Pentagon Requests $1.8 Billion for Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Operations (2017)
What happened
The Pentagon requested Congress consider a budget of $1.8 billion to continue an Obama administration program focused on training and equipping Iraqi and Syrian forces to counter the Islamic State. The Fiscal 2018 budget request specifically sought about $1.3 billion for Iraqi forces. This funding package included a three-year commitment to build up the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), which had already seen 40 percent combat losses.
From defensenews.com
Why it matters
The requests detailed specific allocations, including $329 million to replace equipment losses and $60 million for shipping costs. The funding was intended to support the defeat of the Islamic State and stabilize the security situation in Iraq.
From defensenews.com
Who's involved
- Islamic StateTarget of the military operations funded by the requests.
- Jim MattisDefense Secretary whose policy and budget requests were detailed in the budget documents.
- CongressThe legislative body asked to approve the large military budget requests.
- IraqSovereign state receiving military support and facing the Islamic State.
- CTSThe specific Iraqi force being funded and restructured.
- PENTAGONThe body whose operations were funded through the requests.
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- PENTAGONSpeculative
The Pentagon could receive direct funding for training and equipping forces in Iraq.
How this reaches others
Each traced step by step, with the reporting behind itKeep exploring
The entities involved
-
Islamic State
Salafi jihadist militant Sunni Islamist group
-
Jim Mattis
United States 26th Secretary of Defense
Nothing else this week.
-
Congress
US record label; imprint of Congress Record Corp.
-
Iraq
sovereign state in Western Asia