Jason Ditz | The Libertarian Institute

Ukraine Officials Say US Holding Up Arms Sale

by Jason Ditz | Feb 7, 2020 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

Trump withholds approval for sales, Ukraine wants a refund Ukrainian officials are clearly looking to flex their muscles in the wake of being the foreign policy centerpiece of the Trump impeachment, accusing the US of holding up another $30 million worth of standard arms sales for an unknown reason. This sale is distinct from the issue in the impeachment, and only has in common the countries involved. During impeachment, US officials were hyping the vital importance of Ukraine to US policies, particularly to the policy of hostility toward Russia. That not being sufficiently pro-Ukraine was...

Trump Presents Offer the Palestinians Can’t Refuse

by Jason Ditz | Jan 29, 2020 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

Warns the plan is the Palestinians' 'last chance' Flanked by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump unveiled his long anticipated peace plan, in a public event seemingly more designed to distract from Netanyahu’s indictment than to actually offer anything of substance. A lot of terms of the plan have been long-rumored, and effectively remain so even after the presentation, as there was a conspicuous lack of specificity, and of any concrete details, beyond Trump insisting this is the Palestinians’ “last chance.“ But their last chance for what? That’s less clear. Trump...

Iraq PM Backs Off Expelling US Troops

by Jason Ditz | Jan 16, 2020 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

Trump's threats on Iraq seem to have delayed troop ouster After repeated threats from President Trump to sanction Iraq, to seize its primary bank account, and cut all military aid, Iraqi PM Adel Abdul-Mahdi has backed away from calls to expel US troops from Iraq. Iraq’s parliament voted 170-0 earlier this month on the ouster, though US officials have said they don’t intend to leave, and have denied actually being asked. Following the threats, Abdul-Mahdi now says he wants to leave the question up to the next government. That could take some time. Abdul-Mahdi nominally resigned last month,...

Iran Gave Advance Notice of Missile Attacks on US

by Jason Ditz | Jan 8, 2020 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

Iranian FM emphasizes strikes were proportionate self-defense US officials have confirmed that they were given advance notice Tuesday night before Iranian missile strikes against bases hosting US troops, part of what is seen as a concerted efforts to avoid casualties. Iranian FM Javad Zarif said the advance notice was provided to the Iraqi government, citing respect for Iraqi sovereignty. Iraq told the US, giving time to get people out of the way of the attack. President Trump confirmed that Iran is “standing down” after the attack, though his comments were mostly boilerplate about the Iran...

US to Send 3,500 More Troops After Killing Top Iranian General

by Jason Ditz | Jan 4, 2020 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

On Thursday night, a US drone carried out an airstrike against the Baghdad International Airport, killing seven people, including top Iraqi officials and Iran’s top Gen. Qassem Soleimani. The Pentagon confirmed that the attack was carried out on orders of President Trump. Iran is threatening a “harsh retaliation” after the attack, and the US intends to deploy another 3,500 troops to Iraq and the surrounding area in anticipation of this escalating further. Iran says retaliation will be at a time of their choice. The timing of the 3,500 more troops arriving is unclear, though they’ll likely...

US Attacks Baghdad Airport, Killing Top Iranian General

by Jason Ditz | Jan 2, 2020 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

On the outskirts of the Baghdad International Airport, a US drone attacked a delegation including the top figure in Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), killing him as well as several others, including Iran’s Quds Forces commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani. The White House confirmed President Trump ordered the attack, and emphasized that they considered Soleimani a “terrorist.” Details are continuing to emerge on the attack and killings, but indications are that Gen. Soleimani is dead, as is Iraq’s PMU media chief Mohammed Reda al-Jabri, along with his guards. Iraqi state media also...

Back to Iraq: US Prepares Mini-Surge Into Region

by Jason Ditz | Jan 2, 2020 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

The US went into this past week with about 5,000 ground troops in Iraq, and with Pentagon officials suggesting that deployment is more or less permanent. It was meant to be one of those lazy, open-ended overseas deployments, nominally to bring stability. Then on Friday an Iraqi base got hit with rockets, and on Sunday, US warplanes started attacking bases in Iraq and Syria belonging to a militia that is part of the Iraqi government. After multiple Iraq Wars since 2003, the US presence is looking complicated again. Tuesday saw protests against the US Embassy, with the US rushing Marines and...

US Lawmakers Keep Adding to $1.4 Trillion Spending Deal

by Jason Ditz | Dec 18, 2019 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

US lawmakers have agreed to tack on another $24.7 billion in spending to their $1.4 trillion compromise spending package for 2020, hoping this extra spending will be enough to pass the spending bills before a Friday deadline. Passing the compromise spending has been a struggle for months, with officials constantly agreeing on continuing resolutions for more time to negotiate. Ultimately, they appear to have decided that they can get the votes by adding spending here and there, even if this means the deal is much larger than anticipated. The first set of spending, including military spending,...