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Odierno Will Issue New Rules of Engagement Post-SOFA

So now the U.S. and Iraq have signed the Status of Forces Agreement that gets the U.S. out of Iraqi cities in 2009; out of Iraq entirely in Dec. 2011; and

Jul 31, 2020
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So now the U.S. and Iraq have signed the Status of Forces Agreementthat gets the U.S. out of Iraqi cities in 2009; out of Iraq entirely in Dec. 2011; and places significant constraints on U.S. military operations. What does this actually mean for the military on a day-to-day basis?
The short answer is it’s unclear. But yesterday Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, released a letter to his troopsinforming them that the mission would undergo “a subtle shift.” Here’s a screengrab from his PDF letter:
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So, basically, Odierno will inform the troops in the near future what the new operating environment is. Presumably he’ll consult with the new U.S.-Iraq security committee created by the SOFA to determine the boundaries of his authority. But what’s interesting is that Odierno has never really discussed what his overall strategy in Iraq is.Perhaps having a new operational environment dictated to him by a politicians’ agreement will force greater clarity.
Paolo Reyna

Paolo Reyna

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Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies. Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most. In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
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