The White House is planning to boost its military presence in the Middle East when the final troops leave Iraq at December’s end. The new plan comes in light of the Iraqi government’s refusal to allow American forces to remain in the country after the previously agreed-upon deadline, which goes into effect at year’s end. The additional combat units would be stationed in Kuwait, and the U.S. views them as a hedge for stability in the event of a collapse in security in Iraq or a move of aggression by Iran. Steven Lee Myers is Baghdad bureau chief for our partner The New York Times. He gives us more details about the plans.
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