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Added on the 07/01/2020 20:45:42 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper says that the United States is not pulling its forces out of Iraq, denying that there is a signed letter from the US side announcing an exit. "Our policy has not changed. We are not leaving Iraq," Esper tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
As lame duck President Donald Trump purges his administration, the Pentagon's top intelligence official has resigned in protest. According to Business Insider, Joseph Kernan, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, walked off the job on Tuesday. The Pentagon says Kernan's departure had been planned for months, but it notably comes the same day two other Department of Defense officials resigned. Kernan's announcement came one day after Trump fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper by tweet, saying Esper had been 'terminated.' It also comes amid the resignation of the chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense Jen Stewart and acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Anderson. Writing in a statement that 'it appears that chaos has now reached the Pentagon,' Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) was just one of many lawmakers sounding the alarm.
Just days before being canned by President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper denied serving as the president's yes-man in the Pentagon. According to Business Insider, Esper told the Military Times he challenges the president more than any other Cabinet-level leader. President Donald Trump fired Esper Monday, providing no reason. However, the president has previously purged officials for a perceived lack of loyalty. Esper and the Commander in Chief have locked horns on numerous issues, most notably over Esper's order to cease flying the Confederate flag on US military bases. Also, Esper also tried to distance himself from a politically-charged photo op, in which Trump awkwardly clutched a Bible in front of a church near the White House. Federal troops pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters in Lafayette Park, so the way would be cleared for Trump, Esper, and other officials to walk to the church.
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper says he has approved the deployment of 3,000 additional troops and military hardware to Saudi Arabia to boost the country's defenses in the wake of attacks on its oil installations blamed on Iran. SOUNDBITE
U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi in the Oval Office where the two discussed Iran's role in Iraq and fight against Islamic State militants. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
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