17 September 2024

Fox News | US and Iraqi officials drawing up plan that could see American troops pulling out as soon as next year
The U.S. and Iraq have reached an "understanding" on plans to have hundreds of U.S. troops leave Iraq by September 2025 and the remainder leave by January 2027, according to a new Reuters report. However, no set-in-stone decision has been made, two defense officials told Fox News, and the timing is in flux.

Associated Press | US military completes withdrawal from Niger
The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger is complete, an American official said Monday. A small number of military personnel assigned to guard the U.S. Embassy remain, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters.

Military Times | This week in Congress: Lawmakers rush to pass VA funding
Lawmakers are optimistic they will pass a quick fix to the Department of Veterans Affairs funding shortfall before a looming Friday budget deadline. But a resolution isn’t expected until just a few hours before that cutoff.

The Wall Street Journal | One Million Are Now Dead or Injured in the Russia-Ukraine War
The number of Ukrainians and Russians killed or wounded in the grinding 2½-year war has reached roughly one million, a staggering toll that two countries struggling with shrinking prewar populations will pay far into the future.

New York Post | Families of wounded vets rip Kamala Harris for brazen ‘no American troops in war zones’ claim as own admin lists many active combat areas
Outraged family members of US troops hurt in the line of duty slammed Kamala Harris’ brazen claim that no Americans are serving in war zones — a statement which flies in the face of her own administration’s official list of active combat zones.

The Daily Signal | Reckless $15 Billion Budget Shortfalls Risk VA Benefits. These Low-Hanging Fruits Could Prioritize Veterans’ Well-Being.
The men and women who’ve defended our nation should not have the veterans benefits they earned threatened by fiscal mismanagement.

Fox News | House to move on $3B VA funding bill as specter of government shutdown looms
The House of Representatives is expected to vote early this week on a roughly $3 billion veterans supplemental funding bill, Fox News Digital has learned.

Roll Call | Emergency veterans bill appears to be on a fast track
The House on Tuesday is set to consider legislation that would fill a nearly $3 billion gap in veterans benefits ahead of a Sept. 20 deadline.

Responsible Statecraft | US to bring troops home from Iraq, but why not from Syria, too?
Despite the claims of Vice President Kamala Harris that there are no U.S. troops in active combat zones today, many remain deployed abroad in dangerous and unsustainable positions across the world. This includes both Iraq and Syria.

The American Conservative | A Cold Peace With China
Trump’s foreign policy record during his first term suggests that the taproot of his personal instincts—not those of his senior national security advisors, who rarely shared his preferences and policy positions—is realist restraint.

Last week marked the 23rd anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. CVA’s John Byrnes was on DC News Now to discuss the aftermath of the war. Click here to watch his interview.

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CVA continues to advocate for getting U.S. troops out of harm’s way in Iraq and Syria. CVA Strategic Director and Iraq war veteran John Byrnes issued the following statement regarding news of a potential agreement to end U.S. military presence in Iraq:

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“It’s hard to believe there are still American troops at risk in a nation I fought in 20 years ago, where nearly 4,500 U.S. service members have lost their lives. ISIS may be a challenge, but it’s a challenge that the government of Iraq should be handling themselves. A full U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is the right decision to save lives.”