Iraqi troops. “None of these things are affected,” he added. |
| One counterterrorism soldier, Ismail Khalid, said the president’s ban on Iraqis did not affect his will to fight the Islamic State – or his survival instincts. “I’ve been fighting terrorism for months and what matters to me is to return home,” he said. | One counterterrorism soldier, Ismail Khalid, said the president’s ban on Iraqis did not affect his will to fight the Islamic State – or his survival instincts. “I’ve been fighting terrorism for months and what matters to me is to return home,” he said. |
| The counterterrorism force soldiers spoke before the American Embassy in Baghdad on Thursday cleared the way to enter the United States for former interpreters and other Iraqis who had assisted the American government or military. | |
| The interpreters and their families had been issued special immigrant visas because of their service to the United States. The ban on so-called S.I.V. holders was lifted after the Pentagon recommended that the White House exempt Iraqis who have tangibly demonstrated their commitment to supporting United States forces, a Pentagon spokesman said. | The interpreters and their families had been issued special immigrant visas because of their service to the United States. The ban on so-called S.I.V. holders was lifted after the Pentagon recommended that the White House exempt Iraqis who have tangibly demonstrated their commitment to supporting United States forces, a Pentagon spokesman said. |
| But Iraqis who hold valid refugee visas, some because their association with Americans exposes them to danger in Iraq, remained barred from entry to the United States. | But Iraqis who hold valid refugee visas, some because their association with Americans exposes them to danger in Iraq, remained barred from entry to the United States. |
| Before the Jan. 27 ban was announced, two counterterrorism force officers in Mosul said, they had begun making plans to visit the United States after the battle for Iraq’s second-largest city. | Before the Jan. 27 ban was announced, two counterterrorism force officers in Mosul said, they had begun making plans to visit the United States after the battle for Iraq’s second-largest city. |
| Captain Musawe, who had hoped to vacation in the United States, said he was not making any travel plans at the moment. “The decision by Trump has wasted my dreams,” he said. | Captain Musawe, who had hoped to vacation in the United States, said he was not making any travel plans at the moment. “The decision by Trump has wasted my dreams,” he said. |
| Major Aloosi said he even asked his American counterparts for advice about the visa process for Iraqi soldiers seeking to visit the “wonderful sights and tourism” he had seen on American TV programs. “But all that has vaporized because of the decision by Trump,” he said. | Major Aloosi said he even asked his American counterparts for advice about the visa process for Iraqi soldiers seeking to visit the “wonderful sights and tourism” he had seen on American TV programs. “But all that has vaporized because of the decision by Trump,” he said. |
| General Mashhadani said that despite bitter feelings among many of the soldiers he commands, he continues to work closely, if under trying circumstances, with his American counterparts. | General Mashhadani said that despite bitter feelings among many of the soldiers he commands, he continues to work closely, if under trying circumstances, with his American counterparts. |
| “My American friends who are officers promised to let me in their country in case I decide to go there — even if they have to use illegal ways,” he said. | “My American friends who are officers promised to let me in their country in case I decide to go there — even if they have to use illegal ways,” he said. |