Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraq-security-adviser-says-international-coalition-ends-combat-mission-no-us-2021-12-09/
Summary: Recently all United States led forces have ended their combat mission in Iraq. This will transfer all remaining troops in Iraq into a training and advising role. Iraqi officials and military commanders that are part of the United States led coalition reported this change. However, Western security officials and diplomats say that this will not make much of a difference to the number of troops stationed in the country. There are currently more than 2,000 troops there and those troops have limited involvement in any combat operations in recent years. Since 2014 US has used these troops in Iraq to combat Islamic State after they took over land in Syria. In recent years however there have questions as to if Western involvement is needed in Iraq anymore. Major General John W Brennan, Jr. said this in a statement, “As we complete our combat role, we will remain here to advise, assist, and enable the ISF (Iraqi security forces), at the invitation of Republic of Iraq,”.
Analysis:: America in recent months has been lessening their involvement in the Middle East and other countries in proximity to the Middle East such as Afghanistan. This is a good move as in recent years we have been shown that liberal hegemony system that we have been using isn’t as effective as we once thought. Being involved in everything is too expensive and life costly. With the rising threats in other parts of the world especially in the South China Sea there is no real reason to be wasting American money or manpower on the Middle East. America has attempted multiple times and for many years to get a firm grip on the Middle East region. Those attempts have either failed or if America does get a grip on it they lose pretty soon after. Switching the troops in Iraq from a combat role to a supervising and training role is the first of many steps to move from this liberal hegemony system to a system that will be more cost effective and efficient for America.
How this relates to class: This change begins to show America’s shift from a liberal hegemony system to a system that is closer to offshore balancing. The Liberal hegemony approach was the thought that while America had troops there they would be heavily involved in that area and be in a more combat focused role. This approach isn’t needed as Iraq has their own troops and funds to be able to protect themselves. This is where offshore balancing comes into play. Rather than have American troops fighting for Iraq’s freedom instead have the troops there in case of emergency but when Iraq can handle it themselves let them handle it themselves and have American troops supervise instead.