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| Confusion over letter from US military signaling withdrawal of troops from Iraq – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Mark Esper says memo on US troops’ ‘onward movement’ from Iraq is not accurate and ‘there’s been no decision’ | Mark Esper says memo on US troops’ ‘onward movement’ from Iraq is not accurate and ‘there’s been no decision’ |
| Kari Paul here, logging off for the night. Here are today’s top events to make note of: | Kari Paul here, logging off for the night. Here are today’s top events to make note of: |
| Republican Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona tweeted out a photoshopped image of president Barack Obama shaking hands with Hassan Rouhani that was quickly debunked as fake. | Republican Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona tweeted out a photoshopped image of president Barack Obama shaking hands with Hassan Rouhani that was quickly debunked as fake. |
| A memo was apparently mistakenly released implying potential withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Officials said the letter had been sent in error, drawing confusion. | A memo was apparently mistakenly released implying potential withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Officials said the letter had been sent in error, drawing confusion. |
| The Trump administration has reportedly blocked an Iranian diplomat from addressing the UN this month | The Trump administration has reportedly blocked an Iranian diplomat from addressing the UN this month |
| Pete Buttigieg is heading back to Iowa on Jan. 12 to do more campaigning ahead of the upcoming caucus there, his team announced on Monday. | Pete Buttigieg is heading back to Iowa on Jan. 12 to do more campaigning ahead of the upcoming caucus there, his team announced on Monday. |
| According to the announcement, Buttigieg has now visited Iowa 21 times, with visits to 49 counties to hold 100 events across the state. | According to the announcement, Buttigieg has now visited Iowa 21 times, with visits to 49 counties to hold 100 events across the state. |
| Donald Trump will hold a rally in Wildwood, New Jersey on Jan. 28, his campaign announced Monday. | Donald Trump will hold a rally in Wildwood, New Jersey on Jan. 28, his campaign announced Monday. |
| Wildwood is in the district of Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who left the Democratic Party to join Trump in the GOP late last year. | Wildwood is in the district of Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who left the Democratic Party to join Trump in the GOP late last year. |
| Republican congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona tweeted out a photoshopped image of former president Barack Obama and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani that was quickly debunked. | Republican congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona tweeted out a photoshopped image of former president Barack Obama and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani that was quickly debunked. |
| “The world is a better place without these guys in power,” the caption Gosar tweeted to accompany the fake photo said. | “The world is a better place without these guys in power,” the caption Gosar tweeted to accompany the fake photo said. |
| Obama and Rouhani reportedly never met in person, and Rouhani is also still in power. The two did speak by phone in September 2013, a landmark moment reflecting the highest level of contact between a US and Iranian president in 30 years. | Obama and Rouhani reportedly never met in person, and Rouhani is also still in power. The two did speak by phone in September 2013, a landmark moment reflecting the highest level of contact between a US and Iranian president in 30 years. |
| As of the time of publishing this post, the inaccurate tweet is still live on Gosar’s account. | As of the time of publishing this post, the inaccurate tweet is still live on Gosar’s account. |
| Donald Trump’s son Donald Trump, Jr. posted an image on Sunday of himself holding an AR-15 style rifle with an image of former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on its magazine. | Donald Trump’s son Donald Trump, Jr. posted an image on Sunday of himself holding an AR-15 style rifle with an image of former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on its magazine. |
| In response to some backlash online, a spokesperson for Trump Jr. gave the following statement to The Hill: | In response to some backlash online, a spokesperson for Trump Jr. gave the following statement to The Hill: |
| The image appears to be a reference to the phrase “lock her up”, which has frequently been chanted at Trump campaign rallies. The creator of the magazine said the company has seen an uptick in business in response to the photo. | The image appears to be a reference to the phrase “lock her up”, which has frequently been chanted at Trump campaign rallies. The creator of the magazine said the company has seen an uptick in business in response to the photo. |
| The future of the US presence in Iraq is in question after a military memo seemed to indicate a potential withdrawal of American troops from the country. | The future of the US presence in Iraq is in question after a military memo seemed to indicate a potential withdrawal of American troops from the country. |
| The memo stated troops would begin “onward movement” from Iraq. However, secretary of defense Mark Esper said the memo was inaccurate “There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq.” | The memo stated troops would begin “onward movement” from Iraq. However, secretary of defense Mark Esper said the memo was inaccurate “There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq.” |
| The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Mark Milley, said the letter had been sent in error. | The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Mark Milley, said the letter had been sent in error. |
| The back-and-forth began as the Trump administration scrambled to respond to Iraqi demands for the troops to leave after last week’s assassination in Baghdad of Iran’s top general, Qassem Suleimani. | The back-and-forth began as the Trump administration scrambled to respond to Iraqi demands for the troops to leave after last week’s assassination in Baghdad of Iran’s top general, Qassem Suleimani. |
| Allies to the US are responding in kind, with British officials are now pointing to Esper’s clarification, describing the original letter from the US-led coalition circulating in Iraq as “very unclear” and “not what it seems” without giving further details. | Allies to the US are responding in kind, with British officials are now pointing to Esper’s clarification, describing the original letter from the US-led coalition circulating in Iraq as “very unclear” and “not what it seems” without giving further details. |
| For more information, read our latest report. | For more information, read our latest report. |
| Mitt Romney said he would “like to hear” from John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, but stopped short of saying he would subpoena him. | Mitt Romney said he would “like to hear” from John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, but stopped short of saying he would subpoena him. |
| Bolton previously said he would testify in a Senate impeachment trial if he were subpoenaed, but a majority of the Republican-controlled Senate would have to approve a subpoena. | Bolton previously said he would testify in a Senate impeachment trial if he were subpoenaed, but a majority of the Republican-controlled Senate would have to approve a subpoena. |
| The Trump administration made a move Monday to block Iran’s top diplomat from addressing the UN security council, Foreign Policy reports. | The Trump administration made a move Monday to block Iran’s top diplomat from addressing the UN security council, Foreign Policy reports. |
| Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has been blocked from obtaining a visa to attend a Jan. 9 Security Council meeting on the importance of upholding the UN Charter, sources told Foreign Policy. | Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has been blocked from obtaining a visa to attend a Jan. 9 Security Council meeting on the importance of upholding the UN Charter, sources told Foreign Policy. |
| The block violates the terms of a 1947 headquarters agreement requiring Washington to permit foreign officials into the country to conduct UN business and marks another escalation in the continued tension between the US and Iran. | The block violates the terms of a 1947 headquarters agreement requiring Washington to permit foreign officials into the country to conduct UN business and marks another escalation in the continued tension between the US and Iran. |
| Hello, Kari Paul on the West Coast here, taking over the blog for the next few hours. Stay tuned for updates. | Hello, Kari Paul on the West Coast here, taking over the blog for the next few hours. Stay tuned for updates. |
| That’s it from me today. I’m handing the blog off to my west coast colleague, Kari Paul, for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. I’m handing the blog off to my west coast colleague, Kari Paul, for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| A memo from the US military seemed to indicate a potential withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, but secretary of defense Mark Esper then said the memo was inaccurate. “There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” Esper said. | A memo from the US military seemed to indicate a potential withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, but secretary of defense Mark Esper then said the memo was inaccurate. “There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” Esper said. |
| John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, said he would testify in a Senate impeachment trial if he were subpoenaed, but a majority of the Republican-controlled Senate would have to approve a subpoena. | John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, said he would testify in a Senate impeachment trial if he were subpoenaed, but a majority of the Republican-controlled Senate would have to approve a subpoena. |
| Democratic congressional leaders, including Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, called on Republicans to support a Bolton subpoena, arguing any other course of action would constitute a “cover-up.” | Democratic congressional leaders, including Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, called on Republicans to support a Bolton subpoena, arguing any other course of action would constitute a “cover-up.” |
| Bolton’s statement could delay the transmission of the articles of impeachment to the Senate, which previously seemed likely to occur this week. | Bolton’s statement could delay the transmission of the articles of impeachment to the Senate, which previously seemed likely to occur this week. |
| Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Secretary of defense Mark Esper said the letter indicating a potential US troop withdrawal from Iraq is “inconsistent” with the Pentagon’s current position. | Secretary of defense Mark Esper said the letter indicating a potential US troop withdrawal from Iraq is “inconsistent” with the Pentagon’s current position. |
| Secretary of defense Mark Esper has now said the memo on US troops’ “onward movement” from Iraq is not accurate. “There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” Esper said. | Secretary of defense Mark Esper has now said the memo on US troops’ “onward movement” from Iraq is not accurate. “There’s been no decision whatsoever to leave Iraq,” Esper said. |