Simple Precautions Or Plan to Attack? What’s Behind US & Germany’s Recent Moves in Mideast

• Simple Precautions Or Plan to Attack? What’s Behind US & Germany’s Recent Moves in Mideast
  by https://www.rt.com/
  Germany and the Netherlands halted training of Iraqi troops hours after the US said it will partially evacuate its Baghdad embassy. Amid growing tensions with Iran, analysts offered differing views on the reasons behind the moves.
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  Washington announced the partial evacuation of its embassy in Baghdad as well as a consulate in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan on Wednesday, citing heightened tension in the region. Hours later, Germany and the Netherlands suspended their missions to train Iraqi troops. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier warned that “Iranian activities” endanger American sites and soldiers stationed in the country.
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  Are the latest moves a sign that the US is preparing for military action against Iran, are they just a precaution, or do they signal something about a shift in the security situation on the ground in Iraq?
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  ‘Preparing for instability’
  The recent actions are likely an indication that the US administration is expecting some kind of destabilization in the region, Ted Seay, a former US diplomat and senior policy consultant at the British American Security Information Council told RT.
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  “The only time the US government ever evacuates diplomatic personnel is because they expect instability, violence, or warfare,” he said, adding that the US does not take this kind of action unless it’s “very serious about the situation that’s unfolding.”
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  Seay said the timing of the evacuation was interesting, given Pompeo had recently “made nice noises” about the Iraqi authorities and their ability to keep US personnel safe in the country. “Unfortunately I think the evacuation speaks far more clearly than the Secretary of State when it comes to the situation in Iraq,” he said.
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